Cornell University
Wasps and Ladybugs
Can a good bug ever become a bad bug? An elementary entomology resource explores what to do when too many ladybugs or too many bees are in your home and can become a problem.
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Hibernating Hoopla
Students simulate hibernation with their stuffed animals. They predict the length of time of hibernation and type their math journal entries about sorting, graphing and draw pictures. They read bear hibernation stories.
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Bats: Need Nectar, Will Travel
Beginning wildlife biologists become adult bats, baby bats, snakes, owls, bobcats, or land-clearing developers in a grand role-playing activity. In a large open space, they play a game in which they move to designated areas based on what...
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Winter Survival
Students examine what animals need in order to survive. In this investigative lesson students play a "role" of an animal in winter.
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Bears/Hibernation
Students study the hibernation process of bears through the making of a bear's cave.
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Grizzly Hibernation
Students explain why and how grizzlies hibernate. They make a den using cardboard boxes. They write a story told from a new-born grizzly.
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Going Batty
In this bats worksheet, students read 10 facts about bats. Students also choose the correct words from the box to complete the sentences.
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Winer Survival
Students study how animals need water, food, shelter, and space to survive. They also study what animals need to survive in the winter. They play the part of animals and winter "threats" in a game of tag to reinforce concepts.
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Snow Lovers or Haters
Students explain the three classifications that define how wildlife species react to winter; and name at least four examples each of chionophobes, chioneuphores, and chionophiles.
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Birds and Coffee
Fifth graders identify the changing seasons with how they affect animal and human behavior. They explain what migration is and why many birds migrate south for the winter. They then trace the coffee sold in their neighborhood and in...
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Let's Get Warm!
Students investigate various methods that animals use to warm up in cold weather. They also explore the science principals involved. They then identify a human parallel, discuss what we can learn from nature, and create multimedia...
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Planting Seeds Around the World
First graders discuss the book The Lorax and research what living things need. In this environmental lesson plan, 1st graders investigate how humans affect the growth of plants. Students conduct an experiment with sunflowers.
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Deer Yard Investigation
Students study the survival strategies of deer during the winter. They investigate the resistance behavior of white tailed deer to winter conditions after discussing migration, hibernation, and resistance as survival techniques. They...
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Esperanza Rising: Lesson 7
Sixth graders discuss the vocabulary word, "migrate" and what it means and how it relates to the novel they are reading, Esperanza Rising. In this novel lesson, 6th graders read chapter 7 of their novel in small groups and complete a...
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BATS: NEED NECTAR, WILL TRAVEL
Students play the role of nectar feeding bats on their annual migration
and try to avoid the different hazards that hinder their progress. They describe the annual migration of long-nosed bats including key elements such as: where the...
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Weatherman Phil
Third graders examine the life of a groundhog and their role in predicting weather. They write a postcard or a letter to Punxsutawney Phil on the Internet.
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Groundhog Day
Learners use the SMART Board to learn about Groundhog day and create a tally chart of predictions for whether he will see his shadow or not. In this Groundhog day lesson plan, students respond to questions throughout the lesson.
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At the Crossroads
Third graders explore where South Africa is and then research details about the country to fully assess the background to the book, "At the Crossroads." They receive a map of Africa and color in the country of South Africa and list five...
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Bats
Young scholars examine the migration patterns of the long-nosed bat. They identify threats to the animal and the plants bats help pollinate. They participate in a game to help them with the information.
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Bats Migrate South
Students examine the life of bats in Illinois. Using the internet, they research the history of the bat in Illinois and describe the way they find prey by using echolocation. They report their findings to the class and answer any...
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Bugsicles (A Frozen Insect Larva You can Find!)
Students explore how animals survive in the winder. After attending a gall-collecting field trip, students place them in a freezer. Once frozen, the students open the gall flay larva and observe it as the larva revives. Students...
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Tick-Tock: Biological Clock
Learners complete several activities that stimulate their assessment of time. They consider the term 'biological clock' and how animals in the wild depend on their own internal clocks for survival.
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Spring Fling
Students take part in a number of activities that center around a spring theme. They draw the steps to show process of growing seeds.
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Animal Instincts
Students compare animal adaptations to human behavior. For this science lesson, students discuss animal instincts vs. learned behavior. Options for student writing, drawing and research are incorporated into this lesson plan