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Marvelous Marshes of the Chesapeake
Third graders identify sources of salt water and fresh water that enter the Chesapeake Bay. They build a model watershed and describe how runoff enters the Bay.
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Living in a Watershed
Fourth graders examine watersheds. In this ecosystem lesson, 4th graders discover what a watershed is and identify the local watershed they live in. Students investigate the attributes of a watershed as well.
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Ecosystems
In this ecosystems worksheet, students complete a crossword puzzle with 35 questions about the different types of ecosystems and organisms in them.
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Ecosystem Damage from Household Cleaners
Third graders assess the damage done to various ecosystems by cleaning products and discover how scientists test water quality. Using stream water and common household cleaning agents, they work in groups to test for pH levels. Once...
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Wanted: Water!
Learners determine what percentage of the Earth is water and how much water is needed by humans.
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Pond and Pond Organisms
Students explore pond ecosystems. In this pond organism activity, students will use pond water and a plastic bad in order to locate and identify freshwater organisms. The activity is designed for younger grades, but includes an...
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Frogs: Fact or Folklore
Students discover how frogs are adapted to their environment. They view and discuss a Discovery Channel video on frogs and the myths surrounding frogs. In small, groups they compile data on frogs from the internet to create a Frog Fact...
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Mighty Macroinvertebrates
Seventh graders identify the names and features of macroinvertebrates found in Turtle River. In this ecology lesson students use digital microscopes and take pictures of invertebrates.
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Learning From Leaves: A Look at Leaf Size
Students measure and analyze leaves from various environments. They discuss the environments, and make inferences about environmental variables that could have contributed to the differences in leaf size and texture.
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Whale of a Tale
Students apply problem solving techniques to answer a question. After reading a passage, they compare and contrast three species of whale in a quantitative fashion.
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Postcards from the Edge: Endangered Species
Middle schoolers use the internet to identify the endangered species in their state. Using this information, they create a postcard with a picture of the animal along with facts. They discuss the main reasons to protect the endangered...
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The Water Cycle
Students are introduced to the components and importance of the water cycle. They are shown how groundwater moves using a model. Students list 9 places on earth where water is found. They define the terms cycle and water cycle.
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Life As A Tree
Third graders design a plate to represent the three parts of a tree. For this tree parts lesson plan, 3rd graders learn about the functions of each part and design the plate to resemble the rings of the tree.
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Non Native Species: English Ivy-Landscape Plant or Deadly Killer?
Learners examine an area overrun by English Ivy. They explore how invasive species affect an ecosystem. They also study about the lack of biodiversity and how to measure it out in the field.
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Native Americans and Native Plants
Students take a field trip to a native plant culture. They need to describe where the plants were before the Europeans occupied North America.
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Learning From Leaves: From Observation to Inference
Students examine the adaptation of plants to their environments. They analyze and observe the structure, shape, and internal structure of various leaves, and make inferences about the structures.
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Learning From Leaves: Adaptations To Differing Light Levels
Students, in groups, examine plants with different light levels. They are given plants from a tropical and desert region. They write a hypothesis at the beginning of the experiment.
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Crafts: Dioramas
Young scholars use the Internet to explore how to make dioramas using a shoebox. They are to create their own and show to the class.
Michigan Sea Grant
Fish Life Cycle
Fish are no different when it comes to a living being's primary objective—to reproduce. They do differ, including from fish species to fish species, in their life cycles, survival tactics and reproductive strategies. After discussion of...
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Environment: Assess Your Habitat's Health
Students research their ecozone in Canada and label on maps various parks and wildlife areas. They role-play as doctors with their ecozones as patients and search for symptoms from pollution, urbanization, loss of habitat, and decline of...
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Maintaining Strong Fisheries
Students play a game about the life cycle of a blue crab in order to witness the causes of changes in the crab population and discuss what a resource manager could do to keep a stable crab population. Students then create a game titled...
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User-friendly rivers
Learners explore and explain their connection to rivers through watersheds. They break into three groups. Each group needs: Blue enamel paint, Miniature objects to simulate a model river system, modeling clay, Tempera paint, Toothpicks...
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Eco-Poetry
Students explore the Earth's various biomes and ecosystems using Internet research. They create a multimedia poem using the photos, sounds, and vocabulary from their research.
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Acid Rain: Where Have All the Rainbows Gone?
Students study the pH scale and sources of acid precipitation. In this acid rain lesson students complete a lab on acid rain then complete a handout.