Students recognize interdependence in a food web by using yarn and notecards to create a food web and discussing what would happen if one of the organisms from a certain trophic level is removed.

This packet, the first in the series of support materials for the Houghton Mifflin Harcourt thematic units on silly stories, contains enrichment activities for learners who have mastered the basic concepts of the lessons.

Emerging biochemists more fully understand the flow of energy in ecosystems as they explore the laws of thermodynamics and relate them to energy transfer in food chains. They also investigate heat loss from the human body and how...

A set of guided notes walks your biology or environmental studies learners through the dynamics of ecosystems. They write short answers to questions about the energy budget, food webs, trophic levels, and biogeochemical cycles. One way...

Encourage peer collaboration and assist with the creation of visual aids to identify carbon, water, and nitrogen cycles as your class learns more about nature. They discuss relative information, create a visual aid...

Challenge young scholars with a counting-themed series of activities. Your counters will write invitations to a feast, create books about dinner parties and animals, design posters, draw pictures of their favorite peaceful places,...

Students examine a healthy way of eating while following a vegetarian diet. They study the components suggested by the American Dietetic Association that comprise a healthy diet, prepare appetizing foods from these groups, and inspect...

Students view a display of empty food containers (or illustrations). They select a food and decide as a class if it has an animal or plant origin. Students view a display of common farm animals that are commonly eaten (cow, pig, chicken,...

Students discover the connection between plants and animals by discussing simple food chains. Students explore what may happen when parts of a food chain are removed. Students wrap up the lesson by writing a story about a food chain.

Fifth graders discover how to make healthy choices in nutrition. In this nutrition instructional activity, 5th graders research the daily nutrition requirements recommended by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Students keep a food...

Young scholars explore the food pyramid and healthy eating. After discussing the five healthy food groups, students participate in activities to demonstrate the benefits of healthy food groups. They play games to discover the benefits...

Students explore nutrition by completing a group activity. In this balanced meal lesson, students identify the five food groups and discuss their favorite foods from each group. Students utilize illustrations to fill in a fictional plate...

Show your kids that staying healthy is the smart choice! They examine nutrition, healthy snacks, and the importance of staying active in a several-part lesson plan. There are different ideas for older and younger learners here, and you...

What constitutes a healthy diet? In what way is a healthy diet defined and influenced by culture? Groups investigate the community and national resources available in a country, and then design a healthy diet for its citizens.

Fifth graders explore the brain and what is needs. In this biology lesson plan, 5th graders will work on a series of activities that will allow them to learn about the brain, its parts, and the best foods to eat for their brain.

Students learn the food pyramid and compare their meals with suggested guidelines. Students graph their lunches, discuss the results and how their choices affect their level of energy.

Sixth graders investigate the food guide pyramid. They conduct Internet research, and plan a three day nutritional menu appropriate for teenagers. Students include three meals per day and a snack for each day on their menu, and...

Budding scientists work collaboratively to reenact energy flow in a food chain. Scholars take on roles such as producer and consumer and perform tasks that symbolize energy flow in order to provide evidence of how much energy passes...

Fourth graders take a closer look at the foods they eat and the nutritional value of each. This lesson helps them see why foods are grouped together the way they are and what types of nutrition are provided by these food groups. They...

Scholars become part of the cycle of matter with a reader's theater that showcases producers, consumers, decomposers, and the sun. A diagram and discussion concludes the learning experience and enhances comprehension. 

Students review healthy eating habits, and demonstrate reading comprehension skills, including reading strategies, inference, literal meaning, and critical analysis.

Students review the idea of healthy foods and examples of these foods. They play the game "Musical Food" performing a designated locomotor movement around the playing area until the music stops.

Fourth graders identify the origins of meats and vegetables consumed by humans on a daily basis. They classify foods (meats, dairy products, grains...) and create a food pyramid.

Students investigate healthy eating habits by studying the food pyramid.  In this personal health lesson, students write a recipe for a healthy meal including one item from each section of the four food groups.  Students...