Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Lesson 4: Gorongosa's Food Webs
Who eats who in the savannas of Africa? Explore trophic levels with part four of an eight-part series of lessons focused around Gorongosa National Park. After young explorers identify animals using trailcam images, they construct a food...
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Seasonal Changes
Students research seasonal changes and how they affect the environment. Completing a nature walk, they observe plants and animals and record the information in a graph. They also write summaries of the results of their research.
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Painted Plant Prints
Learners identify local trees and plants by their leaf shapes and structures, foliage patterns, and colors. They recognize different leaf vien structures, and make labeled prints to show each of them. Students study their leaves and...
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Leaf Peeping at Sharpe!
While this lesson focuses on observations made at Sharpe Reservation, another area could be used. Learners map out a route from their class to a nature preserve. Then, they identify the color and features of the leaves, and describe...
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Symmetry Using Polygons
Working on symmetry in your class? If so, this worksheet might be for you. Learners observe different triangles and quadrilaterals, determine which are symmetrical, draw in the lines of symmetry, and color the symmetrical shapes. In...
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Hedgerows
Hedgerows prevent soil erosion, capture pollutants running off fields, store carbon to help combat climate change, and provide homes for predators of many pest species. The biodiversity lesson begins with an activity that...
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Walk and Learn
Fourth graders take a nature walk on a nice sunny spring day. They discuss different things in nature. They write down observations in their notebook.
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Can Land Ethics Work?
Students evaluate the various purposes and issues surrounding the management of a nature preserve. They participate in discussion on whether there is intrinsic value in nature for its own sake.
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Classroom Composting
Students observe and describe the cyclic nature of life. They identify and appreciate the importance of a balanced ecosystem. Finally, students compare and contrast biodegradable and non-biodegradable resources in nature and describe the...
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Oh Say, What Can You See?
Students take a walk outside and use their sense of sight to discover things in their world. They record their observations and compare their observations with those of their classmates.
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Motte Rimrock Reserve: Lesson Plan for Flora
Students study the flora of Motte Rimrock Reserve while observing organisms in their natural environment. They use a dichotomous key to identify plants.
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Parachutes: Is it Surface Area or Shape?
Students investigate how to make a good parachute. In this physics lesson, students observe the motion of parachutes as it falls and measure the time. They collect data and calculate the average descent time for each canopy shape.
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Venom!
High schoolers examine the nature of venom. They conduct an experiment to demonstrate how proteins such as venoms can be denatured using raw eggs, beakers, heated water, and compresses.
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Strangers in Their Own Land
Students use interview techniques to explore the traditional wisdom of fishers, farmers, First Nations, and other peoples whose close relationship with nature gives them a deeper understanding of, and sensitivity toward, climatic cycles...
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Leaves
Students explore, observe, and collect leaves from outside. They make journal entries, discuss the differences and common features of leaves and what function leaves serve. They will discuss the plant and tree leaves. Students draw...
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"Rikki-Tikki-Tavi"
Students explore nature by reading stories in class. In this animal characteristics lesson, students read the story "Rikki-Tikki-Tavi," by Rudyard Kipling and identify the different animals mentioned in the book. Students review the...
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Get to Know Birds
Students observe animals in their natural habitats. In this bird identification lesson plan, students observe birds by watching and listening and report on the sightings they made. Students also document bird signs such as tracks,...
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Crystal Painting
Students investigate crystalline solids. In this crystals lesson, students observe samples of natural crystals and compare and contrast each. They draw pictures with crayons and then paint over their picture using crystalline solids...
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What Parts Are There to a Plant?
Students identify and sort plant parts through hands-on activities and group discussions and then work with magnifying lenses and tape measures to document their observations on a student sheet.
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The Colors of Seasons
Students observe each season and and mark the colors they see. In this colors of the seasons lessons, students read The Mystery of the Missing Hummingbirds and compare their results and note variations of colors in the different...
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Bugs
Students participate in an after school program that promotes communications skills, hypothesizing, exploring, recording of data, leadership roles and making comparisons. They explore the world of insects, where they come from, how they...
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Learning To Look
Sixth graders investigate a flower plant and the plant cycle. They extend observational skills when looking at a tree by observing, questioning and sharing ideas. They observe a living and nonliving flower and compare and contrast how...
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Lunar Cycle
Students recognize that the eight phases of the moon repeat. In this lunar cycle lesson, students experiment to understand the phases of the moon. Students make observations and complete a "the Moon I See" worksheet. Students...
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Viewing Bacteria
Students investigate the characteristics harmful and helpful bacteria and observe structures within the bacterial cells. They use micro-slide viewers to observe the shapes of various bacteria and the structures within the bacterial cell.