Curated OER
You Be the Judge
Students explore nonfiction writing by completing a worksheet in class. In this research questions lesson, students read several stories about the Wild West icons Wyatt Earp and Wild Bill Hickok. Students answer study questions about the...
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The Witch of Goingsnake
Students interpret a proverb and read examples of oral histories. For this The Witch of Goingsnake lesson, students read two samples of oral history and discuss quotations from each. Students read "Calf Roper's Bandit Car" and...
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You're History
Students write personal histories. In this historical analysis lesson, students explore their own places in history as they read the diaries of others and write their own.
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Environment: Wild Wind Direction
Young scholars examine the different types of wind patterns. Using common materials, they construct weather vanes to measure and record wind direction over a two-week period. After analyzing the data, they draw conclusions about the...
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Art Tape Amusement Parks
In need of a quick way to get rid of extra art tape? This simple idea describes how learners can use it to create mini amusement parks. They'll form the tape into roller coasters, cars, and people with a little imagination and creative...
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Animal Masks
Learners create wonderfully animate animal masks out of balloons. They use the papier-mache technique to create three dimensional animal masks taking care to consider color, shape, texture, and the animals' features.
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The Shape of Disaster - Current Event- Swine Flu/Hurricanes/Tornadoes/Wild Fire
Students create a disaster preparation book. In this disaster preparation lesson, students research disasters and use the kidspiration program to create a shape to represent each disaster. They create a page for each disaster.
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Ceramic shoes - wild and wacky
Students explore the history of shoes and shoes from various cultures. They create a shoe using slab and coil techniques. They become familiar with basic additive and subtractive sculpting methods while adding imaginative features to...
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The Forest-Life in the Wild!
Students write a description of each animal using their completed outline and include a graphic of the animal for the program, or a hand drawing. Each student chooses and writes about 2 Rain Forest Animals.
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Exploring the Natural World of the Balkan Peninsula
Students explore the different habitats in the Balkan peninsula. In this ecology lesson, students research about a species and create a 3D diorama of its environment. They present project in class and share their research findings.
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Nature Superfish
Students examine the billfish as a predator in the ocean. In this ocean, creatures, and tides lesson plan, students view video clips and discuss the sea creatures and scientists in the videos. Students create their own videos. students...
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Nureyev: The Unconquerable Will
Young scholars consider the development of dance across cultures. In this dance genre instructional activity, students study the history of Russia and the Mongol Tatars. Young scholars research how classical ballet made its way to Russia...
Polar Trec
Calorimetry Lab
Young people between the ages of 11–13 need on average about 2,000 calories per day. Within the lab, groups learn about calorimetry and respiration. They explore how it pertains to humans and animals living the Arctic where cold...
Forest Foundation
Fire - How Does it Relate to You?
Forest fires can be a necessary step in keeping a forest healthy, but what happens when they get out of control? Learners investigate the causes and effects of forest fires in two specific areas, culminating in a report about the ways...
Curated OER
The Cowboy Life
Travel back in time to the 1800s and research the Old West! Elementary and middle schoolers work with a partner to complete at least four activities from a list provided by the teacher. They use these activities to present their...
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Native Beauty
Students plant wild flowers and maintain their garden. In this wild flowers lesson plan, students pick and prepare a gardening site, plant wild flowers, and maintain it everyday.
Curated OER
Inviting Butterflies to the Schoolyard
Students create a butterfly garden. In this butterfly garden lesson, students plot a garden with plant species that will attract butterflies. Students learn about the specific plants and items that will help butterflies use the garden.
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Animal Research Project
First graders are introduced to the topic of researching by the librarian. Using a worksheet, they use various sources in the library to choose one animal from various groups. They complete a fact sheet on each animal and report their...
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Environmental Education (Grade 4 - Lesson 2)
Fourth graders discuss ways in which the environment is helpful to humans. They discover how their actions affect the environment. They identify how animals and humans are subjected to the same environmental conditions.
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Build a Hawaiian Bird
Fifth graders make a model of a bird. In this animal adaptations lesson plan, 5th graders examine how birds adapt to their environment, using Hawaiian birds as an example. Students create their own bird using adaptation paper cut outs...
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Owl Pellets
Sixth graders investigate the role of owls in their ecosystem. In this food chain instructional activity, 6th graders illustrate an owl food chain, dissect an owl pellet, and analyze data. Students discuss what would happen to owls if...
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Taking Apart Owl Pellets
Young scholars dissect an owl pellet. In this rodent and bone structure lesson plan, students work in groups to take apart an owl pellet. Young scholars separate all the tiny bones from the fur and use the bones to reconstruct the rodent...
Curated OER
Rainfall Mapping
Students explore rainfall and habitats. In this rainfall lesson, students explore the relationships among rainfall, vegetation, and animal habitats. Resources are provided.
Curated OER
Animal Adaptations
Students focus on the pelts of fur-bearing animals native to Iowa to discover their different adaptations. In this animal adaptation lesson, students work in groups and examine various pelts to find information about the animals habitat...