Curated OER
Land Use Decision
Students identify social and ecological considerations where human uses of land and trees conflict with each other and ecosystem needs, and describe importance of land-use management and planning through role play.
Curated OER
Environmental Health Hazards and Children
Students are introduced to the environmental hazards their community is facing. In groups, they develop a list of the ways humans have changed the Earth and how these changes have lead to environmental hazards. They record their...
Curated OER
Who Are the Aliens in Our Inland Seas?
Middle schoolers work in teams to research specific landforms in Great Lakes Watershed, compile information into data table, and write legend explaining landform for children's book. Students then research area surrounding landform,...
Curated OER
Mountain Pine Beetles
High schoolers research and develop power point presentations that answer the question, "What is changing our forests?" In this ecology lesson, students research the niche of Pine Beetles and their increased effect on the forests in...
Curated OER
Too Bee Or Not To Bee
Students recognize that bees are important in the reproduction of plants and to the survival of animals. In this bee lesson, students become familiar with the parts of bees and how those adaptations help them pollinate plants....
Curated OER
Mealworm Metamorphosis
Students observe offspring (mealworms) that do not initially resemble their parent organism (darkling beetles) throughout complete metamorphosis. They also create and maintain an appropriate habitat for the mealworms.
Curated OER
CONNECTIONS
Students study the interdependence of an ecosystem that allows it to sustain itself. They examine the Western lowland gorillas for an example.
Curated OER
Frog Friendly Habitat
Students 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. Students write a report about frogs and present their habitats...
Curated OER
Dynamic Wetlands
High schoolers construct and observe a model of two different types of wetlands. In this wetlands lesson, students create a model of a wetland with constant drainage and a wetland that maintains a well-saturated soil. High schoolers...
Curated OER
Finders Keepers
Students explore the career of beekeeping. In this careers lesson, students examine the importance of the beekeeping industry. Students read stories about beekeepers and write comparisons. Students write a report on beekeepers and the...
Curated OER
Bats and Boas Abound
Learners investigate Puerto Rican boa constrictors and bats. In this animal science lesson, students read an article about the bats and snakes found in Puerto Rico. Learners use various art supplies to create a diorama of the habitat of...
Curated OER
Mountain Pine Beetle
Young scholars identify the different parts of a tree. In this biology lesson, students investigate how mountain pine beetles kill trees. They examine the beetles' anatomy using a microscope.
Curated OER
Water Striders
Students analyze water strider behavior. In this water strider lesson, students study the movement and feeding behavior of water striders. Students catch water striders and then generate scientific observations.
Curated OER
Making a Human Tree
Learners explore botany by defining the anatomy of a tree. In this environmental exploration lesson, students research plant vocabulary terms and discuss the uses of each word. Learners create a "human" tree by role-playing as one of the...
Curated OER
Are You One of Us?
Students investigate how scientists sort and classify organisms. For this sorting and classifying lesson, students examine what systematics are as tools that scientists use. They examine images of invertebrates and sort them while...
Curated OER
Observation Hike
Students participate in an observational hike to study the natural surroundings. In this observational hike instructional activity, students hike through a state park and observe the plant and animal life. Students learn...
Curated OER
Ants In Motion
Students brainstorm ants and their characteristics in a class discussion. They observe the ants and answer question pertaining to their behavior; then they apply the scientific method in creating and investigating a problem.
Curated OER
Before They Were Pests
Students explore the native habitats and behaviors of common pests to explain why and how household pests enter our homes. Theyexamine the relationship between humans and pests and the limited habitat and resources shared by both.
Curated OER
How Hot is Too Hot?
Fifth graders use the scientific method to conduct experiments on the temperature effects on organisms. In this temperature effects on organisms lesson plan, 5th graders observe and record the hatching or the developing of organisms into...
Curated OER
Creeping and Crawling Observing Mealworms and Earthworms
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...
Curated OER
Forest Food Web
Students explore the elements of a forest ecosystem. They examine the elements needed to form a forest food web. Students construct and describe food webs that include nonliving elements of the ecosystem.
Curated OER
School Yard Park/Ecosystem
Fifth graders observe and categorize different sections of a park and it's ecosystem. In this categorizing lesson plan, 5th graders collect different facets of nature from a nearby park (without disturbing the ecosystem). They map,...
Curated OER
Endosymbiosis: A Friend Within
Students research the ecological principle of symbiosis. Using a microscope, students observe the relationship of mutualism between termites and flagellates. Students examine a live termite and protozoans. They discuss the principles...
Curated OER
Sounds of the Wetlands
Students identify the sounds of different bird calls. In this biology lesson, students create a sound map. They explain how this method is important in tracking wildlife.