Curated OER
Helpful Animals and Compassionate Humans in Folklore
Students define elements of stories from around the world that include helpful animals. They explore animal character motivations and use graphic organizers to compare and contrast animal stories from different cultures.
Curated OER
Animals
What kinds of animals live in Spanish-speaking countries? Do they live in the zoo, the garden, or the sea? Discuss animals with your young, experienced Spanish speakers. Then use photos to practice describing where certain animals live....
Curated OER
Plankton in the Air
Here is a lab activity adequate for use with any full lesson on environmental factors that shape animal adaptations or marine animal characteristics. Pupils will discuss the role plankton plays in the environment and filter-feeding...
World Wildlife Fund
Land of the Midnight Sun
From days of 24 hour sunlight, to endless nights that last for days, the Arctic is a very unique place to live. Examine the seasonal changes that occur in the northern-most reaches of the globe and the impact they have on the plants and...
Rainforest Alliance
How Do Jaguars and Howler Monkeys in Belize Depend on Us?
How does weather play a role in the lives of land and sea creatures? Find out with a lesson focused on habitats and the ways animals from different homes are connected. Here, learners explore how the life of a jaguar and howler monkey...
Curated OER
Classification and Adaptations- Streams, Rivers, and Lakes - Where the Land Meets the Sea And Caribbean Reef
In this science worksheet set, students answer 14 short answer questions about the classification and adaptation of life in streams, rivers, and lakes. They also answer 15 questions about life "Where the Land Meets the Sea" and in a...
Curated OER
Compound Species
Students gather pictures of animals, fish, birds, and insects, and sort them by category: land, sea, and air creatures. They choose two of these categories and imaginatively combine part of animals (such as horns, tentacles, fins, floppy...
Curated OER
Loggerhead Turtle Fun Facts
Young scholars study loggerhead turtles and learn facts about reptiles. In this turtles lesson, students read information about loggerhead turtles and study their various sections and characteristics. Young scholars then make their own...
Curated OER
Ocean Zones
Students create a mural showing ocean zones and the diversity of ocean life. They use reference books to create a list of plants and animals that would live in each zone.
Curated OER
Why is a salt marsh important?
Middle schoolers discuss the salt marsh. They define the following terms: habitat, water, land and air. Students work in small groups. They are asked why are they going to a salt marsh? Middle schoolers discuss whose habitat is it at...
Curated OER
What is an Ahupua'a?
Students research ahupua'a ecosystems. In this ahupua'a lesson plan, students explore how land is subdivided in Hawaii and the effect on the ecosystem. Resources are provided.
Curated OER
Phytoplankton in the Gulf of Maine
Students use satellite data to see the correlation between sea temperature and sunlight in the Gulf of Maine. In this phytoplankton lesson students use Excel to analyze data.
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
Wheel of Trouble
While teaching about endangered species, you can incorporate this activity as a take-home reminder of what is threatening the sea turtle population. It is one of those paper plate projects in which a wedge is cut out to reveal a picture...
Polar Bears International
Top of the World
Learn about polar bears and the Arctic circle with a lesson about the countries and conditions of the region. After examining how the area differs from Antarctica, kids explore climates, animals, and geographical position of countries in...
NOAA
A Laboratory Simulation of Ocean Surface Currents
Stimulate interest in ocean currents with a simulation. The first installment of a five-part middle school series teaches future oceanographers about the forces that interact to cause ocean currents. A simulation shows how wind and the...
Curated OER
Hermit Crabs Lifecycle & Stages
Students review the life cycle of land hermit crabs by viewing a poster or transparency. They identify the different body parts of a hermit crab and what each part is used for.
Curated OER
The Marsh Land as a Changing Environment
Sixth graders continue their examination of the state of Connecticut. After taking a field trip, they identify the types of birds, plants, invertebrates and vertebrates who make their home in the salt marshes. In groups, they identify...
Curated OER
She Sells Sea Shells in Illinois??
Second graders sorted shells first by methods they thought appropriate and then were instructed on the scientific method of classification by univalve and bivalve. Students then sorted paper shells as a method of assessing knowledge. It...
Curated OER
Ocean Friends Nametags
Young scholars complete a number of activities to complete a study of ocean animals. They identify the animals, make nametags using appropriate colors, the animal habitats, and make a book by putting the pages in numerical order.
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
Coral Reefs: Gardens Under the Sea
Students discover the wonders of coral reefs while listening to a book about them. In a Reading Rainbow video activity, they simulate a dive, check equipment and explore a reef. Role-playing as marine biologists, students uncover...
Rainforest Alliance
Protecting the Critical Habitat of the Manatee and Loggerhead Turtle
Explore ocean habitats with a lesson that showcases the home of manatees and loggerhead turtles in Belize. Here, pupils compare and contrast the homes of ocean animals to those of humans, listen to an original short story about the...