Curated OER
Plant Observation and Morphology
Students use plant specimens to explore how to recognize differences in plant morphology and to develop a vocabulary to describe these differences. They brainstorm: What is a plant? What parts do plants have? What is a leaf? Students...
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Plant Structure and Growth
This plant structure and function PowerPoint addresses the main organs and the factors that affect its development as well as going into detail about the specializations at a cellular level. The cell functions and system adaptations...
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PLANT IMAGERY
Students study morphological terminology. One student is blind-folded while the other describes a nearby plant. Once the blindfold is removed, the partner tries to find the plant that was described. They share their experience...
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Plant Collection II
Students 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.
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Cellular Cellebrities
Sixth graders, in groups, learn the morphology and function of organelles within plant and animal cells.
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Amazing Bean Races
Students experiment with bean growth in varied conditions. In this plant biology instructional activity, students plant beans in soil and in spun cellulose (absorbent material in diapers) and measure the growth of their seedlings. They...
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A Tree of Life Activity
Students solve a mystery of the identification of a unknown organism by comparing its morphological characteristics to those in a tree of life classification poster. They compare the observable characteristics of the specimen and...
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Looking Closer at Stems
In this looking closer at stems worksheet, students fill in the blanks. Students use various resources to answer questions about stem morphology and anatomy.
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Plant And Animal Adaptations
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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Studying Plant Development Through Metabolic Activity
A hands-on activity which allows young scholars to learn about cellular respiration. This lesson contains a range of investigations testing the rates of cellular respiration to demonstrate the relationship between metabolic rates of...
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Plant Phylogeny
Students examine live potted plants and create a hypothesis regarding their relationships in this upper-level introductory lesson on phylogenetic reconstruction using morphological characters. The lesson can be accomplished in...
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Feeding in the Flow
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has developed a tremendous library of ocean-themed lessons that can be used in a variety of science settings. "Feeding in the Flow" is one of those activities; Its focus is on...
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Understanding Evolution: Homology and Analogy
In this understanding evolution worksheet, 9th graders define homology and analogy. Students compare and contrast similar structures in several given species.
Rain Bird Corporation
Rain Forest Teaching Curriculum
Take young naturalists on an exploration of the world's tropical rainforests with this extensive collection of lessons and activities. Whether its creating leaf and flower prints or investigating the absorption spectrum of chlorophyl,...
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Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) with Powdery Mildew Fungi
Students explore a specific method of identifying fungi, using a written key and an illustrated key. Powdery mildew fungi can be identified to genus by the morphology (appearance) of the sexual stage (cleistothecia).
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Genetic Analysis
Students formulate a hypothesis regarding the validity of the current status of the Arizona Hedgehog cactus as a distinct variety of cactus. They design a procedure to isolate DNA from the tissue of plants, given a list of chemicals and...
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Powdery Mildew Fungi: Classification and Ecology
Students use a written key or illustrated key to identify fungi on plant leaves into its genus based on sexual or asexual reproduction, host range diversity, and host-parasite relationships.
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Lizard Lab
In this detailed and comprehensive multi-day activity, budding evolutionary biologists use real data from lizard populations in the Canary Islands to examine evolution and natural selection.
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Physiological Adaptations
Young scholars investigate the concepts of genetics and how it is tied to the variations found within different species and how it is tied to adaptations. They review the theory of evolution and factors found to help create variation....
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Learning About Classification
Middle schoolers explore the three main organismal divisions. Students classify organisms by invertebrates, vertebrates, and plants. They observe the differences and similarities between these groups.
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Window Gardens
Students use a plastic sandwich bag containing a damp paper towel taped to a window as a model system to observe the germination and early growth of radish seeds. They are challenged to pose a question about seed germination and growth...
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Do you see what I see?
Students examine the importance of making and recording observations and accurately describing an object. In this biology lesson students work in groups and report to the class what they learned.