National Gardening Association
Migration Mishaps
Elementary ecologists pretend to be migratory hummingbirds. They fly between wintering and nesting grounds, trying to reach a habitat haven. In a musical-chair fashion, some birds will miss out, and are removed from the game. To further...
Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Patterns in the Distribution of Lactase Persistence
We all drink milk as babies, so why can't we all drink it as adults? Examine the trend in lactase production on the world-wide scale as science scholars analyze and interpret data. Groups create pie charts from the data, place them on a...
Population Connection
Where Do We Grow from Here?
Did you know that the population is expected to grow to 11 billion by 2100? The resource serves final installment in a six-part series on the global population and its effects. Scholars interpret data from the United Nations about the...
Population Connection
The Peopling of Our Planet
How many people live on the planet, anyway? The first resource in a six-part series covers the topic of the world population. Scholars work in groups to conduct research and make population posters after learning about the global...
Curated OER
The Coyote Population: Kansas Prairies
Students discover animal lifestyles by researching their ecosystem. In this animal statistics lesson, students research the geography of Kansas and discuss the reasons why wild animals survive in the open Kansas fields. Students complete...
Curated OER
Balancing Act
Learners investigate the dramatic increase in world population and the unequal distribution of resources. They examine the six world regions and how they are affected by the increase in population.
National Park Service
It's Not Easy Being Grizz
Grizzly bears can be up to 600 pounds and require a great deal of food, especially to survive hibernation. Comprised of multiple games, the third lesson of five only uses one setup. Pupils run around a large field, sorting and collecting...
Curated OER
Geography: Analyzing the Local Environment
Students, in groups, explore the school grounds and organize their findings according to the five themes of geography. They take notes and sketch the grounds. Students divide the school and grounds into regions based on use.
Curated OER
Wildlife
First, biology pupils research land and marine habitats along the route of skipper Rich Wilson's Great American II. Then, using colored paper clips scattered across a colored paper background, they play the predator-prey game to...
Curated OER
Exploring an Atlas
Learners explore global geography by participating in an atlas activity. In this countries of the world instructional activity, students collaborate in small groups and analyze an atlas while researching continents, countries and...
Prince William Network
Migration Headache
During this game, kids become migratory shorebirds and fly among wintering, nesting, and stopover habitats. If they do not arrive at a suitable habitat on time, they do not survive. Catastrophic events are periodically introduced that...
Redefining Progress
Have and Have-Not
Is there a correlation between a country's wealth and the extent of its ecological footprint? What exactly constitutes an ecological footprint, and how does one country stack up against the rest? This is a unique lesson to incorporate...
Curated OER
Rain Reasons
Students explore how climatic factors influence the growth of plants. They create an experiment to find how variations in water, light, and temperature affect plant growth and describe how precipitation and geography can affect the...
Curated OER
Hurricanes and Climate
Students investigate maps and data to learn about the connections between hurricanes and climate. In this exploratory lesson plan students describe and graph the 6 regions where hurricanes happen and discuss how hurricanes have changed...
Curated OER
And the Rains Came Down: A South American Rainforest
Students examine the characteristics of a South American tropical rainforest. They analyze maps, develop graphs, listen to the book, The Great Kapok Tree, and create a rainforest mural.
Curated OER
You Need How Much Food When? Where?
Ninth graders explore how human activities shape the earth's surface. In this awareness instructional activity, 9th graders create pictographs showing the relations of food, people, land, and resources. Students complete worksheet.
Curated OER
Environment: The Haves and the Have Nots
Students examine consumption habits in developed and developing countries and determine their effects on natural resources. In groups, they assess graphs on the Living Planet Report and observe the connection between consumption and...
Curated OER
In a Family Way
Young scholars research a rare species of animals that are a step away from the well known animals of our zoos. They create a mobile which displays the geography, habits, population and habitat of the animals. They draw a picture.
Curated OER
LAND USE ISSUES
Students relate math with real life situations. They identify and plot points on a grid map. They identify and locate the Drop Box Sites.
Curated OER
Wildlife
The centerpiece of this lesson plan is a predator-prey simulation in which colored paperclips represent different species of animals camouflaged against a colored background. Relevant follow-up questions are provided. The activity is...
Curated OER
Our Watershed
Learners work with the Tribal Council and Elders to explain the historical importance of the area's watershed. They develop a model of the watershed and map the route of water flow from the watershed to the ocean.
Curated OER
What Have We Done?
Young scholars investigate the effect of dams on the ecosystem. In this environmental lesson, students read case studies on the Aswan Dam and the Colorado River Basin and construct a T-chart to compare the effects on the region.
Curated OER
Agriculture Around the World
Students explore various kinds of farming methods around the world. In this history lesson plan, students view pictures of farming methods, then compare and contrast them in a class discussion with the methods of farming that are...
Curated OER
Biomimicry, Nature: Architecture of the Future
Students explore the relationship between nature and architecture. In this cross curriculum history, culture, and architecture instructional activity, students observe and discuss structures visible in nature. Students view websites in...