Consortium for Ocean Science Exploration and Engagement (COSEE)
Fish Morphology
Life comes in all different shapes and sizes, and fish are no exception. Here, young scientists create fish prints as they learn how specific characteristics allow different species to survive in their particular habitats.
Curated OER
A Tree of Life Activity
Students solve a mystery of the identification of a unknown organism by comparing its morphological characteristics to those in a tree of life classification poster. They compare the observable characteristics of the specimen and...
Curated OER
Soil Morphology
Students analyze images of five different soil types from various locations and discuss how climate, vegetation, parent material, topography, and time can contribute to soil characteristics.
Curated OER
Mammal Morphology - Bats, People, and Other
In this physical characteristics worksheet, students compare bats and humans by putting a + sign in the chart for whether or not bats and humans have the same characteristics. Students do this for 17 characteristics and answer 3 questions.
Curated OER
Creating a Dichotomous Key for Families of Idaho Butterflies
Students are shown how to use the butterfly section of the Digital Altals of Idaho. They discuss how to make a dichotomous key. Students use their skills of observation and recognize defining characteristics that distinguish different...
Curated OER
Introduction To Insect & Spider Body Parts
Students inspect several different specimens of insects and spiders to determine characteristics that are similar and different between the two groups. They identify the basic body structure of spiders and insects and then predict where...
Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Sorting Seashells
Scientists use morphological, physiological, and molecular information to continually revise organism classification. Scholars observe and learn about 20 shells. Then, they work to sort and classify the shells, building a taxonomy based...
Space Awareness
Coma Cluster of Galaxies
Scientists classify everything from the smallest cells to the largest galaxies, but how do they decide on a classification system? Scholars use 40 pictures of galaxies taken by the Hubble Space Telescope to sort and try creating their...
Biology Junction
Birds
Birds adapted to almost every climate on the planet, from the Arctic to the rain forests. A presentation focused on birds covers their similarities and differences. It starts with their evolution from reptiles, their many physical...
Biology Junction
Bacteria Crossword Puzzle
In this biology instructional activity, students complete a crossword puzzle with 42 questions about bacteria. They identify the different characteristics of bacteria.
Curated OER
Biology of Bats
Your class will love exploring animal conservation through this lesson on bats. Learners discuss the importance of bats in the ecosystem and talk about the different types and their characteristics. As a follow up, a model of a bat or a...
Curated OER
Mammal Morphology: bats and people
In this mammals worksheet, students compare and contrast the physical characteristics of bats and people by filling out a chart. Students complete 17 rows in the chart and answer 3 short answer questions.
Curated OER
The Kingdoms
Learners review the various categories in taxonomy. In groups, they identify the characteristics of each kingdom and compare and contrast them. They define the terms binomial nomenclature and morphology. To end the lesson, they create...
Curated OER
Creating a Dichotomous Key for Amphibians
Learners are introduced to the purpose of dichotomous keys and create one together as a class. In groups, they use a digital atlas to examine the different types of amphibians in Idaho. Using this information, they make their own...
McGraw Hill
Arthropods
Are spiders related to crabs? Study the order of arthropods with a reading selection about animal diversity. It provides details about each class within the order, as well as vivid pictures and explanatory charts.
Curated OER
Spot Identification of Some of the Most Common Insect Orders
Students investigate the basic characteristics of insect orders and develop short-cut techniques to identify insects into twelve of the most common orders. They use captured specimens and photographs to practice identification and then...
Curated OER
Mock Fly-Tying
Students make their own fly-fishing flies. In this aquatic macroinvertebrates lesson, students look at images of different species of aquatic macroinvertebrates. Students compare the similarities and differences among the species. ...
Curated OER
Genetic Analysis
Students formulate a hypothesis regarding the validity of the current status of the Arizona Hedgehog cactus as a distinct variety of cactus. They design a procedure to isolate DNA from the tissue of plants, given a list of chemicals and...
WK Kellogg Biological Station
Sounds of Selection
Do you want a creative and fun way to teach about natural selection? Hop to it by turning your middle school princes and princesses into frogs trying to catch as many bugs as possible in a Hungry Hungry Hippos style game. For high...
Polar Trec
Swan Savvy
Just like so many other birds, swans migrate during the cold winter months. Your class can gain a better understanding of migration and bird life as they act out some of the activities common to the tundra swan. They make a nest, sit on...
Curated OER
Learning About Classification
Middle schoolers explore the three main organismal divisions. Students classify organisms by invertebrates, vertebrates, and plants. They observe the differences and similarities between these groups.
Curated OER
Sheffield Island Adaptation Activity
You don't have to visit The Maritime Aquarium to use this plan, but you would need to find a location where a variety of bird species live, re-write the activity worksheet to incorporate the local species, and purchase field guides for...
Curated OER
Funky Fomites and Aseptic Microbiology Techniques for Bacterial Isolation
Students listen to a lecture on the purpose of practicing aseptic technique as well as an explanation of how to practice them. They practice aseptic technique by plating bacteria in order to isolate individual colonies of bacteria. They...
Curated OER
Making Cladograms
Students construct cladograms (evolutionary trees), showing how shared derived characters can be used to reveal degrees of relationship. They interpret and analyze cladograms, and determine where unclassified vertebrates would fit on a...