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Primary And Secondary Succession
Young scholars cover the topics of primary and secondary succession with interest to its ties in the study of ecosystems. They study how the introduction of an insect can effect the ecological balance. Students make predictions and write...
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Classifying Living and Non-Living Objects
Students investigate living organisms and define the properties of a living species. For this life characteristic lesson, students examine plants in their class and discuss whether or not they are alive. Students create a...
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Suburban Ecosystems
Students conduct simple sampling of plant and insect biodiversity at ground level in two contrasting environments of their own choosing. They recognize and record different species then compare and contrast species numbers in the two...
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Science: Finlay and Yellow Fever
Ninth graders research the work of Carlos J. Finlay and his contributions to science. Once they have discussed his theories about diseases, they create tables comparing diseases that use insects as carriers. The lesson also includes a...
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Life Cycle of Butterfly
Second graders investigate life cycles of insects by writing a story. In this butterfly life lesson plan, 2nd graders create a checklist of the many steps a caterpillar takes before growing wings and flying. Students utilize...
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Vermicomposting
Fourth graders explore insect life by viewing a soil presentation in class. In this composting lesson, 4th graders read assigned text about the process of composting soil and the necessity of soil in plant life. Students view video clips...
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Busy, Busy Bees
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...
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Dirt Life
Students 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...
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COMPARE SOILS BY GROWING PLANTS
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....
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Critters in Your Own Backyard
Pupils identify various animals and their habitats, as well as their specific traits In this animal habitat instructional activity, students list animals they've seen in their backyard. Pupils select one animal and do research. Students...
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Arthropod Mouth Parts and Food
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...
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What Are Ecosystems?
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.
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Termite Trails
Students observe termite trail-following behavior. For 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 and...
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The Ladybug Lesson
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.
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The Very Hungry Caterpillar Puppet Book
First graders create their own puppet book to go with "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" book.
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How a Caterpillar Becomes a Butterfly
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. Students read The Very Hungry Caterpilla by Eric Carle.
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Food: Unusual Dishes From Around the World
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.
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Making a Human Tree
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...
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Web of Life - Ecosystem
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...
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Bringing Illinois into the Curriculum
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...
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Crazy Critters
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.
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"Bug Hunt"
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.
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Science: Bugs and Body Parts
Young scholars determine the function of various insect parts they have observed. Using descriptive words, they explain the insects' characteristics and draw pictures of them. The lesson concludes with students writing short sentences...
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Habitat Breakdown
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...