Virginia Department of Education
Organisms in Symbiosis
Searching for an activity that allows emerging biologists to explore symbiosis up close and personal? Pupils collect samples and view lichens through a microscope and conclude with a discussion about the relationship they have with other...
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Coevolution: A Simulation
Students participate in a demonstration in which they must attempt to suck liquid from varying containers with straws of varying sizes. They discuss the concept of coevolution and see why this activity illustrate the coevolution of...
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Pollination
Fourth graders explore the pollination process. In this plant biology instructional activity, 4th graders dissect a flower to identify the parts of a flower and watch a video to see seed dispersal. Students write about the pollination...
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Good Bug Survey
In this bug survey worksheet, students fill in squares on a graphic organizer with information about flowers currently blooming, hiding places for "good bugs," and any bugs they have seen that are helpful for pollination, as food for...
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Pollination
In this pollination worksheet, students read and assess comprehension. In this labeling and filling in the blanks worksheet, students answer fourteen questions.
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Ecosystems and Climate
Pupils examine climatic effects on ecosystems. They plant tomatoes and observe the differences in plant growth with differences in light. They create picture collages of plants, animals, and insects found in each climate of the U.S.
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If It Smells Good, Is Edible, and Attracts Wildlife, Then It's a Practical Garden
Students explore landscape design. In this practical gardening lesson, students design landscape plans that call for shrubs, trees, and plants that can be used for aesthetics, cooking, and wildlife.
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Plant Adaptations
Students identify parts of prairie plants. They sketch the plants indicating its adaptive parts and write brief descriptions of them. They present their findings to the class.
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Classifying Living and Non-Living Objects
Students investigate living organisms and define the properties of a living species. In this life characteristic lesson, students examine plants in their class and discuss whether or not they are alive. Students create a living vs....
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Students Solutions - Saving Our Surroundings
Students explore the environmental impact of humans on the plants and animals in their state. In this environmental impact lesson, students use digital cameras to photograph plants and animals in their state. Students investigate the...
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Be A Bug Scout
Students perform outside activities to determine the amount of insects, flowers, or common weeds within an area. They predict the number of insects they will find within their square area. Using calculators, students organize the data...
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Nuts About Peanuts
First graders explore peanuts. For this peanut lesson, 1st graders examine the parts of peanut plants and identify them. Students plant their own peanut plants and chart their growth.
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Tic Tac Plant Parts
This plant biology PowerPoint introduces plant parts and their functions. This PowerPoint allows students to identify each plant part on a diagram, along with its' function. The slides contain a clear explanation of how each plant part...
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Dichotomous Key for Identifying Pine Trees
Students identify the species of pine trees that are found in their area. They use unlabeled "mystery" samples and a dichotomous key to identify the pine trees to species. After identification, they use a field guide to answer worksheet...
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Pumpkin Patch
Young scholars create a pumpkin art project that outlines the life cycle of a pumpkin in order to learn the growth process of this particular vegetable. In this pumpkin art lesson, students first review the life cycle of a pumpkin as a...
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Design a Pollinator
Students make a scientific drawing of a pollinator with at least five traits that make them well adapted to a given plant(s). They describe in their science notebook the adaptations that make their pollinator well suited to a given plant.
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Biology: Butterfly Activities
Second graders examine various types of butterflies and insects around their school. They identify differences between beetles and butterflies. Students examine books about butterflies, complete symmetry drawings, and make ladybug key...
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Paper Pulp Painting
Students draw an animal on a white piece of paper and add a background of leaves or flowers. They color the drawings and rip up construction paper that is the same color as the colors they chose for their drawings. They turn the...
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Start a Herbarium
Students explore importance of a herbarium and start one of their own.
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Caterpillar Camouflage
Students list animals, plant parts, and reasons for caterpillars to camouflage themselves. In this animal and plant adaptations lesson plan, students also play a game where they use colors as camouflage.
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Plant Parts Resource Pages
In this plant worksheet, students study the names of plant parts and the function of each part. There are no questions associated with this page.
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Locating Echo
Young scholars read the book The Adventure of Echo the Bat. In this animal science lesson, students read the book and create a chart labeled "Land Feature," "Habitat," and "Food." Young scholars fill in the table according to where the...
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Fossil Formation Fun
Students compare the three types of fossils: preserved organisms, mineral replacement fossils, and impression fossils. They create a model of amber,
sponge fossil, and make traces of fossil.
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Giant Smelly Plant Attracts Thousands
Read and discuss a news article about a rare corpse plant that bloomed in Washington D.C. Because this native Indonesian plant blooms so rarely, people flock to see it. After reading the article, your class answers comprehension...