Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Studying Species By Examining the Evolution of the Canidae Family

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students read an article on the characteristics of wolves and dogs then complete a phylogenetic tree of the canid family. They then write an essay justifying why or why not wolves and dogs should be classified as different species.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ruler and Magnifying Fun

For Teachers 1st
First graders investigate objects using rulers and magnifying glasses. They record their observations using a data-recording sheet and write a characteristic for each item they observe. They use the ruler to solve math problems.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Classifying Living Organisms into Kingdoms

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students create a flip book that describes the basic characteristics of the five main animal kingdoms. They research the animal kingdoms, include examples of organisms for each kingdom and illustrate the finished text.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sink or Float

For Teachers K
Students observe and classify objects that float or sink.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Studying Species by Examining the Evolution of the Canidae Family

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students 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.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Great Winged Adventure

For Teachers K - 3rd
Young scholars identify characteristics of birds, name several species, and explain how birds fly. They make nests and give bird presentations.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Chips Ahoy: Chip Off the Old Block

For Teachers 1st
First graders compare and contrast adult and baby animals to identify similar characteristics shared by both.
Lesson Plan
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Life at Risk

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Pupils examine the characteristics of the peregrine falcon. They investigate endangered and extinct species, and how the environment affects the process.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Touching Traits

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students describe objects using only their sense of touch. For this lesson on describing characteristics, students use only their sense of touch to describe an unseen object in a box. This lesson can be used an an introduction to plant...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Great Spider Debate

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students study about the survival and hunting strategies of several different kinds of spiders. They also be introduced to scientific classification of spiders and write a brief report about one of the spider families they observe.
Lesson Plan
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What It Is, What It Isn't

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders classify and sort different types of beans to be introduced to the classification system in science. As a class, they identify the characteristics of living and non-living organisms and make a chart in their journal to ...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Exploration of 'pill bugs'

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders define words. They create a dichotomous key. After carefully examining pill bugs, 5th graders record observations. They compare and contrast habitats of pillbugs.
Lesson Plan
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Natural Selection And Evolution

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Pupils investigate the concept of evolution and how natural selection is used as an indicator that evolution has happened. They recognize the three effects it has on diversity and how adaptations can develop. Diversity is explained as...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Finding Caterpillars

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students examine how animals protect themselves from predators and camouflage themselves. They participate in a simulation in which they locate red and green yarn "caterpillars," organize their data, and generate a bar graph using...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Many Frogs?

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students explore the concept of linear regression. In this linear regression lesson, students find the line of best fit for a set of data pertaining to a frog population. Students use their line of best fit to predict the frog population...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Living and Non-Living

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders are divided into small groups and collect 4 objects from the playground. They take 5 to 10 minutes to classify their groups and discuss their findings including the terms "living" and "non-living". As a class they discuss...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Exploring Limu Diversity

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Learners explore limu diversity. In this ocean ecosystem lesson, students classify limu according to its physical properties. Learners work in small groups to generate scientific observations and sort limu by characteristics.
Lesson Plan
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A Tree for all Seasons

For Teachers K
Students investigate seasons. In this environment instructional activity, students describe the four seasons by drawing an appropriate tree for each season.
Lesson Plan
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Creepy Critters

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students develop a classification scheme based on the structural features of organisms.  In this organism lesson students divide into teams and complete a fun activity. 
Lesson Plan
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Determining the Geologic History of Rocks from a Gravel Deposit

For Teachers Higher Ed
Students apply the scientific method to identify rocks from glacial deposits, hypothesize how they got there and then test their hypothesis. They are given the experience of active, hands-on inquiry.
Interactive
Curated OER

Bluebirds Project

For Students 4th - 8th
In this bluebirds project instructional activity, students are given directions on completing a project about bluebirds including measurements, scientific method questions, data entry, and more. Students complete 15 exercises.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Schoolyard Field Guide

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders observe, plan, research, and create a field guide for the trees that are in their schoolyard. In this trees lesson plan, 4th graders make careful observations of what they see around their school and create a guide.
Worksheet
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Bison (American Buffalo)

For Students 4th - 5th
For this science worksheet, students read the facts sheet for the buffalo. They could use this for a class activity for classifying animals.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Dichotomous Chips

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers create a dichotomous key to different varieties of potato chips. In small groups, they observe and record characteristics of the potato chips to use in the key. They switch keys with another group to see if they can...