Lesson Plan
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Dare to Care for a Grizzly Bear

For Teachers 9th - 11th
Young scholars examine the relationship between humans and grizzly bears. In this biology lesson, students research about the bear's habits and living environment. They write a letter to the US Fish and Wildlife Service petitioning them...
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What Was for Dinner?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine energy obtaining strategies that are used by organisms in deep reef communities.  In this ocean lesson students complete an isotope activity. 
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Learning From Leaves: From Observation to Inference

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Learners examine the adaptation of plants to their environments. They analyze and observe the structure, shape, and internal structure of various leaves, and make inferences about the structures.
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"Julie of the Wolves"

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders research life in Alaska and compare life there to their lives in this lesson. They read "Julie of the Wolves." They research through the novel and other reference books facts about the Alaskan climate and geography. They...
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Frogs and Camouflage

For Teachers K
Students view a variety of pictures of frogs and discuss camouflage and habitat adaptation. Students look at color, skin texture, shape, size, eyes, and surroundings as well as the need for the camouflage. Students then design a frog...
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Forests/Natural Resource Management II

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students write about the importance of trees. In this natural resources lesson, students look at deforestation occurring across the globe and present what they learned to the class. As closure, all students write a poem about the...
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Eyes on the Estuaries

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students study estuaries and compare several ones in the U.S. In this estuary activity students interpret data and compare the distribution of different species. 
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Save A Reef!

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students identify the major threats to coral reefs and the ways that they benefit from humans.  In this coral reef conservation lesson students create a public education program on coral reefs. 
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My Habitat Address

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders draw a habitat and write about what they would need to survive in the habitat. They define the input of items such as materials, energy, and information, and what goes out of the habitat. They play a "Habitat Address" game,...
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Rain Forest Animals

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students research rainforest animals from the book The Great Kapok Tree. They create an animal presentation using PowerPoint. Pupils demonstrate their comprehension of the interdependence of the animals, people, and plants in the...
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Oil Slick Emergency

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine how to recover and remove oil from an oil spill.  In this oil spill clean-up lesson students use role play and act like a committee to determine how to clean up an oil spill.
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Breaking Away (Or Not...)

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners compare and contrast common reproductive strategies used by benthic invertebrates. They describe the most common reproductive strategies among benthic invertebrates on a seamount, and explain why these strategi
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A Penguin is a Bird

For Teachers K - 5th
Young scholars compare and contrast the ways that penguins are different to flying birds.
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Making Connections, Linking Population and the Environment

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students find out that all habitats have a carrying capacity. They explore how the world's human population has grown markedly in the 20th century, and that humans impact environmental health. Students investigate that people can and...
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Monsters of the Deep

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students describe major features of cold seep communities and list the organisms that are typical in these communities. In this deep sea environment lesson students work in groups and research their given cold seep group. 
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One Tough Worm

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Learners explain the process of chemosynthesis and its relevance to biological communities. In this investigative lesson plan students discuss chemosynthetic communities, then in groups they are assigned a species and are to calculate...
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Observation Hike

For Teachers K - 12th
Students participate in an observational hike to study the natural surroundings.  For this observational hike lesson, students hike through a state park and observe the plant and animal life.  Students learn about appropriate...
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The Parts of an Insect

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Learners examine various insects. They discuss the parts of an insect and the environments in which they live. Students explore the importance of insects to our environment. They draw an interpretation of their insect and label its parts.
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Special Place

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Learners observe and describe a "special place" chosen along a nature trail. In this habitat observational skills and writing lesson, students take a walk on a nature trail and choose a spot to sit and meditate. Learners complete a...
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Animals: Insects

For Teachers 1st - 5th
Students use the Internet to examine insects and their relatives. They participate in online games and discover insect recipes.
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The Environments of Big Sur -- Which Do We Protect?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students investigate the geological, climatic, and biological features of Big Sur. They watch a video, conduct Internet research, and create a script and images in the form of an outline in a simulation of an environmental group.
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Creeping and Crawling Observing Mealworms and Earthworms

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders observe mealworms and earthworms. In this mealworm and earthworm lesson, 5th graders complete an experiment in which they observe the life cycle and living conditions of mealworms and earthworms. They experiment with...
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Carmaleetas

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students identify the relationship between predator and prey in the food chain. In this food chain lesson, students work in groups and play a predator and prey game. Students discover what happens when a predator does not find prey. 
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Cougar or Human: Which Needs Protection?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students research the biology and natural history of the cougar. Students conduct Internet research to determine how cougars have been protected by humans and how it is affected by human decisions. Students write about reconciling...