Curated OER
Dare to Care for a Grizzly Bear
Students examine the relationship between humans and grizzly bears. In this biology lesson, students research about the bear's habits and living environment. They write a letter to the US Fish and Wildlife Service petitioning them to...
Curated OER
Species Charades
Students identify endangered species. In this endangered species lesson, the teacher leads a discussion about endangered species, then the class plays a game of charades to pantomime animal behavior.
Curated OER
Yummy Plant Parts
Middle schoolers examine plant parts. In this botany lesson, students examine various edible plants and how their adaptations help them to grow. They observe stems, leaves, roots and flowers of plants and discuss the relationship between...
Curated OER
Elephants
Students study elephants and the features they have that help to keep them cool. In this elephants lesson plan students research a feature of the elephant.
Curated OER
Climate Change & Coral Activities
Students study how the ocean stabilizes our planet's climates and how global warming is becoming a threat to this fine balance. In this climate change instructional activity, students identify that fossil fuel emissions are...
Curated OER
Pond Habitats
Young scholars define what a pond habitat is and explain what animals live in this habitat. They discuss what can harm or destroy a pond habitat. They create a poster of what could harm a pond habitat including illustrations and...
Curated OER
Biosphere
Students examine the basic biosphere and its components. In this ecology lesson plan students complete several experiments including designing a system that is balanced to sustain life.
Curated OER
The Dead Zone in the Gulf of Mexico
Students explore hypoxic (low oxygen) conditions in the Gulf of Mexico. In this ocean habitat activity, students hypothesis, design and implement an experiment to explain the existence of the "Dead Zone" in the Gulf of Mexico.
Curated OER
The Camouflage Game
Students analyze the numbers of each color of caterpillar collected, and discuss reasons for this. PowerPoint presentations may be made. This lesson requires the teacher to set up a situation prior to teaching. Red and Green...
Curated OER
How to Grow a Cactus Indoors
Students plant a cacti. In this desert plants lesson plan, students identify the needs of a plant and meet those needs by planting and caring for cactus.
Curated OER
Adaptations
Cacti have special adaptations for living in desert heat and dryness. Polar bears have adaptations that allow them to withstand icy conditions. Humans adapt to different conditions by wearing appropriate clothing or building homes...
Curated OER
Creature Inventor Team
Students design their own pretend creatures and places to live by working together as a team. They connect their imaginary creatures and habitat to invent a story about how they live or an event that could happen to them.
National Geographic
Eat an Alien Invader
If you are looking for a lesson about invasive species to ocean habitats, you have arrived! Introduce the concept to learners and have them read an article about marine invasive species. Vocabulary, relevant web links, and a cute...
Curated OER
Adaptation and Diversity on Sheffield Island
Written for an exploration of shoreline ecosystems on Sheffield Island, this gives ecology or marine biology buffs a hands-on experience. Using GPS or visual triangulation techniques, they lay transect lines on a high and a low energy...
Curated OER
When Ants Fly
Here is a great lesson on constructing line graphs. Learners identify common characteristics of birds, ants common needs of all living things. They also write a story from the perspective of an ant or a bird that has lost its home and...
LABScI
Taxonomy: Who is in My family?
Find similarities in seemingly unlike organisms. The second instructional activity in a series of 12 builds the concept of a taxonomy and explores the use of a dichotomous key. Learners begin in part one by attempting to group a set of...
McGraw Hill
Arthropods
Are spiders related to crabs? Study the order of arthropods with a reading selection about animal diversity. It provides details about each class within the order, as well as vivid pictures and explanatory charts.
Cornell University
Beneficial Insects
A lot of people think of insects as pests. But actually, some insects are beneficial because they get rid of pests! After learning about beneficial insects, class members research given insects to find out if they are pests or predators.
American Museum of Natural History
What Is Climate Change?
So many factors show that climate change has arrived. Learners read through an online resource that explains the data and the consequences of climate change. They also review strategies for slowing or even reversing the global influence.
ARKive
Temperate Rainforest in the Pacific Northwest
Explore the amazing temperate rainforest of the Pacific Northwest. Your class starts by investigating the animals and plants of the Northwest, specifically Washington, and then research an animal population common to the area. In small...
Curated OER
Animals of Point Reyes
Seventh graders explore how disasters affect animals. In this animal habitats lesson students create an animal that will survive in Point Reyes habitats.
Curated OER
Habitats
Students are introduced to various animals and their habitats. In groups, they must determine which animal skin matches the correct animal and identify the texture. They discuss the reason for the texture and width of the skin to end...
Curated OER
Our Friends the Trees
Students build an animal habitat. In this animal habitats lesson, students create dead-wood habitats and observe the habitat over a period of weeks.