Curated OER
Get to Know: Plants
Young scholars complete a research activity in a schoolyard or park to learn about plants. In this plant lesson, students learn the name of the one of more plants. Young scholars describe or draw the plant, pointing our features that...
Curated OER
Polar Bear Needs a Home!
Third graders are introduced to the topic of habitat . They create a zoo exhibit fo a polar bear that is being donated to the Albuquerque Zoo. The zoo is not big enough for a brand new cage, so the students choose which of three...
Curated OER
Make Your Own Biodegradable Plastic Stuff
Students identify the four basic natural resources. They distinguish bettween renewable and non-renewable resources. Pupils recognize that all natural resources are needed by living plants and animals. Students list consequences for...
Curated OER
Keys and Classifying
Learners classify plants and animals. In this organisms lesson, students define classification and sort various objects according to its attributes. Learners then research wildlife of Utah and group the organisms into categories.
Curated OER
Variation
Students recognize similarities and differences in plants. In this plants and animals lesson plan, students begin to classify living things by observable characteristics. Students watch clips from the Internet and play online games....
Curated OER
To Eat or Not to Eat?
Learners identify various parts of plants and determine which parts people eat. They conduct a celery stalk experiment in which they determine the value and use of the stem, and how it helps the plant to meet its needs. Students use a...
Curated OER
"Five Little Seeds"
Fourth graders complete various activities related to the plant life cycle. They read the book "The Tiny Seed," read and discuss the poem "Five Little Seeds," complete a "Plantenstein Mystery" and other online activities, write and...
Curated OER
Wildlife Needs
Students identify the wildlife needs in a specific setting. In this wildlife needs lesson, students identify and illustrate the four stages of forest succession. Students list the natural habitat and food for a given species. Students...
Curated OER
Everything Breathes!
Fifth graders test plants in the dark and in the light to see which grows better and produces more carbon dioxide. For this plants lesson plan, 5th graders also create ways for plants to go through photosynthesis that they can observe.
ARKive
Adaptations to Arid Habitats
How do plants and animals survive in habitats with very little water? Explore arid ecosystems and the way their inhabitants have adapted with a instructional activity and science experiment. After kids listen to a presentation about...
ARKive
Turtle Life Cycle
Explore the wonders of the life cycle by first focusing on the growth and development of the green turtle. The class will discuss the life cycle of different plants and animals, then turn their attention to the green turtle. They view a...
Desert Discovery
Saguaro Parts
Young biologists identify the basic structures of a saguaro cactus. They study the functions of each of the structures, and label them on a picture of a saguaro cactus embedded in the plan. This simple, and easy-to-implement...
Curated OER
When Ants Fly
Here is a great instructional activity 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...
Curated OER
Plant Lifecycles
Students examine the life cycle of plants. For this plants lesson, students identify the various stages of plants and their parts. Students compare the life cycle of a plant with that of an animal. Activities suggested can be modified...
Nuffield Foundation
Measuring Respiratory Quotient
How do scientists prove tiny living things respire? Young scientists build a respirometer and measure respiration rates in living creatures. By comparing the measurements of both plants and animals, they understand the similarities.
Curated OER
Coral Reef Community
Students explore the coral reef. In this food chain lesson, students study the plants and animals of the coral reef and how they each play a role in that ecosystem. They participate in a class play to demonstrate the types of animals in...
Curated OER
Operation Desert Learn
Students familiarize themselves with factors that contribute to the creation of deserts and where deserts are located. They research the adaptations that both plants and animals need to make in the harsh conditions. They explore the...
Captain Planet Foundation
Plant Parts Salad
How are vegetables beneficial to a healthy diet? Have kids examine different types of vegetables, such as zucchini, broccoli, and carrots, and determine which parts of the plant they represent. Then, they taste the vegetables as a...
Curated OER
Organisms – Their Needs
Students compare and contrast different organisms characteristics. In this life science instructional activity, students design an experiment about plants and animals needs. They collect data and write their conclusion about the experiment.
Curated OER
The Living Environment
Fourth graders make a chart of animals and plants that live in either the desert, the ocean, or the tundra. In this environment lesson plan, 4th graders work in groups to discover characteristics needed for these animals to live in that...
Curated OER
Plants of the Past
Fourth graders explore ecosystems by examining plants of the past. They discuss ways in which we interact with plants in our daily lives. Students discuss the role plants play in providing food for animals and the significance they had...
Curated OER
What is Cacao?
Young scholars use the Internet to learn about the cacao plant. In this plants lesson plan, students complete a KWL chart on chocolate, learn about cocoa plants and discuss the parts of a plant. Young scholars use the...
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
Plants 'R' Us!
Students investigate the interdependencies of plants and animals, and study what a food web is. They create a food web using yarn and images.