Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Lepidoptera Project

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students are introduced to Scientific Inquiry and discover how to design an experiment that answers critical questions using butterflies as the topic. They design experiments that compare the number of species of butterflies in a vacant,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Valley of the Butterflies

For Teachers 1st
First graders explore why butterfly populations in Idaho's Lapwai Valley have decreased.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Carbon Adventures Game

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders examine the processes and transformations that occur in carbon pools. They play a game to identify paths taken by carbon through the environment.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Flora, Fauna, and the Passing Seasons

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Learners discover representations in art, religion and cultural practices of the flora and fauna of specific geographical regions in this early elementary lesson plan. The lesson ends with a mural project by the entire class.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What We As Students Can Do To Save Our World

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students investigate air and water pollution, and the conservation of natural resources.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Violets, Daffodils, Roses and Thorn

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders complete a variety of exercises and activities surrounding the scientific and artistic properties of the parts and processes of a plant/flower.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Peeled Trees Tell The Story

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students investigate the diversity of life that is found in Montana. They research some of the different interactions that organisms have with their environment. The lesson plan includes an extensive introduction for teacher information....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Bell Live! The Great Lakes: A Superior Adventure

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students participate in a virtual field trip to Lake Superior. In groups, they perform experiments in which test the level of toxins and bacteria in the water. They also watch video segments life in the lake and discuss their observations.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Polymerase Chain Reaction and DNA Profiling

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Learners examine DNA fingerprinting and polymerase chain reaction and how they are used in everyday life and for criminal investigations. They discover how these techniques can also be used to answer ecological and evolutionary questions.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Whole World

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students discuss and evaluate the use of the Yin and Yang symbols in Chinese history, making connections to current trends in Chinese culture. Emphasis is placed on small group discussions.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Scientific Approach to Teaching about Evolution

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers examine fossils and analyzing their significance in relation to theories of evolution. Hand-outs are provided. This instructional activity could be supplementary to a broader unit on evolution or geology.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ecology - Ecosystem

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders research ecosystems, the work of ecologists, John Muir's contribution to the environment and an endangered species of their choice. They read books, participate in discussions, and write reports.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

"Tri-County" Project--Ground Water

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Young scholars explore data on some of the landforms in Nebraska to distinguish between porous and nonpremeable soils. The state's groundwater is investigated.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

"Tri-County" Project--Ogallala Aquifer

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Learners explore the Ogallala Aquifer in the state of Nebraska. The signs of pollution found are examined and the data classified.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

"Tri-County" Project--Rivers Lakes Reservoirs

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students examine data about the rivers, lakes, and reservoirs in the state of Nebraska. An understanding of the political implications of boundaries is developed.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Tri-County Project: Precipitation

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students examine and research the annual rainfall in Nebraska. They create a map of the annual rainfall in Nebraska and use the map to develop explanations of settlement.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Unit on Henry David Thoreau

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners investigate the writings of Thoreau in order to better comprehend his impact on American Literature and unique writing style. Working to evaluate the different pieces of writing, they read the essays in order to create their own...
Assessment
Science Matters

Ecosystem Pre-Assessment

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Test scholars' knowledge of ecosystems with a 20-question pre-assessment. Assessment challenges learners to answer multiple choice questions, read diagrams, and complete charts.
PPT
Curated OER

Measuring Evolution of Populations

For Teachers 9th - 12th
The Hardy-Weinberg principle is the focus of this concise slideshow.  Some vocabulary definitions are given on the first 2 slides, and the rest are given over to examples of the Hardy-Weinberg theorem. Calculations of the H-W...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Prairie Scales and Prairie Smoothies

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders explore the animals that live on the prairie and identify differences between amphibians and reptiles and the adaptations each have made to live on the prairie.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Comparing Hares and Rabbits

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders research and investigate the Arctic hare and the snowshoe hare, and the order hares and rabbits. They explore an animal website and compare/contrast the two animals, recording their data on a chart.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Kalahari Explorations

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students research the area of the Kalahari Desert. They use the online and print resources and evaluate the information they find. They present their information to the class.
Lesson Plan
Sea World

Endangered Species

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Study different endangered species with several activities that incorporate math, science, language arts, and research strategies. A great addition to your activity on conservation or Earth Day.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Butterfly 2: A Butterfly's Home

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students determine which environmental characteristics make up a favorable butterfly habitat.