Curated OER
Bee Pollen Popular
The world would be a much different place without the help of pollinators. Read about the important role bats, hummingbirds, and various insects play in plant reproduction, exploring the interdependence of living things in an ecosystem....
Curated OER
On the Surface Of Things
The purpose of this unit is for students to engage in thinking about the links between science and art. We want to provide students with the opportunity to see original artifacts related to natural occurances.
Curated OER
Plant Identification Pictionary
Students examine ecosystems and the variety of plants and animals that can be found in them. In this plant identification lesson students identify the basic parts of a plant and categorize them according to their characteristics.
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Water Pollution Demonstration
Water pollution is everywhere, and pollutants range from oil to fertilizers. Bring the concept to life by demonstrating the difficulties in getting particular pollutants out of water.
Montana State University
Everest Extremes: Biodiversity
How many animals can live in a climate as cold as Mount Everest's? Find out with a science lesson all about biodiversity. Activities include research, presentations, group work, coloring maps, and a simulation of a food web.
Curated OER
Peeled Trees Tell The Story
Students investigate the diversity of life that is found in Montana. They research some of the different interactions that organisms have with their environment. The lesson includes an extensive introduction for teacher information....
Curated OER
What Is In A Name?
Fourth graders investigate the meaning of names and how they are used to name geographic places. They conduct research using a variety of resources. Special attention is paid to names given within the Native American culture. Students...
Curated OER
Co-op on Camera-Slides Promote Occupational Understanding
Students create and utilize a slide/tape presentation to enhance understanding of the nature of office work. They become aware of the skills, and knowledge necessary to be successful in the office environment.
Curated OER
Occupation, Use and Settlement of the Smith River
Students examine the settlement and use of the Smith River area. Using the internet, they research concepts such as the "right of conquest" and "natural rights". In groups, they demonstrate how the land was transferred to the...
Curated OER
Amazing Grazing: Keeping Our Ecosystem Running
Students discover the value of sustainability within our ecosystem. In this ecological lesson, students discuss the importance of a food cycle in our society, and how humans can improve the conservation of a healthy ecosystem. Eventually...
Curated OER
Keep It Clean!
Fifth graders investigate the how water becomes polluted and how it effects the environment, animals, and humans. They watch a video and conduct experiments.
Curated OER
Cloud in the Classroom
Learners watch a video about wild stallions and conduct research about wild horses and wildlife photography. Students explore the relationships between animals and humans and conduct Internet research about the treatment of wild horses...
Curated OER
Galactic Inquiry
Students view NASA images of galaxies and develop a galaxy classification scheme. They compare and contrast their classification scheme with that developed by Edwin Hubble. They recognize that galaxies are collections of billions of stars.
Curated OER
"Web of Life" Game
Students relate members of an ecosystem by their interactions. In this ecosystem lesson, students toss a ball to other members of their group (each representing a member of an ecosystem) and tell how they are related to that member....
Curated OER
Edible Soil
Young scholars model the soils layers using Oreo's. In this lesson students use their favorite food items to create a model of soil layers. A discovery lesson from a youth camp is adapted for classroom modeling and discussion of soil...
Curated OER
World Hunger - A Cultural Crisis
High schoolers explore the problem of world hunger and starvation. After a class discussion, students use a map to identify specific areas where populations are starving. In groups, high schoolers research reasons for the lack of food....
Curated OER
You Are Here
Students map local places and learn to use scale and distance. In this mapping lesson, students map their school and a favorite place. Students recreate their maps showing distance and scale sizes. Students locate their location on a...
Curated OER
The Structure of the Galaxy
Learners infer the galaxy shape. In this structure of the galaxy lesson students observe the distribution of objects in the sky and answer questions.
Curated OER
Toilet Plunger Sundial
Students build a sundial to measure the local noon time. In this third grade science lesson, students build a sundial out of common materials and align to measure the local noon. This lesson is a hands-on tracking of the sun, and allows...
Montana Natural History Center
Studying Grassland Ecosystems
At first glance, grassland ecosystems might seem dull and uninteresting, but once you start to explore it's amazing the things you'll find! Through this series of engaging lessons, activities, and experiments, elementary students examine...
Agriculture in the Classroom
Design 'Y'er Genes
How do changes in DNA affect an organism? Scholars explore chromosomes, genes, DNA, and mutations by modeling the DNA of a strawberry. They build a DNA model, then manipulate it to show how changing the genes transforms the strawberry...
Curated OER
Ecotourism in National Parks and Wilderness
Young scholars develop a plan for ecotourism after researching a nearby national park or wild area.
Curated OER
Stream Quality Assessment
Pupils investigate many of the factors that affect water quality. They take measurements and water samples at a local stream and evaluate the health of their community's watershed. They write a report detailing their findings.
Curated OER
Graphing the Population Explosion of Weeds
Students are introduced to the seed cycle and draw the specific steps. In groups, they identify the human barriers to the spreading of weeds. After calculating the rate of spreading of the Yellowstar Thistle, they create graphs to see a...