Curated OER
Making Recycled Paper
Students explore paper making. For this tree conservation ecology lesson, students brainstorm ways paper is used in daily life. Students examine paper fiber using a magnifying glass. Students make paper following a step by step procedure...
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Plants and Air Purity
Students explore how green plants help improve air quality. They read an article and discuss the importance of air quality and its effects on the human body. They investigate by connecting hose to the top of a Bell jar and to a funnel....
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Bug Hunt
Students strengthen observational skills by searching for insects in their home and classroom. In this observation instructional activity, students use magnifying glasses to classify what kinds of bugs were found. Students then create a...
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The Virtual Electron Microscope
Young scholars explore the world of the very small using a Flash plug-in Virtual Electron Microscope. They complete and discuss an activity in which unknown samples are placed under the computer simulated microscope to determine where...
Curated OER
SOIL
Second graders name the various materials that comprise soil, including weathered rock and other organic matter; and explain that soils differ in their color, texture, capacity to retain water, and ability to support the growth of many...
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Producers -- Focus on Trees
Students examine the needs of trees and plants. In this forest ecosystem lesson students use seedlings to investigate the basic necessities of plants. They discuss the consequences of these basic needs not being met.
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Animal Homes
Match animals to their environments with a cute lab activity. Kids draw a line between each animal, such as a fish, a rabbit, and an ant, to the place where it lives. For hands-on practice, a science investigation instructs learners to...
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World of the Pond
Field trip! The class will review what they know about organisms that dwell in freshwater ponds, then trek down to the old water hole to collect specimens for examination. This includes several web links, useful tips, and an excellent...
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Animals Must Fit In
A instructional activity on tadpoles is here for your young biologists. Learners read a short paragraph on tadpoles, then answer three questions regarding how parts of their bodies help the tadpole to survive in the pond. There is a good...
Chicago Botanic Garden
Leaf Litter Ecology Lab
Some organisms spend their entire lives in leaf litter. The third in a series of six is a great lesson exploring the community of leaf litter. Groups gather and then spread leaf litter over white paper and remove leaves/twigs while...
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Clearly Classified
Learners investigate plants and insects. In this science classification instructional activity, students create separate categories for insects and plants by characteristics. Learners discover scientific names of insects.
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Flower Dissection
In this science learning exercise, students follow directions for dissecting a flower. Students tape the parts of the flower in the corresponding boxes. Students also read about how flowers reproduce and analyze a related diagram.
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Soggy Seeds
Students conduct experiments to learn about seed germination. For this seed germination lesson, students write a hypothesis for the seed experiment. students complete the experiment for seed germination and graph the data obtained from...
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How Does Climate Affect Plant Growth?
First graders compare plant samples obtained from two different sites to explore how climate affects plants.
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Classifying Monocot And Dicot Plants
Sixth graders identify the parts of a flower, and tell the difference between monocots and dicots. They group plant by leaf types and characteristics placing the information in table form on the computer.
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The Rock Cycle
Third graders, in groups, examine soil samples with magnifying glasses. They discuss the living and non-living things they find in their soild samples.
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Sumptuous Sprouting Seeds!
Third graders investigate the wonderful and wondrous world of plants. They examine the inside of a seed, explore the different parts of a seed, plant their own seeds, watch them sprout and then eat them! They describe, using their...
Curated OER
Plant Pollination
Young scholars investigate methods of pollination for various flowers. In this plant biology lesson, students learn the parts of a flower and form a hypothesis about the method of pollination for the flower. They determine the...
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Clearly Classified
Young scholars review the classification system for living organisms and apply it the classification of insects and flowers in the still life by Ambrosius Bosschaert. They create a chart classifying the animals and plants in the painting...
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Structure of Seeds and Effects of Fertilizer on Plant Growth
Investigate the structure of seeds and the effects of fertilizer on the growth of plants. Young scientists observe a peanut and determine if it is a monocot or dicot plant. They plant seeds and make varying solutions of fertilizer, then...
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Microorganisms: Good Guys or Bad Guys?
Students discover the role microorganisms play in our lives. In this decomposition lesson, students examine decaying foods and plants in order to analyze the different bacteria that grows. Students discuss the good and bad of...
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Smile...you're on Insect Camera!
Students study insects. They go on an outdoor insect outing and look for insects in a variety of places--in the air, under rocks, on leaves, in water, etc. They record information about the insects they find, including habitat, weather...
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Cleansing, Sparkling Koos
Students explore the importance of water conservation and investigate how plants clean water.
Curated OER
Inside A seed
Students examine the inside of a seed to see the beginnings of a plant. They identify the elements that plants need to grow and survive. They grow their seeds in the classroom.