Students understand the importance of saving seeds. In this saving seeds instructional activity, students dry out seeds for later use planting. Students recognize that one plant may have many seeds.

Middle schoolers redesign their school to make it more energy efficient, and create a model of their design. Learners get together in groups of 5, and they take on the task of making their school more energy efficient. To do this, they...

In this fungi instructional activity, students will review the growth and reproduction of zygomycetes and the characteristics of ascomycotes, basidiomycotes, and deuteromycotes. This instructional activity has 15 fill in the blank, 4...

Students examine the life cycle of the Pacific salmon and the impact of humans on salmon migration. They watch a Powerpoint presentation, trace migration routes on satellite imagery, and complete mock calculations of salmon energy...

Students participate in a simulation in which they discover the threats to sea turtles throughout the world. In groups, they act out the life cycle of a sea turtle and describe the stresses that threaten their survival. As a class,...

Learners examine the value of ecosystems. They read and analyze an article, evaluate ecosystem services, research the benefits of biomonitors, and design a public service announcement.

Learners examine the causes and effects of alterations in a forest ecosystem and evaluate how human actions may only seem to have minor consequences, but can lead to extinctions of large numbers of populations. Students produce an...

Students discuss what to do with a very sick fish and help it to die without much pain. As a class, they answer questions about the fish and if they believe it is suffering or not. Using their own experiences, they share how they dealt...

Students compare the life cycle of an animal hatched from an egg with one born from its mother's womb. The lesson focuses on dinosaur eggs. They create dinosaur eggs from balloons and papier mache.

Learners build a model rocket. In this model rocket instructional activity, students explore a rocket launch cycle. Learners investigate the laws of physics for each part of the launch. Students build model rockets and launch at school.

The need for a respiratory system in humans versus being reliant on gas exchange structures is demonstrated. There are many details about the advantages and disadvantages of each mechanism.  Students are able to learn about the...

Students discover how coroners use insect life cycles to estimate the time of death in cases. they describe how forensic entomologists combine environmental factors with insect life cycles to note the changes. Students examine an...

Some like it hot! Scholars observe both exothermic and endothermic reactions as part of the carbon dioxide oxygen cycle. First, scientists demonstrate (or watch) a chemical reaction to create pure oxygen using fire for...

Students investigate Earth and its resources. In this Earth, space, and nature lesson plan, students collaborate to design presentations on the Earth, its cycles, and how humans have impacted the planet. Images, diagrams, and background...

Learners explain that ants are an important element of nature's balance. Ants eat many insects and are food to other animals. They watch a video and conduct hands-on activities that give them an excellent overview of the ants role in...

Create a creature using some of the characteristics of a real animal. Second graders will read a book from the "Froggy," series by Johnathan London to learn about the characteristics of frogs. After discussing and recording various...

Students use a website to name and compare external body parts of humans and other animals.

Students conduct experiments on fertilized chicken embryos to determine the possible developmental effects that various recreational drugs (caffeine, alcohol, nicotine, and aspirin) might have on them.

Second graders research animal life spans and complete related math activities. For this life span lesson, 2nd graders read How Many Candles and discuss life spans. Students arrange animal cards based on their life spans. Students find...

Students are led through three activities to explore the effect of temperature fluctuations on the growth and survival of aquatic plants, clams, and shrimp eggs.

Students take a field trip to a farm or observe pictures of farms and animals in the classroom. They paint a mural of a farm setting with animals. They practice phonetic skills with farm stories and songs. They explain how milk becomes...

Learn how ocean currents are vital to humans and marine life. The eighth installment of a 23-part NOAA Enrichment in Marine sciences and Oceanography (NEMO) program, focuses on ocean currents and how they affect global climate. The...

Students demonstrate effects of waste on environment and ways of reducing it, observe how much packaging goes into bag lunches each day, and survey their families to assess awareness levels and household recycling practices. Lessons all...

Student use MY NASA DATA to obtain precipitation and cloud type data. They create graphs of data within MY NASA DATA. Students compare different cloud types, compare precipitation, and cloud type data They qualitatively describe graphs...