Curated OER
Ecosystem Damage from Household Cleaners
Third graders assess the damage done to various ecosystems by cleaning products and discover how scientists test water quality. Using stream water and common household cleaning agents, they work in groups to test for pH levels. Once...
Curated OER
Seed Germination
Young scholars germinate a Mung Bean seed. In this seed lesson students conduct an experiment germinating a Mung Bean. They apply three different treatments to the seeds: dry, moist, and underwater incubation.
Curated OER
Using Plant Pigments as Natural Dyes
Students create friendship bracelets and quilt squares. In this plant lesson student dye their own string and cotton material with plant pigments. Students use the naturally dyed materials to create the friendship bracelets and quilt...
Curated OER
Nutrient Enrichment vs. Oxygen Depletion
Students investigate how excess nutrients enter a body of water, and the harmful effects they have on aquatic organisms.
K12 Reader
Taiga Ecosystems
Introduce your class to another type of ecosystem, the taiga ecosystem, through a reading passage. Class members read the text and then respond to five reading questions about the content of the passage.
American Museum of Natural History
Bio-Benefits
Kick-start a discussion of the importance of biodiversity with a colorful resource that touts the benefits of maintaining healthy ecosystems. The images stress the interdependence of all the elements of an ecosystem.
Curated OER
Science Crossword Puzzles: Life Science
Review some simple life science terms using this short and simple crossword puzzle. Young scientists find 6 terms about photosynthesis and other life science topics using provided clues and then plug them into a crossword.
Curated OER
Photosynthesis Study Guide
In this photosynthesis worksheet, students answer 18 questions in a combination of multiple choice and short answers including the completion of a table.
Curated OER
An Environmental Puzzle: The Carbon Cycle
Students are introducced to how respiration and photosysnthesis cycle carbon through ecosystems. They read background information that describes the role of the Sun as Earth's ultimate energy source and explains how the energy...
Curated OER
Eutrophication Lab
Middle schoolers examine the effects of detergents and fertilizers on aquatic life and describe algae. Students define the term eutrophication as the process by which a body of water, such as a pond, lake, stream, or river, has a sudden...
Curated OER
Fractions and Chemistry
In this fractions in chemistry learning exercise, students solve 2 problems where they state all the answers as simple fractions or integers. They determine ratios of molecules in gasoline and they find ratio of molecules in the creation...
Curated OER
Photosynthesis
Students conduct a variety of experiments on photosynthesis. In this biology lesson, students identify the factors required for the process to occur. They perform computerized experiments to test the amount of oxygen produced when plants...
Curated OER
Energy in a Cell
In this cell energy worksheet, students are given clues about the light capturing process in plants and the energy producing reactions in animals to complete a crossword puzzle.
Curated OER
Life Underground
First graders build a terrarium in order to observe animal and plant life dynamics. In this biology lesson, 1st graders compare how organisms survive in different environments. They write their observations and analysis in their journal.
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
What's in the Water?
Students make a water sampler and use proper techniques to collect water.They write a essay explaining the inter-relationship of factors such as temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, nitrates, and phosphates in a lake that might cause a...
Curated OER
How about a Little Give and Take?
Middle schoolers design a closed system to test the relationships between plants and animals. They monitor abiotic fluctuations within this living system by using a chemical test kit. They observe how living organisms respond to...
Curated OER
The Atmosphere Then and Now
Students recall details about the formation of the earth and early atmosphere. They name the layers of the atmosphere and compare amounts of atmospheric nitrogen, oxygen, and argon. Formulate questions about global warming.
Curated OER
Plant Party
Students identify plant parts. In this plants instructional activity, students bring in a vegetable. Each student classifies which part of the plant their vegetable comes from (flower, root, ect.) Students identify the parts of their...
Virginia Department of Education
Changes in Ecosystems
How does water pollution affect the environment? Provide your class with the resources to answer this question as they learn about eutrophication and ecosystem changes. Over two weeks, they simulate the effects of pollution on the...
Curated OER
Photosynthesis: Trapping the Sun's Energy
In this photosynthesis worksheet, students learn how plants trap the sun's energy and the light-dependent reactions of photosynthesis which includes the Calvin cycle. This worksheet has 5 true or false, 6 fill in the blank, 2 short...
Curated OER
It's All About the Roots
Young scholars investigate the process of hydroponic agriculture. They grow beans in different hydroponic solutions, compare results and graph their observations.
Curated OER
Primary Producers
Students examine the role of carbon in the oceans and how phytoplankton determine the levels present. In groups, they practice measuring primary productivity using two methods. They use the internet to research the role of phytoplankton...
Curated OER
Plant Pigments
Students investigate the components of chlorophyll. They use paper chromatography to separate the many pigments of chlorophyll from one another.