Biology Junction
Water, Solutions, pH, and Buffers
What common chemical includes safety warnings for being harmful if swallowed or inhaled, causes serious eye damage, and needs to be cleaned up immediately if spilled on the floor? Surprisingly, the dangerous chemical turns out to be...
Curated OER
The Effects of Photosynthesis on Plant Growth
Students examine the process of photosynthesis; its products and reactants, and the sequence of the process. They diagram the light reactions, record observations of plants, and discuss how difficult it is to measure plant growth as it...
Curated OER
An Environmental Puzzle: The Carbon Cycle
Middle school science stars examine fuels and energy with a variety of activities. They begin with a KWL chart, read an informative passage, and then complete a puzzle. The puzzle itself is included. Cleverly, each piece corresponds to a...
Curated OER
Plant Lifecycles
Students examine the life cycle of plants. In 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 for...
Curated OER
Dissolved Oxygen Activity
Students explore why dissolved oxygen must be present for aquatic life to survive. They explain what dissolved means. Students discuss what dissolved oxygen is. They watch as the teacher lights two candles and place a jar over one of...
Curated OER
Can rice plants talk?
First graders compare and contrast rice plants with people. In this rice plant lesson, 1st graders discuss what make rice plants similar to people such as their bodies and coverings. They also discuss how they are different in what they...
Curated OER
Plant Structure and Function
With a few minor formatting changes, the plant parts and processes resource here would make a great study guide, quiz, or self assessment. Currently, it is a bit confusing, but changing some lettering to numbering would clear up any...
University of Connecticut
Building Your Own Biosphere
On September 26, 1991, four women and four men entered the scientific experiment, Biosphere 2; the doors were sealed for two years in order to study the interactions of a biosphere. In the activity, scholars explore biospheres by...
Curated OER
Photosynthesis: Intake of Carbon Dioxide - Production of Oxygen
Students, after a long-term observation of photosynthesis with aquatic plants, assess the benefits of photosynthesis towards all living organisms. They explain in their own words the two cycles within photosynthesis. Guided discussion...
Curated OER
Introduction to Dissolved Oxygen and Demonstration of a Simple Test Procedure
Pupils explain the importance of dissolved oxygen in water ecosystems. They describe the aquatic oxygen cycle and the effect of water pollution on oxygen. They make observations, collect data and draw a conclusion.
Curated OER
What If There's No Light?
students discuss the importance of light and the consequences of living without it. Using a plant as a demonstration, students predict and observe what happens to a plant when it does not receive enough light. In groups, they experiment...
Curated OER
Food chains and webs
Here is an extremely simplistic look at food chains and webs. It depicts three different food chains, each containing a plant, plant eater, and meat-eater. Learners fill in the missing part of each chain by using the images provided at...
Curated OER
Week 3: Pollution Source and Effects
Lab groups set up an experiment to observe what happens over time in collected pond water when fertilizer, representing pollution, is added. This website does not include student lab sheets, but background information, materials, and...
Curated OER
Name That Gas!
Young scientists discover that air is a mixture of different gases - mainly nitrogen and oxygen. The properties of some of the other gases found in oxygen are listed in a table, then learners must decide which one of those gases is...
Outdoor Learning Center
Outdoor Survival
Which of the following can you survive without for the longest time: water, food, or a positive mental attitude? The answer may surprise you. Guide learners of all ages through games, activities, and discussions about surviving in the...
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Higher Cells Incorporate an Ancient Chromosome
Chromosomes contain keys to history including links from royalty to Neanderthals. Young scientists learn about Ivan Wallin's research into chromosomes with an animation and videos. Then, the concept connects to mysteries related to...
Wilderness Classroom
Pollution
Educate scholars on pollution—air, water, and land—with a series of lessons that begin with a thorough explanation of each type. Learners then take part in three activities to reinforce the importance of reducing pollution. They...
Curated OER
Stewardship and the Rainforest
Students explore the concept of philanthropy. In this service learning lesson, students explore literature in order to understand the flora and fauna of the rain forest. Students investigate how stewardship is necessary to retain natural...
Curated OER
The Seed Match
Students examine seeds and predict the plant it comes from. In this seed match activity, students match seeds to plants and then see if their predictions are correct. Students predict the number of seeds found in plants as well. Students...
Curated OER
Extra! Extra!
Young scholars describe how plants and animals depend on each other. They see how living and nonliving environments change over time. They identify ways in which humans have changed their environment and the effects of those changes.
Curated OER
Photosynthesis
Students are introduced to the process of photosynthesis. In groups, they test the effects of the lack of sunlight on plant leaves and compare the results with their hypothesis. They note the characteristics that plants and animals share...
Curated OER
A Seed for All Needs
Students identify uses for plants. In this agricultural lesson plan, students read the book Spring Gardening and distinguish between food plants and flowers. Students plant flower in cups as a follow-up activity.
Curated OER
Plant Life
Seventh graders examine different categories of plant life and their roles as producers of food and oxygen for other organisms. They study the evolution of plants from simple organisms to very complex ones. They look at the different...
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. In this plants lesson plan, 5th graders also create ways for plants to go through photosynthesis that they can observe.