Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Life Cycle of a Frog

For Teachers Pre-K - K
Students investigate the life cycle of a frog. For this biology lesson, students read the book From Tadpole to Frog and use templates to identify the stages of the frog life cycle. Students draw the life cycle of the frog on construction...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Drawing of a Duck

For Students K - 1st
In this coloring worksheet, students examine a black line drawing of a cartoon-style duck swimming in water. There is no title on the page.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

ExplorA-Pond: 4th Grade Perimeter Estimation

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Your geometers are used to finding the perimeter of a square or rectangle, so give them something different this time! With this lesson, small groups will receive a picture of a shoreline and calculate the perimeter. The website listed...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Speedy Succession

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders identify how a pond can change into a grassland. An ecosystems lesson plan where learners identify pioneer and climax species, and recognize that ecological succession can take up to 100 years or more. Some excellent...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Stream Scanners

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students investigate quality of water in a stream, lake, or pond by examining chemical, physical, and biological characteristics.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Your Blooming Pond

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students model a pond system that becomes enriched with nutrients (fertilizer). They manipulate variables, make observations over time, and draw conclusions that may lead to further inquiry. They, in groups, simulate a pond environment.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Eutrophication Lab

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students examine the effects of detergents and fertilizers on aquatic life and describe algae. Students define the term eutrophication as the process by which a body of water, such as a pond, lake, stream, or river, has a sudden increase...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Speedy Succession

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders investigate how a pond ecosystem can change into a prairie or grassland ecosystem. They observe a small pond ecosystem in a two liter soda bottle, and examine and record changes over a two-week period of time on a worksheet.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Pond and Pond Organisms

For Teachers K - 7th
Students explore pond ecosystems.  In this pond organism activity, students will use pond water and a plastic bad in order to locate and identify freshwater organisms.  The activity is designed for younger grades, but...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Pond Water Web

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students identify the different organisms in the food web. In this biology lesson, students create food chains using the information on cards. They explain what happens if an organism is removed or added in the web.
Lesson Plan
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Local Habitats

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Learners create dioramas that depict a habitat. In this habitat lesson plan, students use a variety of art items to develop either a marine, freshwater/pond, or forest habitat in a box. They write an expository essay about their habitat,...
Lesson Plan
Virginia Department of Education

Freshwater Food Chains

For Teachers 9th - 12th
What's in the water? Encourage your class to further explore this question and learn about pond ecosystems, food chains, and food webs as they complete this hands-on activity. They view the environment from a new perspective...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Pond Life

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Environmental explorers create an experiment related to ponds and then present their finding to the class. This resource is extremely open-ended. It needs more concrete objectives and procedures for meeting them.
Worksheet
Curated OER

The Earth's Ecosystems

For Students 6th - 11th
In this ecosystem learning exercise, students complete 6 short answer questions and complete 10 word puzzles about marine and land ecosystems.
Worksheet
Curated OER

Life Science Review for Grade 4

For Teachers 4th
In this life science review for grade 4 worksheet, 4th graders answer 25 multiple choice questions in standardized test format about life science.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Marine Poetry

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Young scholars identify characteristics of good poetry and compose their own.  In this marine poetry lesson plan, students are introduced to several different types of poetry with a marine theme.  After discussing the elements...
PPT
Curated OER

Where do Butterflies Come From?

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
After tapping into their memories or experiences of baby animals, viewers delve into the insect life cycle of a butterfly and the amphibian life cycle of a frog. When exploring life cycles, show this presentation to your elementary life...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Stella the Swan

For Teachers 1st - 2nd
Students study the similarities and differences between ducks, geese, and swans. They tell the story about how water fowl adapt to life in water using props.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Food Chain

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders role-play various organisms from a food chain to illustrate how a food chain works. In relay style, 3rd graders fill their cups (stomachs) and, in turn, fill a larger organism's cup (stomach) to visualize the importance of...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Guppy

For Students 1st - 2nd
For this reading comprehension worksheet, students read a one paragraph text about guppies. Students answer one multiple choice question.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Nature Walk

For Teachers K
Students participate in a mini field trip around the neighborhood to observe nature and changes that are occurring during fall. They collect leaves of various colors, shapes and sizes on their trip. Upon return to the classroom, they...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Phytoplankton and Ocean Color

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders identify function of phytoplankton in the biospere by conducting experiments and simulations and reading for information. They detect the presence of phytoplankton in bodies of water by examining ocean in satellite images...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Gaia Hypothesis: An Approach to Problem Solving in the Environment

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students are introduced to the Gaia hypothesis by examining a conceptual sketch. In groups, they analyze the way they can use Dewey's method for problem solving to solve problems within the environment. They are given a problem facing...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Exploring Marine Objects

For Teachers 1st - 7th
Students identify the sources of water on Earth. In this life science lesson, students list the different plants and animals that live in the ocean. They explore marine objects in the lab and draw them.