Curated OER
Macroinvertebrate Mix and Match
Students are introduced to macroinvertebrates (primarily insects), the major segments of aquatic insects (the head, thorax and abdomen) and also differentiate between larval, nymph and adult stages. They investigate the head, thorax and...
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The Sounds Of Nature
Second graders investigate the concept of sounds in nature. The sound of a coqui frog is used as an example. They identify species of frogs by listening to the sounds they make. Also, 2nd graders experience and identify other sounds of...
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Prairies
Students identify the basic characteristics of the prairie ecosystem, and several commonly known prairie species. They create a classroom mural of a prairie ecosystem; and create reports about what they have found out.
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Evidence of Change
Students identify evidence of change in species using fossils, anatomical similarities, and embryology. They identify homologous structures and arrange the steps of fossil formation. Students complete a group of selection of organisms...
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The Process of Speciation
Students illustrate the results of natural selection by identifying conditions that could lead to the development of new species (speciation) based on a given description of environmental conditions and description of variation within a...
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Are You Balanced With Your Environment?
Young scholars discuss the impact of not keeping the environment in balance for future generations. As a class, they are introduced to the concept of "Balance of Nature" and what it means. In groups, they research the role of trees and...
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Biodiversity Memory Match Up
Students are introduced to the animals of Asia. In this biodiversity lesson, students use interactive maps to identify animals from Asia, then play a memory game to reinforce the information.
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Ecology and the St. Lawrence River
Ninth graders complete a unit of lessons on ecosystems, organism interactions, and energy flow. They create a key for known species of fish, diagram the movement of energy through an ecosystem, and create and present food chains and food...
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Difficult Decisions: The Sakinaw Sockeye Case Study
Eighth graders examine Sakinaw Sockeye as species at risk, participate in role playing exercise to consider different perspectives of various interest groups, and try to come to consensus on how to deal with dwindling Sakinaw sockeye...
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"Zoophyla"
Ninth graders gain an understanding of organims based on charateristics. They study about Kingdom Animalia and use technology to present knowledge of phyla. Finally, they create a new animal species of their own. When others present,...
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Bioregions of California
Pupils map out the bioregions of California by examining the species and environment in different areas of the state. They use information and pictures from a PowerPoint presentation to complete a map handout and play a trivia game.
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Limu in Your Lunch
Learners explore various types of algae found in Hawaii. For this science lesson, students research species of the three types of limu and identify various uses. Learners explore products that contain limu.
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School Site Ecosystem
Fourth graders are introduced to the concept of ecosystem; specifically, the interrelationships among plants and animals within an ecosystem, and their relationships to the environment in which they live and interact.
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Musical Milfoil
Students play a game that is a version of musical chairs to introduce them to invasive aquatic plants. In this aquatic plants lesson plan, students play 4 rounds of this game.
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Classify That!
Students get acquainted with diverse forms of life by using modern biological classification systems to group animals that are related. They explore basic scientific groupings like genus, species, mammals, fish, birds, amphibians, and...
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Career and Personal Planning
Young scholars visit Conservation in Action web site to watch three video interviews with Vancouver Aquarium researchers, complete Careers in Conservation worksheet, research threats facing species featured on Conservation web site, and...
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Classify That!
Students explore diverse forms of life by using modern biological classification systems to group animals that are related. Students then study basic scientific groupings like genus, species, mammals, fish, birds, amphibians, and...
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The History of Evolutionary Theory
Young scholars are introduced to the concept of evolution by natural selection from a historical standpoint. They examine the evidence and arguments that support the theory of natural selection.
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Does the Introduction of Pesticides and Fertilizers Alter an Aquatic Ecosystem?
Students conduct an experiment using a small sample from a local water source. They introduce fertilizers and pesticides, separately, and carefully examine the results in their simulated aquatic ecosystem.
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An Elephant Never Forgets
Students are introduced to the Addo Elephant National Park in South Africa. In this natural science lesson plan, students identify the elephants by name according to the diagrams. Students study the unique characteristics of the...
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Feral Cats
In this geography learning exercise, learners identify the feral cats of Australia. They read an excerpt and respond to the three questions that follow. Students also imagine that they are a part of scientific team that has been set up...
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Breaking Away (Or Not...)
Students compare and contrast common reproductive strategies used by benthic invertebrates. They describe the most common reproductive strategies among benthic invertebrates on a seamount, and explain why these strategi
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Verterbrate Classification
Students are introduced to the broad categories of vertebrates including fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals. They identify the characteristics of each group and then view slideshows and video of example species.
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Birds of Wisconsin
First graders explore the job done by ornithologists. They role play identifying the characteristics that make a bird a bird. They discuss what makes each bird species unique. Students are introduced to Wisconsin's most common and rare...