Curated OER
Should Soil Be Sterile?
Students determine if the sterilization of topsoil is beneficial to seed germination and plant growth. They grow plants alongside control groups, make and record observations of plant growth and measure plant biomass.
Curated OER
"Investigating Soil Color and Texture"
Ninth graders will identify/understand the differences between soil and dirt. They will classify soil color accurately and use Munsell notation to describe it (Munsell books provided).Students will classify soil texture using the feel...
Curated OER
Soil Permeability
Learners discuss how soil permeability is affected by permafrost. In this soil lesson plan, students freeze soil over night, and discuss how the environmental conditions of freezing affect soil and further affect vegetation.
Curated OER
Digging up the Dirt on Soil Microbes
Learners are introduced to the idea of soil as a habitat for many different organisms. They are introduced to the links between the biological adaptations of an organism and the physical demands of its habitat. Pupils are introduced to...
Curated OER
Soil pH Effect on Germination of Specific Weeds
Learners collect weed seeds from three varieties of weeds (knapweed, thistle, or toadflax, for example they may choose others in addition to the spotted knapweed.) They sterilize soil for thirty containers, plant seeds in sterile soil,...
Curated OER
Dirt Life
Students select and collect soil samples from a variety of locations (schoolyard, home, etc.). They do this lab after an interest-generating discussion about "dirt" and microbes. Students make a dilution in sterile water, plate it on a...
Curated OER
Selecting Soil Organisms in Compost
Students conduct an experiment to demonstrate that many of the enzyme systems needed to break down society's wastes exist in nature among the decomposers in a compost pile. They culture compost bacteria on starch agar to examine the...
Curated OER
Plant Parts
Ninth graders identify plant parts by using different classification methods. In this plant lesson students observe and draw different types of leaves then classify them according to species.
Curated OER
Selecting Soil Organisms in Compost
Students demonstrate that many of the enzyme systems needed to break down--and therefore clean up-society's wastes already exist in nature among the decomposers. They select the best starch-munching organisms by altering the environment...
Curated OER
Bioethics of Eugenics
Students research and discuss the ethical aspects of Nazi racial ideology, including sterilization, marriage prohibitions, and euthanasia. They develop codes of ethics regarding reproductive rights, euthanasia, and the death penalty.
Curated OER
Science: Conditions for Slime Mold Survival
Students perform experiments to determine the nutritional needs and physical space requirements for slime mold to survive. After formulating hypotheses, they seal the petri dishes and set up the experiment along with two controls. ...
Curated OER
Dirty Worms
Students examine the functions of earthworms and their effect on soil. They conduct an earthworm dissection lab, and complete a checklist.
Curated OER
The Search for Extraterrestrial Life
In this extraterrestrial life worksheet, students review the different space craft used to explore space for existence of life beyond Earth. This worksheet has 8 matching and 5 unscramble words.
Nuffield Foundation
Nitrogen-Fixing Bacteria in Root Nodules of Leguminous Plants
Fixin' to add a great resource to your plans? Scholars perform an experiment to investigate nitrogen-fixing bacteria from plant roots. Along the way, they learn about the concepts of symbiosis and mutualism.
Curated OER
Bacteria
Students study the advantages and disadvantages of bacteria. In this bacteria lesson students draw and label the different types of bacteria.
Curated OER
Seed Socks
Learners explore how seeds travel. In this seed disbursement lesson, students head outside in their bare socks. Learners walk around then before going inside they take the socks off and examine what their socks picked up. As a class the...
Curated OER
Excavate and Explore
Students simulate an archeological excavation to explain how archeologists identify, date, and make inferences about their findings. They explain the importance of spatial and stratigraphic contexts in archaeology.
Curated OER
Causal Patterns in Ecosystems Section 3
Young scholars design and create a worm and worm free compost tanks for observation of decay in ecosystems. They make predictions, care, and revist tanks using their journals for observation and data collection.
Curated OER
Weedy Socks & Wheels
Students engage in a instructional activity that is concerned with the concept of using socks in order to collect weed seeds. They conduct research in order to illustrate the ease of how weeds are spread from one area to another....
Curated OER
Settling The Wasterwater Problem
Pupils name models that are representations of larger objects. They suggest ways that industry, agriculture, and mining affect water quality. Pupils demonstrate the use of lagoons for treating wastewater. Students define the following...
Curated OER
Elegant Embryology
Students observe embryogenesis in action through early stages of development of eggs. They observe cultures with dissecting and compound microscopes. They draw their egg, record any details and observe for changes. They compare their...
Curated OER
Knowledge Quiz: Bacteria
In this bacteria quiz worksheet, students complete a set of 10 multiple choice questions covering a variety of concepts related to bacteria. A reference web site is included for additional resources.
Curated OER
Spud Smear
Students study various samples of microorganisms in petri dishes. In this microorganism lesson, students place various samples of items in petri dishes and observe them after several days of incubation.