Curated OER
Adaptations and Evolutions of Species
Examples of natural selection over time will make the concept of evolution more clear to your students. This presentation is short but summarizes the mechanisms of isolation and selection clearly. This presentation would be useful to...
NOAA
What Little Herc Saw
See the underwater world through a different pair of eyes! Middle school marine biologists identify deep-sea organisms by examining images taken by an ROV from the Okeanos Explorer. After determining what creatures lie beneath the...
Curated OER
Create a Non-native/Invasion Species
Students view a video about non-native/invasion species. They create a non-native/invasion species that they think would have an impact on farming, industry, recreation, or water in the local environment.
Curated OER
Species Interactions
Students study the scientific concepts of biodiversity and conservation through the use of basic equations of population growth and hands-on experiments/simulations. The instructional activity includes a take-home assignment which can be...
Curated OER
Protecting Habitats and Species
Students recognize that scientists continuously gather and interpret data to understand and predict relationships among natural phenomena. They research various volcanoes and plot the volcano locations on a world map.
Curated OER
Endangered Relationships
Students study the interrelationship between the horseshoe crab and red knot. In this ecology lesson, students explain why several species became extinct. They research about endangered species found in their region.
Curated OER
Biological Relationships - Coral Reef Memory Game and Chain Game
Middle schoolers familiarize themselves with the interconnectedness of species within an ecosystem, and to use this knowledge to evaluate how the removal or decimation of one species can have far reaching effects.
National First Ladies' Library
Save the Animals: The Creation of the ASPCA
Students read Black Beauty and study the history of the founding of the ASPCA and learn about endangered species today. Then they write a short paper about the book, or on some aspect of the history of the ASPCA, and, after exploring the...
Curated OER
Meet One Picky Bird
Students complete a research project For this endangered species lesson, students use the "Think, Puzzle, Explore" method to learn about endangered species. Students research and write a report on the red-cockaded woodpecker.
Curated OER
Identifying an Earthworm
Learners navigate the Internet to learn to identify Earthworms. In this taxonomy instructional activity, students explore species of earthworms finding their characteristics and using photographs to identify the species. Learners...
Curated OER
SPLASH – Monitoring Humpback Whales
Middle schoolers view a video about the humpback whale and why it is endangered. In this endangered species lesson, students recognize the importance of observing and following an endangered species in an ecosystem. Middle schoolers...
It's About Time
Competition Among Organisms
Who knew plants could be so competitive? Join your class as they observe plants competing for space and nutrients. Middle and high schoolers describe possible effects of introducing a new species into an already established ecosystem,...
Biology Junction
Introduction to Biology
Welcome to Biology! Introduce pupils to a subject conceptualized by Aristotle in 300 BC through a presentation and worksheet. It covers the themes of biology, characteristics of life, the scientific method, microscopes, and measurements.
Curated OER
Rapa River Watch
Assess the risk of introducing a non-native species of snail to four different estuaries. Lab groups conduct research as habitat evaluation and present their conclusions to the class. The resource has a comprehensive booklet containing...
Curated OER
Introducing the Use of Dichotomous Keys to Students
Students are introduced to the use of dichotomous keys as a simple means of beginning scientific observations in nature. They comprehend how to use a dichotomous key. Students distinguish characteristics of a group of organisms. They...
Curated OER
Non Native Species: English Ivy-Landscape Plant or Deadly Killer?
Young scholars study the impact that invasive species have on biodiversity and more natural areas.
Curated OER
Alien Invaders: An Invasive Species Game
Young scholars are introduced to invasive species and how they affect the ecosystems they now occur in. They explore the basic life histories of several invasive species that are of regional and or national importance. Pupils...
Curated OER
Hawaii's Freshwater Animals - Species Report
Students explore biology by creating a report for the class. In this oceanography lesson, students research and identify the survival characteristics of a list of freshwater animals by utilizing the Internet and library. Students...
Curated OER
Classifying Commercial Marine Species
Students investigate taxonomy. They explore some of the commercial marine species caught in Magdalena Bay and develop a classification system for presented animals.
Curated OER
Scientists Find 27 New Species in Caves
Young scholars share their knowledge of creatures that live in caves, then read a news article about new cave animals that have been found in California. In this current events lesson, the teacher introduces the article with a discussion...
Curated OER
Phragmites australis: Invasive Plant Species
Young scholars research and investigate invasive species, with specific focus on the exotic plant Phargmites australis and its impact on Piermont Marsh near the community of Piermont, New York.
Field Museum
The Case of Darwin's Finches
One of the most striking pieces of evidence for Darwin's Evolution of Species was his observations of finches and how their beaks differed from island to island, depending on their primary food sources. So what would happen to the theory...
Curated OER
Endangered Species
Students conduct Internet research on endangered species. They select an endangered species, identify its physical and behavioral characteristics, and create a Powerpoint presentation.
Curated OER
Invasive Species
Students explore invasive species. In this species analysis lesson, students observe invasive species and review the impact the species have on the environment. Students work in groups to investigate the species in varying habitats....