If your class is learning about the biosphere, you may find a study guide or reading guide helpful. Focusing on vocabulary, processes, and interactions, the Word document is easy to edit as needed to fit your needs. Another great...

Students examine the amount of biodiversity in the state of Illinois. They practice using new vocabulary and listening to stories about animals. After given time to reflect, they write their own haiku. They work together to create a...

Students explore seed dispersal by designing their own wind dispersed seed structure. Using one piece of paper and a box fan, they construct a seed dispersal structure, record the distance their seed travels, and answer discussion...

Here is an overview to a unit on the mountain lions of Arizona. Six different lessons take youngsters on a complete investigation of the adaptations, diet, population density, and management of these beautiful wild cats. Each of the...

Students research about the importance of sea ice to world climate and sea organisms. In this earth science lesson, students create a model of present and future Arctic sea ice communities. They discuss how ice melting affects...

Second graders observe, discuss, and record the requirements of a healthy environment for both arthropods and people by designing and maintaining an artificial habitat for an arthropod, and considering the requirements for a healthy body...

Students understand what physical adaptations are and how they help an animal to survive. In this adaptations lesson, students research four animals and then make an original animal that has adaptations to make them survive.

Sixth graders continue their examination of the state of Connecticut. After taking a field trip, they identify the types of birds, plants, invertebrates and vertebrates who make their home in the salt marshes. In groups, they identify...

Students plan, practice, and act in a 2-3 minute videotaped production about a specific topic. Students from a local high school give presentations pertaining to seasons, earth rotation, and moon phases. Students analyze the...

Middle schoolers use field research and traditional research to identify migrating species of birds as well as their migratory patterns. Students generate a list of questions regarding migration and a plan to research the questions. A...

Students maintain a field journal as they follow penguin parents raising their chicks during the breeding season. They formulate testable questions. Students reflect on animal behavior in the field related to survival and chick rearing.

Students create a collage. In this animal classification lesson, students discuss why and how scientists classify animals. Students view pictures of different animals and decide which class each animal belongs to. Students compare...

Learners explore biology by creating a report for the class. In this oceanography instructional activity, students research and identify the survival characteristics of a list of freshwater animals by utilizing the Internet and library....

Tenth graders examine conservation and research a type of fish that is under environmental stress.  In this conservation lesson students create a pamphlet about the conservation of a marine organism.

Third graders explore the interdependence among the plants and animals in natural communities.

First graders participate in dissecting a squid. They identify and locate specific parts of a squid with teacher guidance. They draw a picture of what their squid looked like and label specific parts.

Students view videos and websites and create finger puppets and hatchable eggs. In this dinosaur lesson, students view video clips and a website to introduce the dinosaurs. They do a finger puppet play and create hatchable dinosaur eggs.

Middle schoolers, in groups, create a slide show about the ecosystem and answer critical thinking questions based on their research.

In this biology worksheet, students answer 22 multiple choice questions on ecosystem. They identify which ecosystem component is described in each of the question.

Eighth graders design posters of working ecosystems using pictures from magazines. They label autotrophic, heterotropic, or saprotrophic energy sources, and identify predators and prey.

Learners examine how animals protect themselves from predators and camouflage themselves. They participate in a simulation in which they locate red and green yarn "caterpillars," organize their data, and generate a bar graph using...

Students explain the different stages in the growth of a frog, then analyze and collect data to make generalizations about a larger population. They determine the survival rate of a population of tadpoles under controlled conditions.

Fifth graders observe their plant experiments that they started in a previous lesson and examine the role of decomposers in the nitrogen cycle. Two weeks after they set up a worm terrarium, they analyze any changes they observe, and...

Students examine why certain animals live in only specific places throughout the world. Using animals, they classify them based on their characteristics and identify their basic needs. They also observe and compare the life cycles of...