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,...
National Park Service
Subalpine Web
The theory of keystone species in an ecosystem was first established in 1969 by Robert T. Paine. Pupils open the final lesson in a five-part series with a game guessing which member of the alpine ecosystem they are based on clues. After...
Biology Junction
Nonvascular and Simple Vascular Plants: Mosses to Ferns
Sometimes conservationists use specific plants to prevent erosion or fight invasive species. A 50-slide presentation covers both nonvascular and vascular plants. It discusses the plants, their stages and life cycles, reproduction, uses,...
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
How Do We Know These Beetles Are Safe to Use?
Students evaluate the impact beetles have on plants. In groups, they select plants to expose to leaf-feeding beetles and place those beetles on the caged plants. They observe the beetles and discuss the insect and plant interaction...
Curated OER
Walk To School
Students recognize invasive plant species. They use their field notebooks with plant descriptions to identify and tally exotic invasive species either on their way to school or in their own neighborhood.
Curated OER
Life at Risk
Students examine the characteristics of the peregrine falcon. They investigate endangered and extinct species, and how the environment affects the process.
Curated OER
Coastal Ecology of the Bahamas
Sixth graders investigate the Bahamas through presentations and charts. In this ecology lesson, 6th graders utilize their library and Internet to research the life forms and species that inhabit the Bahamas. Students observe a...
Curated OER
Natural Inquirer Lesson Plan "Goldifinch and the Three Scales"
Students read articles in the Natural Inquirer on plants. In this plant lesson, students identify native and nonnative species. They find invasive species in their area and create a pamphlet for the community about it.
Curated OER
Alien Invasion
Students research how alien species can change an ecosystem. In this coral reef lesson, students describe invasive species and site evidence how these species came to be invasive and what control measures are possible.
Curated OER
Issues And Decisions 4
In this environment activity, students read a passage on why alien species should be introduced to ecosystems. Then they respond to four questions that refer to the passage read. Students also respond to two decision questions by giving...
Curated OER
Creating an Experimental Design
Students research the damage to the environment by certain plant species. They create an experimental design which they test how these species take over certain habitats. They share their information with the class.
Curated OER
What If There's No Light?
pupils discuss the importance of light and the consequences of living without it. Using a plant as a demonstration, students predict and observe what happens to a plant when it does not receive enough light. In groups, they experiment to...
Curated OER
Musical Milfoil
Learners 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.
Curated OER
My Giving Tree
Middle schoolers identify native and invasive trees. In this ecology lesson, students survey trees in their schoolyard and identify the species. Middle schoolers adopt a native tree sprout and record the growth in a journal.
Curated OER
Invasive Species
Students use the Internet to research non-native plants that exist in their local community. Using this information, they analyze the invasive species effect on their environment. In groups, they plan and execute their own project to...
Curated OER
Population Growth
Students grow duckweed, observe what happens when an organism population is allowed to grow without predation or competition, view videos about invasive species, and develop a proposal for controlling the growth of an invasive species in...
Curated OER
Physiological Adaptations
High schoolers investigate the concepts of genetics and how it is tied to the variations found within different species and how it is tied to adaptations. They review the theory of evolution and factors found to help create variation....
Curated OER
Working for Water
Learners examine the ways that government works to help improve aquatic habitats. In this water habitats activity students view a video and plan a school restoration project.
Curated OER
Invasive Aquatic Plant Identification
Students observe aquatic plants and animals and identify their systems. In this plants and animals lesson plan, students compare systems of organisms and orally express how plants and animals rely on each other.
Curated OER
Collecting and Pressing Plants
Learners engage in a lesson that is concerned with the study of native plants and classifying them according to a kind. They press them into a journal while identifying them according to species. Students compile the samples into a...
Curated OER
Exploring Limu Diversity
Young scholars explore limu diversity. In this ocean ecosystem lesson, students classify limu according to its physical properties. Young scholars work in small groups to generate scientific observations and sort limu by characteristics.
Curated OER
Educating the Community
Students research the effects of invasive and exotic plants. They create posters, webpages and books to educate the community. They present their material in different forums.
Arizona Cooperative Extension
Geocaching
Using GPS units, small groups participate in a scavenger hunt to find an object that you have hidden. They use coordinates for stopping points along a pre-planned path to get to the final cache. This is a terrific activity to include in...