High schoolers recognize that natural environments are involved in a process of continual change, and create murals showing three major stages of pond succession. They review the idea of succession (the orderly, gradual, continual...

Students explore the evolution from a pond habitat to a meadow.  In this habitat lesson, students become familiar with a beaver meadow habitat.  Students are aasigned an animal to research and find why the animal best survives...

Students collect samples of pond water, dried grass, and soil in a jar. They predict the order of ecological succession in their pond water cultures. They compare their expected results with their observed results.

Fifth graders identify how a pond can change into a grassland. An ecosystems instructional activity where learners identify pioneer and climax species, and recognize that ecological succession can take up to 100 years or more. Some...

Students explore the concept of beaver pond succession. In this succession lesson, students discuss what succession is and how it works. Students create a mural to present their understanding of this concept.

Fifth graders investigate how a pond ecosystem can change into a prairie or grassland ecosystem. They observe a small pond ecosystem in a two liter soda bottle, and examine and record changes over a two-week period of time on a worksheet.

First graders experience addition through the exploration of a virtual pond. They categorize the various plants around the pond, count the number of various types of plants on the pond shore, and calculate the number of shrubs.

Students examine various pond water samples to identify water quality. In this water quality lesson, students will identify levels of nitrates, ammonia, pH, hardness,and alkalinity in pond water. They will explain importance of water...

Students use easily obtained materials to study ecological succession in a microbiological community. This investigation is appropriate for a variety of age groups. Elementary Students be fascinated by the changes occurring over time...

Fourth graders explore the concept of ecosystems. In groups, they examine clues to find mystery objects. Once they find the mystery objects, they discuss what ecosystem each comes from. They also look at pond water samples under a...

Learners create a model city in order to understand the effects human habitats have on the environment.  In this environment lesson, students examine the effects human habitats have on the environment.  Learners create a model...

Students observe populations of Lumbriculus to discover some of the adaptations that allow them to live successfully along the shores of ponds and marshes. They also design and perform experiments to test proposed hypotheses for these...

Students use their basic knowledge of physiology to analyze graphical data of paramecia under diverse conditions. From the data analysis, Students develop explanations of the animal's response to the concentration of different solutions...

Students work to gain fluency and become successful readers through repeated readings. For this frog-themed lesson, they complete one-minute timed readings with a partner and show their progress as they move paper frogs across lily pads.

Students graph water temperature using probe software and a Palm on a class field trip to a lake or pond. Emphasis is placed on collaboration with high school science students and the use of ImagiProbe software.

Students use easily obtained materials to study ecological succession in a microbiological community. They collect water samples from outdoor sources in plastic bottles to observe and record changes.

New to using Paradise Lost in your classroom? Here's a packet that provides background information, lists of research projects, and enrichment resources. A great addition to your curriculum file.

Young readers see that letters represent phoneme sequences in spoken words. They identify the letter "d," and recognize "d" in spoken words by exploring the meaningful representation and a letter symbol. They practice finding the letter...

Examine the way water moves, drips, and splashes with an expressive dance. Learners discuss the ways in which water moves, then create dance sequences that show or describe water. There are several suggestions to adapt this lesson to...

Seventh graders discover the interconnectedness of plants and animals in ecosystems. In groups, they create a food web and discuss the problems when one link of the chain is broken. To end the lesson, they set up a balanced environment...

Students interpret and name the vocabulary termed acted out by the mime. In this science/language arts/physical education lesson, students are given a set of vocabulary terms to discuss within their group. Next, students place all...

Observe two different water samples and write down observations. Write a paragraph which predicts the relative amounts of nutrients, nitrates, and phosphates in the water samples. Compare water samples under a microscope.

Students use a hopscotch course to simulate the problems birds incur as they are migrating due to loss of wetlands.

Students play a game of hopscotch as they simulate birds migrating north through wetlands. They compare the game to real bird migration and discuss how the health of the wetlands is proportional to the health of birds.