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Land Use Issues
Learners research the different habitats found in the world. They also examine the land use issues that affect each of the habitats. They also research any environmental issues affecting the habitat they are researching.
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Hide & Seek Butterflies
Students examine a variety of butterflies and discuss how they believe they get their color variations. In groups, they brainstorm the advantages and disadvantages of their color schemes. To end the lesson, they watch butterflies in...
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Planet X
Students select a wide variety of presentation methods to compare Planet X and Earth. Students share these with their classmates. Students select other methods to present their ideas about a livable planet for human life forms. ...
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Pine Rockland Walk
Students take a field trip to the pine rockland area and identify three characteristics. In groups, they research the types of plants native to the area and the effect of non-native plants. To end the lesson, they examine the impact of...
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Trout Cookies
Students explore the external anatomy of a fish. In this anatomy and adaptations lesson, students look at an image of a trout and identify its various external features including fins, eyes, spots, parr marks and lateral line. Students...
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Power Totem
Students investigate the important symbols to Native cultures by writing a poem. For this animal totem lesson, students discuss animal spirits and their relation to the Native American lifestyle. Students write a cinquain poem about a...
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The Schoolyard Safari
Students engage in a lesson to find out more information about insects. They collect and observe different insects found on school property. They research the insects once they have been classified. Also a video is used to create a...
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Life Science Investigation
Middle schoolers work to investigate an aspect of life science of interest to them from a list. Using the Internet, they research information and take notes on what to include in their presentation. They share their findings with the...
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Along the Birdhouse Trail
Students set up and maintain birdhouses on the school grounds in an effort to witness and capture (through video and photos) the major stages in the life cycle of cavity-nesting birds.
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The Envelope Please
Students research an animal of the rainforest. They create a computerized claymation to present their research.
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School Forest
Sixth graders explore the concept of biodiversity. In this biodiversity instructional activity, 6th graders discover a variety of planets and animals that live in forests, and how a rotting log benefits that environment. Students also...
Chicago Botanic Garden
Plant Phenology Data Analysis
Scientists monitor seasonal changes in plants to better understand their responses to climate change, in turn allowing them to make predictions regarding the future. The last activity in the series of six has scholars analyze BudBurst...
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2nd Grade - Act. 25: Creature Creation
Create a creature using some of the characteristics of a real animal. Second graders will read a book from the "Froggy," series by Johnathan London to learn about the characteristics of frogs. After discussing and recording various...
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Penguins Around the World
Students investigate penguins. In this Science activity, students compare and contrast penguins to flying birds. Students use a Venn diagram to illustrate the differences and similarities of penguins and flying birds.
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Innovation for Good
Many historical innovations were created for the common good. Get your students ready for life as a critical thinker with this lesson which defines the differences between innovation and invention. They will conduct Internet research,...
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Birds of A Feather
Students observe and record the many types of birds they see in a month. They discover the many patterns birds follow and compare their results with other classrooms. They complete a field assessment as the final activity for this lesson.
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Week 8 - Sea Life
Using a magnifier, mini marine biologists examine the barbules of a bird feather. They swirl the it into a mixture of oil and water and then re-examine the feather. After the activity, discuss how the oily feathers pose a problem to sea...
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Digital Animal Presentations
First graders explore animals and digital presentations. They chose an animal and identify the physical traits of the animal. Students classify the animal using the physical traits. They create a presentation about their chosen animal.
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Aquatic Exotics
Students identify and describe the aquatic exotic species found in Illinois. Using the internet, they research the species origins and discover their effects on native species in the area. They discuss how appropriate it is to introduce...
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Careers With an Aquatic Emphasis
Students are introduced to careers with an aquatic emphasis. They take a self-evaluation test on what they enjoy in school to determine which career is right for them. They listen to people in the field discuss what their job is like.
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Illinois Biodiversity
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...
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Leaf, Tree and Prairie Study
Students are introduced to the topic of Botany and the process of photosynthesis. Using various habitats, they research the amount of destruction it is facing and how to solve the problem. They make a leaf booklet with leaves they find...
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Farm Animals Thematic Unit
Student study farm animals by watching a teacher made PowerPoint presentation and visiting a farm. They research a farm animal with teacher assistance. They design a book about the animals using available technology and orally present...
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Enemies and Threats to Sea Horses
Students research threats and enemies of the sea horse. For this animal biology lesson, students use the Internet to find threats and enemies of sea horses and write a paragraph on their findings.