Science Matters
Seed Adaptations for Dispersal
After a grand conversation about seeds, adaptation, and dispersal, scholars work collaboratively to examine seeds and record their findings on a four-column chart. Small groups share their observations and further discuss seed...
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Food Webs
Sixth graders discuss and describe consumers and producers. They discuss and describe predator-prey relationship. Students review food chains. They form a circle, and each student is given an ecosystem card. Student at the top is given...
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TAKING APART OWL PELLETS
Students dissect and owl pellet and then reconstruct small rodents on a presentation board using a textbook picture as a guide.
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Keep It Clean!
Fifth graders investigate the how water becomes polluted and how it effects the environment, animals, and humans. They watch a video and conduct experiments.
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The Wonderful World of Slugs
Examine a slug? Of course, what else would a 2nd grader do with it? Pupils use clues and go on a slug hunt, read a slug story, or make a cooperative group mural of a slug's habitat. While older learners catalog slugs, go on a slug hunt,...
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Biodiversity
Fifth graders visit the playground to look for signs of life. They search for insects, birds, animal tracks, feathers, nests, trees, soil, etc. They then compose a class list that shows all findings in the schoolyard and post it in the...
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Go With the Energy Flow
Students explore energy and nutrient flow. In this science activity, students diagram the flow of energy through food chains and food webs. Students discuss the importance of energy flow in Earth's ecosystems.
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Connect the Species
Fourth graders, in pairs, explore energy transfer and species interrelationships by viewing slides on a microscope. hey explore phytoplankton (producers) and zooplankton (consumers)
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Building a Dichotomous Key
Students analyze how a dichotomous key helps us explain and identify unknown organisms. They design and construct a dichotomous key, developing a list of three observable characteristics per organism.
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Have You Ever Seen a Sea Monkey?
Fourth graders observe brine shrimp over several days. They create drawings showing the growth and development of the shrimp. They research web sites to find out where brine shrimp fit on the food chain and what makes the shrimp unique.
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Who Is Eating Whom?
Young scholars discuss the food chain and identify if various organisms are producers or consumers. They draw ten types of organisms and construct a food web of these organisms, labelling each as a producer or consumer.
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Endangered Organism Project
Students examine how different organisms meet the characteristics of life. They study specific endangered species and what caused their endangerment. They vcomplete a power point research project.
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Panther Scavenger Hunt
Students research the Internet to fill out their scavenger hunt sheet. In this research lesson students search the Internet for answers to the questions on the scavenger hunt worksheet.
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Food Webs
Students identify predator/prey relationships based on the food web of the tropical rain forest ecosystem and realize they need a food web for survival. In this food web lesson plan, students complete a role play activity being animals...
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Something Fishy - Bioaccumulation of Mercury
Students explore the dangers of eating high levels of mercury and how small amounts of mercury in water accumulate in greater quantities in organisms higher in the food chain. They list the health of effects of high levels of mercury on...
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Taking Apart Owl Pellets
Students dissect an owl pellet. In this rodent and bone structure lesson, students work in groups to take apart an owl pellet. Students separate all the tiny bones from the fur and use the bones to reconstruct the rodent on a tag board....
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What is Cacao?
Students use the Internet to learn about the cacao plant. For this plants lesson, students complete a KWL chart on chocolate, learn about cocoa plants and discuss the parts of a plant. Students use the Internet to learn how the cacao...
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Colorado Animals Newsletter and Directed Web Page
Students select a Colorado animal, develop a Directed Web page, and research their animal. Each member of the group combine their research and develop a Newsletter.
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Native Species Restoration and its Impact on Local Populations
High schoolers explore how predators help control the growth of prey species for a more balanced ecosystem.
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Bird Brained?
High schoolers identify general abilities that indicate animal cognitive intelligence. In this biology lesson, students create an intelligence testing challenge for ravens. They compare its ability to that of a crow.
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Worms! Nature's Recyclers
Third graders explore the process of composting. In this composting lesson, 3rd graders read the book Wonderful Worms, and create composters.
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Exercise and Water
Second graders discover the needs of their body by trying different types of aerobic exercise. In this physical education lesson, 2nd graders analyze The Busy Body Book by glancing at the pictures inside and predicting what the content...
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Animal and Plant Habitats
Second graders write and illustrate a story. In this habitats lesson plan, 2nd graders learn about different types of plant and animal habitats. Students view video segments about habitats, answer comprehension questions, complete a...
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Cycles of Life in an Urban Habitat: Changes in Biodiversity
Second graders compare and contrast animate and inanimate objects. In this environmental science lesson, 2nd graders create simple food webs. They observe their environment and create a collage about it.