Students explore invasive species on an environment.  In this exploratory lesson students hypothesize why shrimp are on the decline and make a brochure or poster showing their results. 

Students research the Gulf of Mexico oil spill and complete experiments to study the effects of oil spills. In this oil spill activity, students read the NY Times feature on the gulf oil spill. Students visit various links to research...

Dive into a lesson on marine ecosystem interactions. Individuals learn about and devise a marine food web. The resource provides organism cards and pupils use article resources to discover interactions before modeling them in a food web.

What did Earth look like 4.5 billion years ago, and what was the climate like then? Scholars explore a view of Earth throughout history. They observe continents moving, temperatures fluctuating, and huge changes in ecosystems. A...

Pupils use the scientific inquiry method to examine the ecosystems and biomes in Illinois. Using the characteristics of a local habitat, they identify the best conditions for an ecosystem to survive and how a slight change can damage...

Students conduct a thorough investigation of the Arctic and how climate change affects it. After listing a KWL chart, they record their findings on a bulletin board. Finally, in an Arctic Alive! interactive lesson, students take a...

Seventh graders investigate the concept of how an ecosystem is put together while conducting research using a variety of resources. They correctly differentiate between a herbivore and carnivore by placing them in the order of hierarchy...

Students investigate the chemistry of water and how its molecular structure supports life through its biochemcial, physical, and environmental roles. They investigate the quality of water as it interacts with the environment. Students...

Students examine the different plants and animals in British Columbia.  In this forest ecology lesson students explore how ecosystems work, classify animals and investigate food webs and chains. 

Students discuss key terms used to describe ecosystems and how humans are altering natural resources. They listen to the book, Grandfather's Wisdom, and list the renewable and nonrenewable resources they have used or consumed in the past...

Students identify and describe local poisonous plant/animals. They compare characteristics of three local ecosystems and describe common plants from different ecosystems; comparing shapes, colors, textures, and measuring sizes.

Students apply the ecological pyramids of numbers and biomass with an activity using topographic maps. In this trophic level lesson, students work in groups using a topographic map to determine the number of organisms that can live in an...

Young scholars find out that all habitats have a carrying capacity. They explore how the world's human population has grown markedly in the 20th century, and that humans impact environmental health. Students investigate that people can...

Young scholars explain the impact of ecological organization. In this web-based lesson, students work through a series of activities to explain how biotic and abiotic interactions occur in ecosystems.

Learners engage in a creative project of making a paper koi pond meant to illustrate the type of life that can be found in the pond ecosystem. They build cultural appreciation for the Japanese by researching the use of the koi ponds.

In this mini pond worksheet, students create a mini-pond ecosystem with soil, water, and plant life. Students let their ecosystem sit for a day and they observe a sample the next day. Students identify all the pond water microorganisms...

Students explore the coral reef. In this food chain lesson plan, students study the plants and animals of the coral reef and how they each play a role in that ecosystem. They participate in a class play to demonstrate the types of...

Students participate in an interactive lesson using the scientific method to study biodiversity.  In this insect monitoring lesson, students simulate the layers of soil and the insects that would live there. Students design...

Students design and build an ecologically balanced living space based on the principles of an old growth forest. They take one part of a house (or structure in the community) and redesign it according to the principles of the forest cycle.

Fourth graders study about food chains. With the assistance of a local biologist, Students hike the school trail system. They explore ecosystem and collect data by charting the organisms found and identifying the energy source. They...

Ninth graders explore how to apply ecological analysis to cropping systems.  In this agro-ecosystem lesson students study management practices including soil and fertility. 

Ninth graders apply ecological analysis to fruit and vegetable production systems.  In this horticulture lesson students learn about different management practices.

Students analyze data to solve the mystery of what contributed to an ecological disaster at Great Flathead Lake. They read and graph the available data, create a food web of the problem ecosystem, and construct a formal problem statement...

Middle schoolers research and create a marine food web to learn about plants and animals in a kelp forest. In this marine food web instructional activity, students draw lines between kelp forest predators and prey and show the flow of...