Students explore oceanography by researching migrating fish. In this Pacific Salmon activity, students participate in a board game activity in which they move a salmon through their annual journey to the spawning habitat upstream....

Students explore the ecosystem and food chain by researching Pacific Salmon. In this fish habitat lesson, students discover the life cycle for salmon, where they spawn and what they eat to survive the harsh elements. Students participate...

Students recognize that for a trout habitat to be ideal, several components must be present.  In this trout lesson, students explore what makes a healthy stream.  Students create paintings for a mural of a trout habitat....

Young scholars examine different organisms in various marine habitats. They identify any adaptations that have allowed the organisms to survive. They develop an imaginary organism and describe its life cycle.

Students work with the Tribal Council and Elders to explain the historical importance of the area's watershed. They develop a model of the watershed and map the route of water flow from the watershed to the ocean.

Students study fish habits and traits. In this marine life lesson, students complete four learning centers of a fish memory game, a fish habitat study, draw and glue fish craft activity, and a fish read-a-thon. Students complete their...

Students explore marine animal adaptation. For this introductory ocean life biology lesson, students access prior knowledge by participating in a whole class "thought swap." Students form two lines, respond to a prompt from the teacher...

Students explore the concept of environmental stewardship. In this science lesson plan, students investigate the effects of oil spills and brainstorm ideas to help companies avoid them as they create models to demonstrate their...

Students observe and discuss the advantages of camouflage, then try their hands at designing a well-camouflaged fish.

Oceans represent more than 80 percent of all habitats, yet we know less about them than most other habitats on the planet. The instructor introduces the epipelagic, mesopelagic, bathypelagic, twilight, and midnight zones in the ocean....

Save the oceans! The 22nd installment of a 23-part NOAA Enrichment in Marine sciences and Oceanography (NEMO) program focuses on laws and marine policy. Pupils take part in an activity investigating fisheries stock data.

Students list the salmon life cycle stages in order. They draw a stream with the vegetation, animals, and water quality parameters that are necessary for salmon survival. Students explain the connection between animal morphology and...

Here is an exciting exploration of a fascinating topic for your emerging ecologists: bird migration! They begin by visiting the US Fish & Wildlife Service website to discover which Arctic birds come to their areas. They are assigned...

How does water pollution affect the environment? Provide your class with the resources to answer this question as they learn about eutrophication and ecosystem changes. Over two weeks, they simulate the effects of pollution on the...

A fish that lives in the desert? You and your class can meet the desert pupfish as they examine its habitat, the role humans play in diminishing water supplies, and how climate change might impact this fishy friend. There are four short...

What a terrific way to explore the pond habitat! Learners discuss the animal and plant life found in the Long Island area. They also discuss vocabulary terms, identify pollution concerns, and resource conservation.

Students investigate the important components for a healthy trout habitat. In this fish habitat instructional activity, students discuss how the aquarium will simulate a trout's environment in nature. Students complete a trout...

Students are introduced to the water cycle. They help draw a picture of a lake ecosystem, adding human impacts that affect water quality. Students help fill in the components of a drawing of a water system. At the end of the lesson...

Students observe organisms behavior and adaptations.  In this biomes activity students conduct fieldwork to determine water quality and answer questions about the differences between different habitats. 

In this excretory system worksheet, students read a brief excerpt about water balance and the excretory system. Then they identify what compound birds, insects and reptiles living in dry habitats excrete. Students also describe how...

Fourth graders compare an ecosystem before and after they introduce crayfish to that ecosystem. In this ecosystem lesson plan, 4th graders see what happens when you introduce a non native animal to a habitat. Students then make...

Students perform healthy water practices by discussing and demonstrating acts of philanthropy. In this healthy water lesson plan, students read an article on how we can keep water clean, and create a LITWIS activity.

Students learn about the Australian Minister of Fisheries and Wildlife and platypus as an endangered species. In this endangered species lesson, student role play as the Australian Minister of Fisheries and Wildlife to make a...

Students complete a unit of eighteen lessons that cover climate, geography, location, plants, and animals of each of the five habitats. They are also introduced to habitat destruction and discuss ways to protect the environment. They do...