Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mock-Muck

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students purify water samples using various techniques. In this water treatment lesson, students complete a variety of activities to learn about the process. A data chart is included for recording results. A crossword puzzle is included...
Lesson Plan
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Water Wonders

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Students explore hydrology concepts. In this environment and biology lesson, students identify and describe macroinvertebrates using a variety of pictures and resources. Students observe and write about a classroom aquarium in which...
Lesson Plan
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Elements for Disaster Reporting

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students identify the elements of natural disasters and gain an understanding on how the media influences people's responses to disasters. In this natural disaster lesson plan, students study the impact of natural disasters, and the...
Lesson Plan
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Flesh Eating Bugs, Moldy Corpses, The Trail of a Killer

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Students read about how forensic entomologists use maggots to solve murders. In this forensic science instructional activity, students read an article and answer questions. They go to different websites about evidence and...
Lesson Plan
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The Mystery of the Missing Hummingbirds

For Teachers 1st - 2nd
Students record scientific observations in a science journal.  In this season lesson, students make observations about each of the seasons and record in their journals.  Students record organisms response to seasonal changes...
Lesson Plan
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Plant Nutrition and Nutrients

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students observe seeds growth and examine the different parts of the seedling. In this biology instructional activity, students compare the growth of seeds planted in soil and in hydroponics. They record their observations in their...
Lesson Plan
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Freshwater Fish Water Quality

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders work together to complete an experiment about the quality of freshwater. In groups, they collect fresh water samples from a variety of sources and test the pH levels. After completing a KWL chart, they test the amout of...
Lesson Plan
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Soil Treasure Hunt

For Teachers K - 4th
Young scholars explore the concept of soil and decomposition. In this soil and decomposition lesson, students investigate bags of soil. Young scholars then learn how  animals and other organisms help in the decomposition process. 
Lesson Plan
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Implications of the Human Genome Project

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students study the Human Genome Project through classroom discussion and the video, Cracking the Code of Life. They research reports about the issues of disease, human health, and the ethical, legal, and societal implications of the...
Lesson Plan
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Is the Hudson River Too Salty to Drink?

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students explore reasons for varied salinity in bodies of water. In this geographical inquiry lesson, students use a variety of visual and written information including maps, data tables, and graphs, to form a hypothesis as to why the...
Lesson Plan
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Where are all the Animals?

For Teachers K - 9th
Students view animals that camouflage at the Shedd aquarium website. In this camouflage lesson, students recognize that there are different types of camouflage, cryptic coloring, counter-shading, warning coloration and mimicry. Students...
Lesson Plan
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The Froggy Page

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Students investigate the cycle of life by observing tadpoles.  In this biology lesson, students utilize the Internet to read stories, observe pictures, and listen to sounds of frogs.  Students create a poster board collage...
Lesson Plan
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The Robot Fisherman

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students examine the use of robotic vehicles for fish surveys. In this ocean life lesson, students discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using underwater robots and the requirements an underwater robot must meet in order to observe...
Lesson Plan
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The Colors of Seasons

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students observe each season and and mark the colors they see.  In this colors of the seasons lessons, students read The Mystery of the Missing Hummingbirds and compare their results and note variations of colors in the different...
Lesson Plan
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What's the Connection?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explain hardground communities in the Gulf of Mexico. In this deep-sea ecosystem lesson, students investigate the connection between deep-sea ecosystems and petroleum deposits. They discuss the relationship between hydrocarbon...
Lesson Plan
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Stream Table

For Teachers 3rd - Higher Ed
Students explore channelization, riparian habitats and soil erosion to find out about  the aquatic habitats in Iowa. In this aquatic habitats lesson, students define important terms and read an article about pollution. ...
Lesson Plan
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Pleistocene Mammals

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students research the causes of the extinction of Pleistocene mammals.  For this Pleistocene mammals lesson, students read essays to understand the Pleistocene epoch. Students write an essay about the personal impact of this...
Lesson Plan
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Save Your Breath

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers discuss metabolism. In this metabolism lesson, students evaluate evidence form a research report and discuss the basis for hypothetical metabolic adaptations to low-oxygen environments in the anchialine caves.
Lesson Plan
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Deep Lights

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students investigate materials that emit light. In this deep ocean lesson, students compare and contrast materials that emit light under certain conditions and infer the light-producing process. They explain three ways this evidence is...
Lesson Plan
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Call to Arms

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students explore how scientists build robotic arms that move similar to humans. In this robot lesson plan, students examine how scientists make robots. Students design and construct a mechanical arm that moves like a human arm. Students...
Lesson Plan
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Reptiles and Amphibians

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders explore biology by viewing animal videos in class. In this amphibian and reptile lesson plan, 4th graders identify the key differences between reptiles, amphibians and other animal classifications. Students view video...
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Cut-Off Genes

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars explain the concept of gene sequence analysis. For this gene lesson, students draw inferences about phylogenetic similarities of different organisms.
Lesson Plan
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Meeting an Earthworm

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students inspect the anatomy of earthworms. In this earthworm lesson plan, students participate in a hands-on experiment as they analyze the structure of earthworms. Students demonstrate mastery through differentiated products. Lesson...
Lesson Plan
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Identifying an Earthworm

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students 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. Students research information to...