Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Forest Friends Forever

For Teachers 1st - 2nd
Students investigate how to use the senses to gather information about objects such as size, shape, color, texture, sound, position, and change (qualitative observations are utilized throughout this lesson). They investigate and explain...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Why Do Geese Fly South For the Winter?

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders examine migration by tracing animal migration routes on a map.  For this animal life lesson, 5th graders observe a map of North America and read about the migration patterns of geese.  Students trace the path most...
Lesson Plan
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Environmental Action

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students investigate an environmental problem in order to find and propose possible solutions. The problem is real to add to the engagement of the instructional activity. This is found through conducting research and then brainstorming...
Lesson Plan
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How Do They Know That

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore methods for reconstructing the past. In this forest succession lesson, students examine forest succession and how to read the land in order to predict patterns of change. Students will visit a historical site, act as an...
Lesson Plan
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Management of Commercial Fisheries, Part 2

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Learners examine the differences between the past vs. the present fishing and the uses of fisheries.  In this investigative lesson students complete a worksheet and learn to think critically in order to protect our environment. 
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Management of Commercial Fisheries, Part 3

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students search the Internet and write a research paper on the environment.  In this investigative lesson plan students develop a paper on fisheries and management of them. 
Lesson Plan
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Giants of the Protozoa

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students describe and define xenophyophores.  In this protozoa lesson students divide into groups and complete a lab activity. 
Lesson Plan
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The Changing Coral Reef Community Game

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students examine organisms that inhabit the coral reefs and their living requirements.  In this coral reef lesson students chart population changes and play a game.
Lesson Plan
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Acid Rain And Geology

For Teachers 4th - 12th
Learners become aware of the environmental problems caused by acid rain and study the pH scale. They determine acidity of local rain water.
Lesson Plan
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Cancer Treatments

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore the different kinds of treatments available for cancer and what their dangers or side effects are. They discover how often patients get treated, and how expensive the treatments are.
Lesson Plan
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Monitoring Aquatic Ecosystems Lesson Plan

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students perform an experiment to test the quality of the water in a marsh.
Lesson Plan
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Ecology and the St. Lawrence River

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders complete a unit of lessons on ecosystems, organism interactions, and energy flow. They create a key for known species of fish, diagram the movement of energy through an ecosystem, and create and present food chains and food...
Lesson Plan
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Habitats and Functions

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students use a large seet of habitat cards, spread out in one area. They, in groups, practice sorting themselves into the correct habitat based on what function card they received.
Lesson Plan
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The Ultimate Predator

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students already know that the most effective predator on earth today. They pay close attention, because after the teacher have finished lecturing, their assignment is to design a new "Ultimate Predator." Students present their...
Lesson Plan
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From Restriction Maps to Cladograms

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students develop a matrix to determine the number of differences between each set of primate species. They determine closely related organisms then complete the cladogram and answer a set of questions.
Lesson Plan
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The Ultimate Predator

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students listen to a lecture by the teacher about the "Ultimate Predator." They design a new "Ultimate Predator." Students present their creations to the class and attempt to convince their classmates that their predator is indeed the...
Lesson Plan
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DNA Sequencing Simulation

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers simulate the Sanger method of DNA sequencing using color pop-beads as a representation of nucleotides and dideoxynucleotides. Students assemble DNA sequences and run their sequences through a "sequencing gel" and sketch...
Lesson Plan
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Using A Winogradsky Column to Analyze Microbial Communities

For Teachers K - 12th
Students use easily obtained materials to study ecological succession in a microbiological community. This investigation is appropriate for a variety of age groups. Elementary Students be fascinated by the changes occurring over time...
Lesson Plan
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Down, Dung and Dirty

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Students investigate the stages of succession in animal dung communities. They create a dung culture using fresh cow, goat or horse dung then record data on the fungal species that appear over a two week period.
Lesson Plan
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Plant And Animal Adaptations

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students examine plant and animal life while looking at the environments the organismisms live in. They determine how form follows function by looking an aquatic turtle and noticing its feature of adaptation features. They work in groups...
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Environet Lesson Plans

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders conduct Internet research about basic ecological principles and current environmental issues. They participate in a variety of outdoor experiences and develop an "Outdoor Experiences Journal" that they keep for an...
Lesson Plan
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ARE WE IN THE MIDDLE OF A MASS EXTINCTION?

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students identify and interpret the following: What is mass extinction, and what are some theories for why it happens? How often do species become extinct? What is the normal rate of extinction? Why are some species endangered? What...
Lesson Plan
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Invertebrates

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners identify the characteristics common to all animals. In groups, they compare the characteristics between the animals and how they are divided. To end the lesson, they compare the eight phyla of invertebrates and review the...
Lesson Plan
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Water Quality Tests Explained

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students define all eight water quality parameters and list at list one source for each of the eight water quality parameters. They determine how each of the eight parameters affect river ecosystems.