Fourth graders explore insect life by viewing a soil presentation in class. In this composting lesson plan, 4th graders read assigned text about the process of composting soil and the necessity of soil in plant life. Students view video...

Learners select and collect soil samples from a variety of locations (schoolyard, home, etc.). They do this lab after an interest-generating discussion about "dirt" and microbes. Students make a dilution in sterile water, plate it on a...

Students role play bees finding nectar. they put on bee tails and antenna. Then 3 or 4 students at a time performed the dances bees do when one is communicating to the others that he has found nectar and the when they are close the...

The student will identify the difference in the rate of plant growth in three soils that vary in organic matter.1. Obtain three to four flowerpots, different types of soil, a record chart, three to five beans for each pot, and water....

Students identify various animals and their habitats, as well as their specific traits For this animal habitat lesson, students list animals they've seen in their backyard. Students select one animal and do research. Students then answer...

Students identify the different types of mouths arthropods have for eating various types of food. Given photographs of the different types of arthropods, students identify which mouth they have and what type of food they can eat with...

Third graders recognize and examine ecosystems. They observe and describe habitats within ecosystems and observe and identify organisms with similar needs that compete for resources.

Young scholars observe termite trail-following behavior.  In this termite trails lesson, students draw a circle or other shape approximately eight inches across with a ball point pen.  Teacher taps out termites into the circle...

Students explore the traits of ladybugs. In this ladybug lesson, students read books, sing songs, and learn fingerplays about ladybugs. Students also create their own ladybugs.

First graders create their own puppet book to go with "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" book.

Student role play and draw the various stages an insect goes through to become a butterfly. They discover the different stages of how a caterpillar becomes a butterfly. Young scholars read The Very Hungry Caterpilla by Eric Carle.

Students access a variety of unique food from around the world themed websites. They locate information about foods that Americans might find strange like monkey brains, insects and snakes. They view recipes and photographs.

Students explore botany by defining the anatomy of a tree. In this environmental exploration lesson, students research plant vocabulary terms and discuss the uses of each word. Students create a "human" tree by role-playing as one of the...

Third graders play the roles of various organisms in an ecosystem (focusing on insects) and pass yarn or string around to other organisms from largest animals to the smallest. The end product is a web which shows how all of these animals...

Eighth graders visit a local park to collect insects. They record the habitats, identify the insect and write a report including the kingdom, phylum, class, and order.

Students of all ages are introduced to the geography of Illinois. Depending on the grade level, they participate in different activities which allow them to discover Illinois in the past and present. They examine the animals and...

Fourth graders find bugs represented on a grid and then identify their name and physical characteristics that provide a picture of the bug using imagery.

Learners determine the function of various insect parts they have observed. Using descriptive words, they explain the insects' characteristics and draw pictures of them. The instructional activity concludes with students writing short...

Fourth graders gain an understanding of how insects/organisms are impacted by factors that are essential to an organism's survival in a particular habitat. They see how lacking just one element of a habitat can affect an organisms chance...

Second graders study the differences between spiders and insects. They observe four different specimens in the classroom.

Students research carnivorous plants and how they trap insects. They role play as botanists to write a research field guide about a newly discovered imaginary carnivorous plant.

Students identify how humans, fish, plants, birds, insects and other wildlife benefit from wetland environments. They observe a wetland and its inhabitants, draw a migration map that represents how birds use wetlands in traveling long...

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...

Seventh graders investigate the consequences of insect infestation of trees over a period of time. this lesson can tailgate a segment on the life cycle of beetles and lead off a environmental lesson.