Curated OER
Plant Parts and Their Diseases
Students see how certain plants are very important to us. They explain that healthy plants are important to keep people healthy. They study the major parts of a plant (root, stems, leaves, flowers, fruit and seeds) and their basic...
ARKive
Temperate Rainforest in the Pacific Northwest
Explore the amazing temperate rainforest of the Pacific Northwest. Your class starts by investigating the animals and plants of the Northwest, specifically Washington, and then research an animal population common to the area. In small...
University of Minnesota
Sheep Brain Dissection
Bored with frog and earthworm dissections? Had your fill of fetal pigs? Anatomy students will be intrigued by the sheep's brain, and you will be prepared with guiding questions, extension activities, and pictures as they dissect one —...
Science Matters
Ecosystem Pre-Assessment
Test scholars' knowledge of ecosystems with a 20-question pre-assessment. Assessment challenges learners to answer multiple choice questions, read diagrams, and complete charts.
Curated OER
Growth and Changes in Plants
Young scholars investigate the growth and changes in plants.  They view a video and discuss the changes in plants. They work in small groups to demonstrate vocabulary words to the class. They visit a green house and take pictures of...
Georgia Department of Education
Living Things/ Nonliving Things
How can you tell if something is living or nonliving? Introduce a set of criteria which can be used to determine which things are alive and which are not. The class discusses the basic needs of all living organisms, checks out an...
Curated OER
What Is It?
Play the game of Tag and differentiate between plants and animals. Explore the characteristics of plants. Identify the major parts of plants (e.g., seeds, stem, pistil) and describe their basic functions. Compare the requirements of some...
Curated OER
Relating Structure to Function in Cells
Twelfth graders investigate specialized structures in both plants and animals.  They relate structure to function, as they determine why the specialization is necessary and useful to the living organisms involved.  They use microscopes...
Curated OER
Teaching Kids about the Environment
Fifth graders identify the species of plants and animals found in an environment. They compare these findings to plant and animal species found in an unlike environment. Students acquire and compare soil samples from the two sites chosen.
Curated OER
Enduring Understanding
Fourth graders explore indigenous people of rainforest and examine their customs and ways of life. They discuss how rainforests should be protected not only for their plants and animals, but also for indigenous people who live in them,...
Curated OER
Let it Grow!
Students explain the relationship of plants and animals in the environment. They name the basic requirements for plant growth and define the terms photosynthesis, stomata, chlorophyll and xylem.
Virginia Department of Education 
Organisms in Symbiosis
Searching for an activity that allows emerging biologists to explore symbiosis up close and personal? Pupils collect samples and view lichens through a microscope and conclude with a discussion about the relationship they have...
Curated OER
What is Biology?
In this human needs worksheet, students review a graphic organizer explaining the basic human needs. Then students complete 1 true or false and 2 short answer questions.
Curated OER
Photographical Ecology
Students study organisms and the roles they play in nature. In this ecology lesson, students photograph several examples of organisms during a nature walk. Students print out their photos and classify the organisms as plants or animals.
Curated OER
The Bean Growth Experiment
Fifth graders use modern technologies which allow them to gain a new, dynamic, and intersting understanding of themselves, their community, and the world. They focus on environmental education and the effect of the environment on plant...
Curated OER
When Ants Fly
Here is a great lesson on constructing line graphs. Learners identify common characteristics of birds, ants common needs of all living things. They also write a story from the perspective of an ant or a bird that has lost its home and...
Curated OER
Wildlife Needs
Learners identify the wildlife needs in a specific setting. In this wildlife needs lesson plan, students identify and illustrate the four stages of forest succession. Learners list the natural habitat and food for a given species....
Curated OER
How a Seed Grows: And Who Grows It
Second graders explore botany by viewing video clips in class. In this seed growth lesson, 2nd graders identify the types of seeds that grow specific plants and what the optimal conditions are for growing seeds. Students view a video...
Curated OER
Butterfly Life Cycle
Focused little scientists will flitter their arms back and forth across the room with excitement as they learn the life cycle of a butterfly and how living things grow and change over time.
Curated OER
Organisms – Their Needs
Students compare and contrast different organisms characteristics. In this life science lesson, students design an experiment about plants and animals needs. They collect data and write their conclusion about the experiment.
Curated OER
Water, Water Everywhere (Pond Animals)
Second graders examine the characteristics of animals who live in a pond environment.  In groups, they describe the various stages in the life of a frog and identify the characteristics of other pond animals.  Using this information,...
Curated OER
What's Wild
Third graders discover the differences between wild and domestic animals. For this animal lesson, 3rd graders chart the differences in the animals and look through magazines for pictures of wild and domestic animals to glue to a poster....
Curated OER
Understanding Life System: Growth and Changes in Plants
Third graders research ways in which plants are essential to humans. In this Global Peace lesson, 3rd graders participate in tasks, such as creating a propaganda poster. Students may watch the film, The Lorax, as a closing activity.
Curated OER
Dinosaurs
Students are introduced to the various types of dinosaurs and write in their journals about their favorite one. After listening to a story and watching a filmstrip, they color a few pages in their Dinosaur Friends Book. They also examine...