Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Plant Life in Action

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders examine various habitats and record the living creatures they found.  In this biodiversity lesson, 6th graders complete a worksheet recording their observations. Students draw conclusions about the climate and its...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Beautiful Butterflies - Activity Centers

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Students describe habitats within ecosystems, describe how organisms modify environment to meet their needs, and identify characteristics for butterfly survival. In this butterfly lesson plan, students explore all aspects of the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Primary Lessons for Grades K-2

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students study wildlife and identify similarities and differences between their home and wild environments. In this wildlife lesson plan, students make connections between wildlife and wildlife habitats. Students then build...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Nature, Red in Tooth and Claw

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students explore the science and art of taxidermy, and research various biomes that could be depicted in museum displays. They synthesize their knowledge by creating dioramas that depict the diverse life forms typical of these biomes.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Animals Of Florida

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students study about animals and their habitats, their environments, their young and their diets. They participate on a field trip to a local spring to take digital pictures of the environment the animals live in, what they eat and then...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders enjoy learning more about animals and their habitats as they explore the Internet sites in these Student Activities based on the main characters in Mrs. Frisbee and the Rats of NIMH.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Backyard Birds: Who's Who Out There?

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Learners practice techniques of field observation and data-gathering while studying local bird population, describe ecosystem as complex combination of elements, which can affect or be affected by each other, and determine effects of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Red Tail Ridge Wetland Study Project

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders use a real life scenario of the wetlands to gather information on creatures of the habitat.  In this wetlands lesson, 5th graders research the interdependence of organisms in a healthy habitat. Students collected...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Frog Friendly Habitat

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Young scholars create a frog friendly habitat. In this animal habitat lesson, students study what animals need to survive and then create a frog habitat from a shoe box. Young scholars write a report about frogs and present...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Raising Trout

For Teachers 6th - 7th
Students investigate the life cycles of fish as they observe a trout's life in class.  In this fish life lesson, students create a proper habitat in a fish tank for the trout eggs to spawn and thrive for several weeks....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Plants and Animals

For Teachers K - 1st
Students find common needs between plants and animals. In this plants and animals lesson students compare that both plants and animals need food and water. They also find the differences between plant and animal needs.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Are Open Ocean Organisms Structured for Their Environment?

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students explore biology by conducting an animal dissection. In this oceanography lesson, students identify the life cycle of a squid and other animals that are involved with commercial fishing. Students dissect a squid in class and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sharks: Scavenging Stomachs

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students examine the role played by sharks in the marine food chain. They conduct a scavenger hunt collecting items that have actually been removed from the stomachs of sharks, and create a display that includes the items and newspaper...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Biodiversity - Who Cares?

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students articulate some of the impacts of loss of biodiversity. They play a game that demonstrates why having a rich variety of life is important to the survival of ecosystems and how invasive species are threatening local biodiversity.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Beaver Ecology

For Teachers 2nd - 8th
Students investigate beaver adaptations, life cycle, and the effects of beaver behavior on ecosystems. They compare and contrast how beavers influence the ecology of both forest and aquatic ecosystems.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Oceans Away

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students explore oceans. In this science lesson plan, students locate oceans, seas and continents of the world, identify ocean-related occupations, and complete activities pertaining to food chains as well as pollution.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Forces in Action

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students investigate questions centered around force and motion by going through the scientific process and creating fair tests and experimentation. In this lesson about forces-in-action, students diagram their findings and explore other...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Extinction of Dinosaurs

For Teachers 1st - 2nd
Students study the life and death of the dinosaur by building dioramas. For this dinosaur lesson, students research the extinct creatures, then build dinosaur dioramas. Afterward, the students engage in a discussion about the extinction...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Great Barracuda

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Young scholars explore oceanography by researching the great barracuda.  In this animal life lesson, students read several vocabulary terms dealing with ocean life and examine a drawing of a barracuda.  Young scholars examine...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Is Your Spot Hot?

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders explore global warming. In this Earth Science lesson plan, 8th graders will look for Harbingers and fingerprints for different areas. The students will identify an area at risk and they will then create a...
Worksheet
Curated OER

The Great Horned Owl

For Students 3rd - 5th
In this recognizing facts about the Great Horned Owl worksheet, students read fun facts, match illustrations with adaptations, sequence life cycle cards, and read what to do if they find an injured bird. Students solve 16 answers.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Build an Anchialine Pond

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students explore biology by conducting a nature experiment. In this pond examination lesson, students utilize recycled materials, play-doh and water to recreate a pond and its inhabitants. Students identify the different elements within...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Reconstructing a Fossil Pterosaur

For Teachers 8th - 11th
Students reconstruct the skeleton of the fossil Scaphognathus crassirostis. In this fossil lesson plan, students discuss the Kingdoms of life, geologic history and the history of the skeletons of species. Students are given 20 minutes to...
Lesson Plan
Michigan Sea Grant

Survival Game

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Musical chairs may be a classic game, but Ruffe Musical Chairs is a unique lesson on invasive species! Using the time-honored game, pupils role play the behaviors of the invasive fish called Eurasian ruffe. Learning about this aggressive...