Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Optional Laboratory: Comparing Soil Temperatures In Sun and Shade

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Pupils work together to test the temperatures of different soils in shade and sun. They make their own hypothesis before beginning the experiment. They record their data and discuss as a class.
Lesson Plan
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Rainforest Deforestation and the Water Cycle

For Teachers 1st - 5th
Young scholars create terrariums (mini rainforests). They observe and discuss the life processes that occur in their terrariums and how changes in these processes affect the plants and organisms inside. They collect and graph data and...
Lesson Plan
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Baa, Ram, Ewe.... Sheep Tales

For Teachers K
Students explore animal characteristics by reading animal stories in class. In this sheep habitat lesson, students identify the uses for sheep in our agricultural based society and the importance of wool in our economy. Students read...
Lesson Plan
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Toying Around with a System

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders look at the system that could be present in common toys. They manipulate and identify parts that have to work together in order to form a system. When working or not students should comprehend how things go together.
Lesson Plan
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Australian Ecology and Bushfires

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders discuss the different types of ecosystem. In this earth science instructional activity, 8th graders explain the benefits and harm of fire. They research articles about bush fires or controlled burn instance and share it...
Lesson Plan
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Animals, Piece by Piece

For Teachers K
Students receive teacher prepared puzzles of animals. They try to name the animal by looking at only one piece. Students work in groups to assemble the puzzle pieces and name the animal. They draw their own pictures of the animals in...
Lesson Plan
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Introduction to Ecology

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders identify the living and nonliving components of an ecosystem. In this ecology lesson, 8th graders explain the role each organism plays. They participate in class discussion and answer a quiz at the end of the lesson.
Lesson Plan
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Presto Change-o: Caterpillars to Butterflies

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Students use the Internet to explore the four stages of a butterfly's life cycle. They make a model of a butterfly using macaroni, sticks and leaves.
Lesson Plan
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From Caterpiller to Butterfly: Cycles, Circles, and Patterns

For Teachers K - 4th
Students examine art of butterflies and discuss what they know about the insect. They create their own butterfly puppets and write a story to represent its life cycle.
Lesson Plan
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Detecting Systems

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders participate in a lesson that attempts to explain how a system works. They examine the parts and how they fit together. The question of what happens to a system if a pert is missing is asked.
Lesson Plan
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A TOUGH NUT TO CRACK

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Based on a set of criteria, learners will evaluate the quality of pecans.1. Bring a gram scale and papershell pecans. Provide five pecans for each student. 2. Divide the class into groups of five and provide each member with five pecans....
Lesson Plan
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Relationships and Biodiversity

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students examine diversity on the planet and the differences within a species.  In this investigative instructional activity students complete a lab that allows students to better understand the relatedness between plants. 
Lesson Plan
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"Habitats"

For Teachers K - 5th
Students complete a unit of lessons on animals and animal conservation. They observe a square meter of ground outside the school, set up a model environment, analyze an owl pellet, grow bread mold, and explore various websites.
Lesson Plan
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Discovering The Oasis

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students participate in a lesson that is concerned with the ecosystem of a local pond. The teacher makes arrangements for students to take a field trip. Time is spent in class for preparation and afterward for debriefing of lab...
Lesson Plan
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Sunlight Necklaces

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders review the placement and role of the sun in the solar system. Using beads, they create a necklace which they can use to identify the amount of sunlight is being illuminated. In groups, they record observations on the...
Lesson Plan
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Learning About Bears And Dolphins

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders engage in a study that compares the body structures of bears and dolphins. They conduct research to find information and use questions to find the differences or similarities and then conduct a class discussion about the...
Lesson Plan
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Foods for Better Health

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students define biotechnology and discuss the economic impact of biotechnology. They also describe what a 1015 onion and a slow-softening tomato are and how they are produced. They examine the safety of genetically-engineered or altered...
Lesson Plan
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Lunar Life Support

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students design and build models of nine life support systems which are crucial to our successful settlement of the Moon. Each team must define the requirements of their system, exploring how these requirements are currently being met on...
Lesson Plan
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Insect Unit

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders study the lives, and features of insects in the series of lessons that make up this unit.
Lesson Plan
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Hibernating Hoopla

For Teachers K - 3rd
Students simulate hibernation with their stuffed animals. They predict the length of time of hibernation and type their math journal entries about sorting, graphing and draw pictures. They read bear hibernation stories.
Lesson Plan
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Agriculture

For Teachers K - 6th
Students examine the types of agriculture in their own state and in their local community. They examine how food makes it to their local grocery store. They compare data from different states.
Lesson Plan
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The Biological Carbon Cycle

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students learn about the biological carbon cycle. In this carbon cycle instructional activity, students access the web site and mouse over the diagrams to follow the carbon cycle. They read about what happens to humans and plants during...
Lesson Plan
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Plant Collection II

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Learners mount their first pressed plant specimens and cover some basic plant morphology. They complete a homework assignment to practice their plant collecting and observational skills at home.
Lesson Plan
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Biological Communities

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Young scholars identify consumers and producers in different communities. Students collect a variety of soil samples and record organisms found in the samples.