Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water Molds (Oomycetes)

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore a group of fungus-like organisms; the Oomycetes, by baiting them from natural sources (water and soil) and observing them.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Build a Prairie!

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students research the plants and animals in the prairie environment. They conduct Internet research, and follow directions to construct a simulated prairie.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Biological Carbon Cycle

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students learn about the biological carbon cycle. In this carbon cycle lesson, students access the web site and mouse over the diagrams to follow the carbon cycle. They read about what happens to humans and plants during this cycle.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Investigation 4 - Plot Studies

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders use a plot map to study the plants and animals living in a small area of their environment.
Lesson Plan
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Native Chili Planting

For Teachers K
Students discover the process of planting chili. After comparing two types of seeds students plant and with the use of a digital camera, record the seed progress. When ready for transplant, students take young plants to a retirement...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Field Experiments on Succession

For Teachers Higher Ed
Student develop a hypothesis regarding the effects of either mowing or fertilizer upon the diversity of plant species in a grassland ecosystem. They set up experiment field plots and measure species richness.
Lesson Plan
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Terrariums for Project Pals

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students identify the components needed by plants to survive in the terrarium. In this biology lesson, students build their own terrariums using materials available. They present their project in class.
Lesson Plan
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Mini-Ecosystems

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students use plastic bottles to create terrariums and plant Venus Flytraps. They observe the plants and the terrariums for illustrations of the water cycle and species' adaptations to a specific environment.
Worksheet
Curated OER

Evergreen Trees & Softwood

For Students 6th - 8th
In this earth science worksheet, students identify and locate various vocabulary terms pertaining to evergreen trees and other softwood trees. There are 26 earth science terms located in the word search.
Lesson Plan
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Water Cycle in a Bottle

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students study the water cycle. In this water science lesson, students complete a water cycle experiment using soda bottles.
Lesson Plan
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I'm Not Home Alone

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students view species of plants and animals in their native habitats. They design a classroom habitat and create a plan for raising the necessary funds to accomplish their project.
Lesson Plan
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POWERFUL POTATO

For Teachers K - 1st
Learners will observe the growth process of a potato plant.Plant a potato in a large clay pot or gallon bucket. You may purchase seed potatoes from a seed outlet in early spring or use a potato from home that has started to sprout. Make...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rainforest Deforestation and the Water Cycle

For Teachers 1st - 5th
Students create terrariums (mini rainforests). They observe and discuss the life processes that occur in their terrariums and how changes in these processes affect the plants and organisms inside. They collect and graph data and present...
Lesson Plan
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Succession and Microclimate

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Young scholars compare the population of insects in different microclimates. In this biology lesson, students collect data using probes to tabulate temperature and soil data. They predict how certain parameters change as an area...
Lesson Plan
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Geography Action! Rivers 2001-Runoff

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students experiment with how rain affects topsoil using dirt and red tempera paint. At the end of the activity, students find red water in their collection jar, representing nutrients in the soil.
Lesson Plan
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Environment: A Day Around the Bay

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Young scholars examine various scenarios about pollution around bays and discuss their reactions to them. Among the situations they investigate are construction site soil washing into a tributary, oil from motor boats leaking into...
Lesson Plan
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Listening to the Prairie

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students, in groups, visit an exhibit and for a prairie scavenger hunt to locate sunflowers and name products made from them. After sketching a prairie dog, they find nature cues farmers use when growing plants and raising animals. The...
Lesson Plan
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It's All About the Roots

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students investigate the process of hydroponic agriculture. They grow beans in different hydroponic solutions, compare results and graph their observations.
Lesson Plan
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Identifying Erosion

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students identify erosion in various forms and explain its causes. They look for evidence of erosion on school grounds, describe it in their journals, and draw labeled rough sketches of the erosion.
Lesson Plan
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Aquatic Investigations

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders investigate pond organisms, plant life, water temperatures, and changes that occur during the four seasons. They design scavenger hunts with the information collected about pond life. They read about the geology of the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Prairie In A Bottle

For Teachers 2nd
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.
Worksheet
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K12 Reader

Chaparral Ecosystems

For Students 4th - 5th Standards
Explore the impact of wildfires with a reading passage about ecosystems. Pupils read the passage and respond to five questions related to the content of the text.
Worksheet
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K12 Reader

Ecosystems

For Students 4th - 5th Standards
Examine how living and non-living things work together in a reading passage about ecosystems. Class members read the text and then respond to five response questions that relate specifically to the content of the passage.
Worksheet
1
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K12 Reader

Taking Care of Earth

For Students 4th - 5th Standards
Provide a brief introduction to ecology and conservation with a reading passage. Learners can read the text, answer the five related questions that are included on the page, and discuss the reading.