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.

Learners observe the similarities and differences between plant and animal cells. In this cell activity, students use microscopes to observe self prepared slides of animal and plant cells.

Students examine the difference between nonfiction and fictional writing. They identify the characteristics of nonfiction literature and examine how a nonfiction textbook organizes information.

They are alive even though they are neither plants or animals! Yes, fungi are the subject of this two-part comprehension activity. Kids read the article and then use information found there to respond to comprehension...

Can corn power the world? Young scientists learn about how corn and other plants can provide renewable biofuels in the second of nine lessons. They set up an experiment to investigate how different variables affect plant growth. All of...

My, what big energy potential you have! Scholars learn about the energy potential of using algae as a biofuel. A PowerPoint presentation first describes the structure of algae and then how researchers use algae as biofuel to produce energy.

Second graders observe images of prairie ecosystems and discuss the needs of living things. They create a prairie habitat in a closed jar to observe the water cycle and plant growth.

Students work together to build models of prairie plants. Using the model, they estimate the height and then measure them using metric and standard units. They write a fraction to represent their part of the whole set and compare and...

Learners create model coral reefs showing surface area and including examples of communities.  In this coral reef lesson, students research and explore the functions or benefits from a coral reef.  Learners design a benthic...

Students identify the three realms of the Arctic Ocean, and describe the relationships between these realms. They graphically analyze data on sea ice cover in the Arctic Ocean, and recognize a trend in these data.

Students research an assigned biogeochemical cycle. In this cycle activity, students need to determine that all cycles need energy to continue. The students will look at a given cycle to describe it, research and draw an assigned cycle,...

Students bag trees to determine the mass of the water given off in the evapotranspiration process.

Third graders watch a video on the solar system and examine the role of the sun. As a class, they complete a KWL chart and make different color temperature pockets to use during their experiment. In groups, they make predictions about...

[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Plants are producers, which means they are able to make their own food, as well as "food" for other organisms. Plants are also autotrophs - they collect energy from...

[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] The process of photosynthesis and its importance in life on earth, and examples of photosynthetic organisms.

Delve into myths your students might hold about photosynthesis in this video. Help your students gain a better understanding of photosynthesis reactions and how plants use light energy for nutrition and growth.

In this activity, you will be able to observe the oxygen production in leaves by doing a floating leaf disk experiment. You can also find out how quickly plants produce oxygen, and what variables affect photosynthesis.

This unit covers the processes of photosynthesis, extinction, biomimicry and bioremediation. In the first lesson on photosynthesis, students learn how engineers use the natural process of photosynthesis as an exemplary model of a complex...

A collection of teaching resources to help students explore plants! Resources investigate anatomy of plants, reproduction and life cycles, fruits, seeds, classification, photosynthesis, factors that affect plant growth, and respiration....

A video workshop examining how the Sun provides energy for all living things beginning with the process of photosynthesis. Presents current scientific thinking about energy transfer through the food chain as well as ways to deal with...

Discussion of the conversion of light energy to chemical energy through the life-sustaining process of photosynthesis. Explores the reactions of photosynthesis, where they take place, and their ecological importance.

A video, a karaoke song to sing along to, and a 7-question multiple-choice quiz on the topic of photosynthesis.

[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Although we generally discuss plants when learning about photosynthesis, keep in mind that plants are not the only organisms that can make their own food. Some...

Explore the two complementary processes of photosynthesis and cellular respiration.