Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Connect the Species

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders, in pairs, explore energy transfer and species interrelationships by viewing slides on a microscope. hey explore phytoplankton (producers) and zooplankton (consumers)
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Biofilms Are Everywhere

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students research biofilms and create brochures. They role play as advertising firm members assigned to educate the general public about biofilms. They create "wanted dead or alive" posters about harmful and helpful biofilms respectively.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mini-Ponds

For Teachers 7th - 9th
In this mini pond worksheet, students create a mini-pond ecosystem with soil, water, and plant life. Students let their ecosystem sit for a day and they observe a sample the next day. Students identify all the pond water microorganisms...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Ecology

For Students 4th - 6th
In this ecology activity, students read information about ecology and the nine ecology subdivisions and answer comprehension questions. Students answer ten questions in this matching and fill in the blank activity.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Exploring Forest Objects

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Young scholars explore the forest. In this ecosystems lesson, students rotate through sensory activity centers, brainstorm, and read about temperate forests.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Web of Wonder Lesson Plan

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students learn how all living things in an ecosystem are connected in some way. By building their own "web" your class look at energy flow through the food web system and how environmental changes disrupt the system.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ecology 5 - Carbon and Oxygen Cycles

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students construct their own diagrams outlining the pathway of carbon and oxygen in our atmosphere. They listen to a lecture on the carbon cycle while drawing an example of the carbon cycle on the board. Students comprehend that CO2 is...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Toward a Sustainable Agriculture

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Young scholars examine how to use ecological analysis to animal production systems.  For this sustainable agriculture lesson students examine where the nutrients flow in a system and complete several activities. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Predator and Prey Game

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers explore the why the balance among producers, predators and prey is necessary in order for an ecosystem to be sustained over time. Through web games and activities, they discover how each component of the food chain works...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Owls: Top of a Food Chain

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Although written for middle schoolers, there is no reason that a 3rd, 4th, or 5th grader could not also learn about food chains through the dissection of owl pellets. After you introduce the topic, learners complete an owl research...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduction to Ecology

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders identify the living and nonliving components of an ecosystem. In this ecology lesson, 8th graders explain the role each organism plays. They participate in class discussion and answer a quiz at the end of the lesson.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ecology

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders research an ecosystem and its endangered species. They create a PowerPoint Presentation, oral report, poster or a booklet based on their research. They research on the internet and in biology texts in teams of 4.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Trail Adventure

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students create a trail with numbered specimens. Students complete an accurate and functional interactive trail activity brochure. They complete a web page tree identification guide and interactive identification activity. Students...
Activity
University of Georgia

Land Biomes Project

For Teachers 6th - 10th Standards
Challenge scholars to research a biome and create a presentation for the producers of Survivor to choose their ecosystem for the next season's show. The materials include outlines, worksheets, and grading rubrics for individuals as well...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Exploring Ecology

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners explore the basics of ecology. They discuss ecological succession, the water cycle and human impacts on the environment. Students explore the owls, succession, the human impact on the environment and complete the "Incredible...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Dirty Decomposers

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders design and conduct experiments to determine what environmental factors favor decomposition by soil microbes. They use chunks of carrot for the materials to be decomposed, and their experiments are carried out in plastic...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduction to Biomes

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders identify the different kinds of biomes. In this life science lesson, 8th graders explain their importance in an ecosystem. They take a BrainPop quiz at the end of the lesson..
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Toward a Sustainable Agriculture

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students analyze organic production systems. In this organic agriculture lesson plan, students examine key organic practices for both crop and livestock. This lesson plan includes 5 different activities, 4 critical thinking questions and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Carbon and Oxygen Cycles

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students construct their own diagrams outlining the pathway of carbon and oxygen in the atmosphere. Students explain their diagrams outlining the pathway and teacher checks for accuracy and completion.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Oh, What a Tangled Web We Weave

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders investigate the food chain by viewing video clips. In this food web lesson, 5th graders investigate populations and ecosystems by viewing a video in class as well as visiting web sites. Students utilize the Internet to...
Lesson Plan
Michigan Sea Grant

Food Chains and Webs

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Starting with a simple food chain, young scientists interpret the difference and interrelatedness between herbivores, carnivores and producers. They answer questions related to cause and effect of food chain disruptions, including the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Forest Food Chains and Webs

For Teachers 1st - 2nd
Students explore forest ecological systems. For this ecology lesson, students classify forest plants and animals according to their ecological roles. Students play a related vocabulary guessing game.  Students choose a card on which...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Watershed Lesson Plan

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students are introduced to the concepts of a watershed, stream flow and water quality. This five-day plan is an excellent way to introduce students to the concepts involved. They create their own watershed using a paper bag, water and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What Goes Around Comes Around!

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students create an ecosystem in a jar to show a model of the water, carbon, and nitrogen cycle. Working in small groups, they research and present orally the information they find on this cycle.