Curated OER
Classify the Microbes
Students classify microorganisms into categories based on their characteristics. Pupils use a taxonomic key to identify organisms. They classify certain bacteria, protists, and viruses using a classification or taxonmic key.
Curated OER
Tree Trekkers
Students explore different types of trees. In this tree activity, students use a digital camera to photograph trees in their area and upload them to a computer. Students will share their findings by using their photos to make a booklet...
Curated OER
Under The Sea
In this resource instructional activity, students use non-fiction books to research ocean animals. Students discover the many features of non-fiction books and how to use these features to help them conduct research. Students then...
Curated OER
Working for Water
Learners examine the ways that government works to help improve aquatic habitats. In this water habitats instructional activity students view a video and plan a school restoration project. 
Curated OER
Studying Species by Examining the Evolution of the Canidae Family
Learners examine the definition of species.  Students complete a phylogentic tree of the Canidae family.  They write an essay justifying why or why not wolves and dogs should be classified as different species.
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
Origins Video Questions
In this biology worksheet, students complete 19 short answer questions about biodiversity and information obtained during a class video.
Curated OER
Galapagos Adaptations
Students examine photographs of closely related species found in the Gal??pagos environment, observe differences and similarities between species, and form hypotheses about species differences and the relationship to the environment of...
Curated OER
Animal Classification Unit
Third graders study how to group animals by their physical characteristics. They examine how animals have adapted to have their needs met by the environment.
Curated OER
What Do Monarch Caterpillars Eat?
Learners record and analyze what types of food monarch caterpillars will eat.
Curated OER
Dendrology
Young scholars work as a class-size unit as well as in small groups to become proficient in observing tree characteristics to facilitate species identification. They identify most common tree species by observing leaf, flower, fruit and...
Curated OER
Cell Cycle Duration
Young scholars examine the cell cycle and how its duration can vary.  In this cells lesson plan students complete a worksheet and answer questions. 
University of Georgia
Would Your Cat Eat This Stuff?
Processed foods use inorganic compounds for flavoring and preservation. This take-home laboratory challenges scholars to find 20 different compounds identified on the labels of foods to list on their data collection sheet. The activity...
National Science Teachers Association
Hop into Action
Young scientists find out what makes amphibians such unique and interesting animals in this simple life science lesson. After looking at pictures and discussing the characteristics of amphibians, learners complete a series...
Lerner Publishing
Meet the Dinosaurs
Take your class of youngsters on a prehistoric adventure with this four-lesson series on dinosaurs. Accompanying the Meet the Dinosaurs books by Don Lessem, these lessons engage children in writing their own dinosaur books,...
Curated OER
Camping Near the Estuary
High schoolers examine the first meeting between the first Spanish settlers and the native groups of the Tijuana estuary. Using a map, they trace various expeditions throughout Goat Canyon and the Spanish migration. After reading text,...
Curated OER
Internet Versus Daily Newspapers
Seventh graders address a series of questions based on Bloom's Taxonomy.  Students find a position to be formulated and defended, specifically the Internet newspaper or the traditional daily newspaper.  Students create a five card...
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...
National First Ladies' Library
How Do Flowers Get Their Names?
Learners study Carolus Linnaeus and his classification system of plants. They examine the origin of both both common and scientific names of flowers. They speculate how their favorite flowers came to be named and brainstorm about the...
Curated OER
The Arizona Hedgehog Cactus: Endangered Species or not?: Biology, Plants
In this instructional activity students will study the: "Classification of Echinocereus triglochidiatus and Geographical Ranges of its Varieties." Students read background material and scientific literature to analyze the cactus...
Curated OER
You've Got to Be Cool to Make Igneous Rocks
Students describe how igneous rocks are formed, design a classification system to group igneous rocks and develop a controlled experiment to prove that the rate of cooling affects the size of the crystals.
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
Creatures of the Skies
Students create a bird identification game. In this classification lesson, students work in pairs to collect information about a specific bird. They use a bird field guide to aid in the research. They challenge other students in their...
Curated OER
Teen Angst
Young scholars gain a broader understanding of new scientific research about the life cycle of the Tyrannosaur, and translate their knowledge into the creation of an illustrated studenT book produced and created by the entire class.