Curated OER
Native Species Restoration and its Impact on Local Populations
Students watch video clips of ecosystems and answer questions relating to them.
Curated OER
Kansas Clues
Students examine the Kansas state quarter and the Buffalo nickel and look for clue to help them identify why the bison was so important to the Native American. They perform "freeze frames" depicting Native American use of the bison.
Curated OER
The Trouble with Crayfish
Fourth graders compare an ecosystem before and after they introduce crayfish to that ecosystem. In this ecosystem lesson plan, 4th graders see what happens when you introduce a non native animal to a habitat. Students then make...
Curated OER
Mussel Movements
Learners consider the impact of invasive species on local environments. In this ecology instructional activity, watch the video, Arizona Wildlife Views, which focuses on invasive species. Students develop vocabulary, relate to meaningful...
Curated OER
Our Way of Life
Learners interview Native American Elders about animal migration, traditional food gathering, and subsistence. They research endangered animals, draw a game cycle, and create maps of local migration of animals.
Curated OER
"Home Sweet Home?"
Students research an endangered animal's habitat, investigate the survival problems. They research the animal's zoo life. They research some programs of reintroduction and chart the pros and cons of each.
Curated OER
Galapagos: Beyond Darwin
Students identify plants and animals endemic in their local area after learning about the plants and animals of the Galapagos Islands. In this plants and animals lesson plan, students create an endemic garden on school grounds.
Curated OER
Go Fish!
Students are introduced to the culture of the Kumeyaay. Using their text, they discover how they used their native flora and fauna in San Diego. They participate in a matching game and examine the types of organisms who make their home...
Curated OER
Dining Out With Fishes and Birds of the Hudson
The class will make observations to determine how environment has shaped the way particular birds and fish eat. They will view a series of photographs, read two short articles, and then consider how food availability has determined how...
Curated OER
What's the Difference?
Young scholars analyze the similarities in different species. This instructional activity is part of a multi-segmented unit on the diversity of life. In this segment, students classify shoes to mimic the scientific categories of the...
Curated OER
Working for Water
Learners examine the ways that government works to help improve aquatic habitats. In this water habitats instructional activity students view a video and plan a school restoration project.
Curated OER
Unique Ecosystems
Fourth graders explain how in any particular environment, some kinds of
plants and animals survive well, some survive less well, and some cannot survive at all. They research the ecosystem of which each animal or plant is natively a part.
University of Wisconsin
Bimodel Botany Bouquet
Gardeners are given an individual plant specimen from a bouquet of local rain garden plants. They group up by their plant type and then make observations together, name the plant, and introduce it to the rest of the class. You then share...
Curated OER
City Animals
Students identify some of the most important native and introduced species of animals in the United States. They describe how animals populations of cities have changed over time, outline the benefits and problems associated with...
Curated OER
Niches and Adaptations
Young scholars present information about a species, its niche, and adaptations. For this lesson on animal environments, students explore how surroundings can affect a given population resulting in adaptation.
Curated OER
Dichotomous Keys
Students define the word dichotomous and explain why a dichotomous key is a useful tool in identifying different species. Then they look up words they are unfamiliar with or mollusk reference books so students can
learn the names of...
Curated OER
Lewis and Clark Newspaper
Eleventh graders discuss who Lewis and Clark were and the importance of their expedition, list plants, animals, and birds found along the Lewis and Clark Trail, report on a specific species, and prepare a newspaper that implements...
Curated OER
Wild Animal Science
Students discover how environmental factors impact the survival of a population. In this landscape design lesson, students create a new animal and discuss the relationship between the animal and its environment before creating a habitat...
Curated OER
City Animals
Students, in groups, conduct research, including interviews of people in various animal related occupations, to identify and describe how animal populations of cities have changed over time, to outline the benefits and problems...
Curated OER
Where the Red Fern Grows: A 4th Grade Literary Focus Unit
Fourth graders explore the human and animal connection along with the idea that death is a part of the life cycle. They read "Where the Red Fern Grows." Students examine the feelings and emotions surrounding death and they discover the...
Curated OER
Wildlife in a Poa
Students examine the species that depend on a poa grass for their habitat and interpret data to demonstrate biomass and number pyramids. They examine the plant by digging it up and pulling it apart quickly to capture all the...
Curated OER
Have to Have a Habitat
Students create a zoological and botanical garden made up of a variety of species from around the world.
Curated OER
Amazon Rainforest
Seventh graders complete a simulation in which they travel through the Amazon rainforest. Using their map skills, they determine the best route and where to see specific plants and animals. They develop their own database to organize...
Curated OER
Exploring Limu Diversity
Students explore limu diversity. In this ocean ecosystem lesson, students classify limu according to its physical properties. Students work in small groups to generate scientific observations and sort limu by characteristics.