Unit Plan
Montana Natural History Center

Studying Grassland Ecosystems

For Teachers K - 5th Standards
At first glance, grassland ecosystems might seem dull and uninteresting, but once you start to explore it's amazing the things you'll find! Through this series of engaging lessons, activities, and experiments, elementary students examine...
PPT
Curated OER

Kingdom: Fungi

For Teachers 10th - 12th
The general characteristics that affect classification of fungi and other organisms in the domain Eukarya are detailed for the students on 12 attractive slides.  Teachers can access individual slides to cover life cycles or...
PPT
Curated OER

Fungi

For Teachers 10th - 12th
The general characteristics that affect the classification of fungi and other organisms in the domain Eukarya are detailed on 12 attractive slides. Teachers can access individual slides to cover life cycles or diversity, or can use the...
PPT
Biology Junction

World of Insects: Characteristics, Orders, and Collecting

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
Every bug is an insect, but not all insects are bugs. A presentation lists the characteristics of insects, describes their body parts, and explains metamorphosis. It also details every order and includes photographs and multiple facts...
PPT
Curated OER

Sunken Millions Animals

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
This PowerPoint includes a game with ocean graphics in which two teams answer increasingly difficult questions about animals. Topics covered include plant and animal cells, animal adaptation, and similarities and differences between...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Animal Characteristics

For Teachers Pre-K
Students investigate biology by completing a group classification activity. In this animal characteristics, students discuss the different families in the animal kingdom and the small differences that separate the animals. Students...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Seed Dispersal

For Teachers 3rd - 7th
Students determine seed dispersal methods. For this life science lesson, students make predictions about how seeds might move, then look at seeds under micrographs or microscopes to analyze the seed coat and how this helps dispersal. ...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Eating Plants

For Teachers K - 2nd
Learners identify parts of a plant. In this life science lesson, student groups locate the leaves and fruits on vegetables, then find the roots. Lesson includes extension activities and background teacher information.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Regents High School Examination: Living Environment 2009

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Emerging ecologists need a full understanding of life, from the inner workings of a cell to the complex relationships among organisms. This examination is meant to assess high schoolers after an entire year course on the living...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Animals Vocabulary Decoder Worksheet

For Students 4th - 5th
Add some decoding to your scholar's review of basic life science terms in this decorder instructional activity, where students match 15 words to their definitions. Words such as mammal and amphibian must be matched to their written...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Animals Letter Shapes

For Students 6th - 7th
Add some excitement to a basic life science worksheet by using this simple word puzzle! Scholars read 8 definitions and write the correct animal-related vocabulary word in the boxes provided. The boxes for each definition show the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Classification

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders analyze the necessity of classification. They distinguish between living and nonliving things in our world and recognize the six life functions of living things by identifying 15 classroom objects.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

In the Field with Salamanders

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students observe salamanders, take pictures of them, and classify them into an online format. In this animal classification lesson, students use collection materials and digital camera to photograph and observe salamanders. Students...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Classification And Identification

For Teachers 4th - 12th
Students explore diagrammatic and taxonomic keys and their application in the marine sciences. They sort and classify objects and organisms based on visual attributes.
Worksheet
Curated OER

LESSON #2 SAFETY UNIT: Real-life reading selection

For Students 6th - 12th
When studying pollution and the environment, you can use this activity as an enrichment. Safety-conscious learners read a 2005 article about an ammonia leak from a Kentucky fast-food product plant. They work in small groups to discuss...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

SORTING ALL SORTS

For Teachers 5th - 9th
Learners examine how the method of classification is used. In this sorting instructional activity students take a pre-test, classify organisms and complete a crossword puzzle.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Value of a Garden

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore the history of taxonomy, the work of Carl Linnaeus, and the factors involved in the decline and extinction of a variety of botanical species.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What Is a Species?

For Teachers 9th - Higher Ed
Students are able to recognize that scientists use different definitions of species. They are able to assess the strengths and limitations of species definitions depending on their context. Students are able to use definitions of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Identifying an Earthworm

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Learners navigate the Internet to learn to identify Earthworms. In this taxonomy lesson, students explore species of earthworms finding their characteristics and using photographs to identify the species. Learners research information to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Are Viruses Alive: Sample Socratic Questions

For Teachers Higher Ed
Students comprehend the definition and uniqueness of life and its complexities. They examine what characteristics constitute a living organism. Students recognize the extent of the role viruses play in the movement and molding of life as...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Animal Kingdom of Vertebrates

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders classify fish according to their characteristics. In this classification lesson students learn how to group animals including birds, reptiles and amphibians.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sort Laboratory Practice

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders sort animals according to certain physical characteristics. For this science lesson, 8th graders explain the reason for such classification. They complete a worksheet individually at the end of the lesson.
Lesson Plan
Virginia Department of Education

A Dichotomous Key of Virginia’s Native Plants

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Can your class correctly classify plant species? Individuals explore native plants of the local environment and correctly classify them into their respective categories. They investigate differences in the plants and discuss similarities...
Lesson Plan
ARKive

Species Discovery

For Teachers 6th - 8th
How do you classify a newly discovered species? Learners view a presentation and complete research about biodiversity and the classification hierarchy. The lesson includes activities with dichotomous keys and work on classifying both...