Curated OER
Tree I.D.
Learners explore various tree species. In this tree species instructional activity, students collect leaves on nature walks and use Internet sources to identify the trees that the leaves belong to. Learners graph their data as well.
Curated OER
Seed Diversity
Students explore agriculture by researching different seeds. In this seed identification activity, students collaborate in small groups to analyze a package of different seeds. Students utilize a magnifying glass to examine each seed...
Michigan Sea Grant
Fish Identification
Using a dichotomous key, pupils identify characteristics of fish who live in the Great Lakes and explain how these features help them survive. In small groups, class members discover what features scientists consider important and...
Curated OER
Wildlife Track Identification
Even though the PowerPoint slides for this lesson are not included, you may find it useful for the wildlife track preservation instructions provided. After demonstrating the steps for making track casts, take your class outdoors to make...
Curated OER
Most Troublesome Exotic Invasive Plant Species Web Quest
Students participate in a Web Quest activity in which they identify common exotic invasive plant species of the Southern Appalachian Region. After identifying the top 10 exotic invasive species, they choose one to research in depth.
Curated OER
Birds of Different Feathers: Species Specialization
Students identify differences in bird species and explain the concept of species specialization. They attain the knowledge that different birds occupy different habitats.
Students identify characteristics and features of birds that make...
Curated OER
Who Am I? Fish, Turtles, Amphibians
In this science worksheet, learners examine 16 detailed pictures of different species of fish, turtles and amphibians. Students identify each species. There is no room to write the name under the picture. It is assumed this is an oral...
Nuffield Foundation
Biodiversity in Your Backyard!
Take your enthusiastic ecologists outdoors to explore the biodiversity right in their own schoolyard! In preparing for this activity, it may be worthwhile to research websites with local flora to help in the plant identification...
Curated OER
Tree Riddle Book
Fourth graders study the tree identification cards, identifying conifers sheet, and western forest cards. From the information gathered from these resources, each team help create a tree riddle book of 12 trees of Washington State.
Curated OER
Biodiversity
For this biodiversity worksheet, students sort and classify animals by their observable features using a dichotomous key. Students then respond to questions about complete and incomplete metamorphosis.
Curated OER
Our Forest is Changing
Students read a story and solve a problem about an unhealthy population of trees. In this forest lesson students study tree disease and then research it online and present what they found.
Curated OER
Schoolyard Jungle: What's Out There?
Eighth graders create a plant study guide using their outdoor classroom environment. For this ecology lesson, 8th graders take photographs of plants they collect from the outdoor classroom and create plant field...
Curated OER
Insect Monitoring
Middle schoolers participate in an interactive lesson using the scientific method to study biodiversity. For this insect monitoring lesson, students simulate the layers of soil and the insects that would live there. Middle...
Curated OER
Insect Monitoring
Students practice the scientific method in the classroom, either in preparation or as a substitution for real-world field experience. They examine a simulated biodiversity research situation, using a "mini-plot" or
sampling square...
Curated OER
Tree Identification
Students are introduced to the characteristics of trees and different techniques to identify them. They distinguish between a deciduous and a coniferous tree. Students describe at least four characteristics used to identify trees. They...
Curated OER
Pond Life Identification Kit
Young scholars explore ecology and biodiversty. They use the wet-mount procedure to make several slides to view using the microscope and draw what they see.
Chicago Botanic Garden
Preparing for Project BudBurst
Plants take cues from the environment—change in daylight hours and temperature—to complete their seasonal life cycles. Lesson four in the series of six has classes collect phenology data on plants. After taking initial observations,...
Curated OER
Parts of a Cell
Simplify the parts of a cell with this handout and brief activity. Learners read a two-page explanation of the parts of a cell that includes bolded vocabulary words. Using what they have just read, class members answer 19...
Curated OER
Benthic Macroinvertebrates
High schoolers survey and describe a stream ecosystem. They sample the benthic macroinvertebrate populations of a given stream and determine community structure through the use of the Chandler Index and a species diversity index.
Curated OER
Take a Closer Look
Learners examine how to determine the species of a tree through the examination of the bark and leaves. They create tree rubbings, match bark samples with trees on a nature walk, match leaves using a tree identification guide, and...
Curated OER
The Queen's Empire
Young scholars conduct Internet research on a variety of ant species and their habitats. They have an opportunity to observe ants in their environment. Areas of interest might include ant identification, colony life, the ant life cycle,...
Curated OER
The Tree Detective - Basic Dendrology
Students identify tree species by their leaf characteristics. In this dendrology lesson, students learn leaf vocabulary and collect leaves. They identify the leaves using the leaf characteristics and the vocabulary that they learned.
Curated OER
Interpreting Data and Building Hypothesis
Students define the term species, and graph species data together with previously collected data at the National Zoo. They interpret graphed data and recognize patterns in the streamside quadrant versus hillside quadrant. Students use...
Curated OER
Finding Niches
In this niches worksheet, students will observe 2 different bird species around their home or school and complete a chart comparing the birds' food, home, habits, and description.