Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Microworlds in Waterways Around You Home

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students explore the concept that different waterways support different organisms. After completing experiments, students predict what life-forms exist in each waterway in their area. They research how humans impact the habitat of other...
Worksheet
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Super Scientists Bingo

For Students 6th - 8th
In this science worksheet, middle schoolers select twenty-five scientists from the list to fill in their bingo card. Then they match each of the scientists listed to their correct description strip.
Lesson Plan
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Amazing Bird Adaptions--Why Am I A Bird?

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders identify and classify birds found in Illinois. Using the internet, they discover how birds have adapted over time and how the adaptations have increased their life span. They compare and contrast the various adaptations...
Lesson Plan
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Territorial Behavior in Dragonflies and Damselflies

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore dragonfiles/damselfiles and their behaviors. They examine their differences and their life cycles. Students observe the dragonflies in a field and determine the number of different species.
Lesson Plan
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Investigating Animals in Soil

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students investigate and observe small animal activity on a plot of land on their school grounds. In small groups they identify the five kingdoms of animals, stake out a small plot of ground, collect samples, record and analyze any data...
Lesson Plan
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Mr. Bones

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students play CD-ROM game My Amazing Human Body, and participate in relay game in Phys. Ed. where they put together skeleton on which body parts are labeled.
Lesson Plan
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Charlie and the Cell City

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students investigate the major components of the cell and their function through an adventure inside the cell with an imaginary little guy named "Charlie." Through the use of the Internet and viewing a video, students identify components...
Lesson Plan
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Insect Monitoring

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students practice the scientific method in the classroom, either in preparation or as a substitution for real-world field experience. They examine a simulated biodiversity research situation, using a "mini-plot" or sampling square...
Lesson Plan
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Using Vegetation, Precipitation, and Surface Temperature to Study Climate Zones

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students begin their examination of the climate zones found around the world. Using a software program, they identify the relationship between the vegetation, climate and temperatures of the different zones. They also plot coordinates...
Lesson Plan
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Animal Alphabet

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders identify animals with each letter of the alphabet. In groups, they create a PowerPoint presentation which shows the information they have collected about each one. Using all of this information, they create an animal...
Unit Plan
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Insects

For Teachers 7th
Students construct a viable insect collecting apparatus. Students determine the effectiveness of the instrument he has designed by collecting specimens.
Lesson Plan
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Habitat Art: Florida Panthers

For Teachers 2nd - 8th
Students discover the lifestyles of a Florida Panther by investigating its habitat.  For this wild animal lesson, students utilize the Internet to research the habits of a Panther and what their habitat is.  Students create an...
Lesson Plan
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A Wild Family Album!

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Learners create a scrapbook style family album for a selected animal. They complete an interactive Internet activity on research reports, fill out a graphic organizer, diagram a food web, and complete their scrapbook that includes...
Lesson Plan
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This Place is Going to the Dogs

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students study different breeds of dogs. They watch a video, "Extraordinary Dogs", about special dogs and how they are categorized according to their adaptations. Then they create a digital video that demonstrates the qualities of dogs...
Lesson Plan
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Eco-Logical: A Coastal Logic Problem

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders study the characteristics of five coastal communities. They use logic cards and matching activities to identify the proper community for plant and animal species.
Lesson Plan
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How do new species form?

For Teachers 10th
Tenth graders conduct a critical analysis of current evolutionary concepts. They describe how scientists continue to investigate theories. Students examine examples with experimental data that suggest alternative methods of species...
Lesson Plan
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Birds of Different Feathers: Species Specialization

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students identify differences in bird species and explain the concept of species specialization. They attain the knowledge that different birds occupy different habitats. Students identify characteristics and features of birds that make...
Lesson Plan
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Polar Food Web Comparison

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders practice the evaluation component of the scientific method while comparing and contrasting the similarities and differences of the food chains and webs of polar animal life. They study about classification and ecology...
Lesson Plan
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Clouds

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students write and illustrate a story on cloud formation and classification. They research cloud information on the internet to discuss the different types of clouds and when they form. They use this information to write a story about...
Activity
PBS

Predicting/Making a Hypothesis

For Teachers 6th - 12th
As an introduction to the hypothesis and testing method of investigation, young history detectives engage in a special investigation of a family artifact. After watching a short video that demonstrates the method, they develop a...
Lesson Plan
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Dinosaurs

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students study the lives of dinosaurs. In this dinosaur lesson plan, students create dinosaur dioramas that depict how and where the creatures lived. Students also discuss extinction with their teacher.
Lesson Plan
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Climate in the Western Regions

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners examine the interactions of the Earth's systems and other objects in space.  In this climate change lesson students study the pros and cons of different climates and what their preferences are. 
Lesson Plan
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Pheed the World: Edible Phyla

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students discuss the contributions of different organisms to our world. In this biology lesson, students research countries with limited food supply. They create an improvement plan for a fictitious country assigned to them.
Lesson Plan
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Variation

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students practice sorting living things into groups using their characteristics. Using pictures of leaves and animals, they sort them based on their color and shape and write the objects characteristics under the picture. They share...