Michigan State University
Friend or Foe?
What one person thinks is a pest may not be a pest to someone else. Here, scholars examine the characteristics of living things and pests through grand conversation and a variety of activities. Class members play a game of pest or not a...
AAAS
Identification and Classification of Grassland Plants
Take learning outside and start classifying grasslands. Young ecologists observe grassland plants in order to classify them into the appropriate species by family. They note their characteristics and where they grow. A true field...
Biology Junction
Changes in Ecosystems: Ecological Succession
Can an area with no soil turn into a forest? Scholars learn about the process of ecological succession using an interesting presentation. It covers both primary and secondary succession in the building of new ecosystems.
Curated OER
BATS: NEED NECTAR, WILL TRAVEL
Students play the role of nectar feeding bats on their annual migration
and try to avoid the different hazards that hinder their progress. They describe the annual migration of long-nosed bats including key elements such as: where the...
Curated OER
Prairie Senses
Second graders use their senses to explore a prairie or imaginary prairie. They draw pictures to represent the five senses and discover how an artist describes non-visual sensations in a visual way.
Curated OER
Plant Explorers
Students investigate how plants take in water, nutrients, and light. They create artwork showing how plants survive in different environments.
Curated OER
Prairie Find Outdoors
Students take a field trip to a local prairie. Using identification books, they identify various forbs and grasses in the prairie. As a class, they discuss the importance of forbs and grasses to the ecosystem and review the various types...
Curated OER
Everybody Needs a Little Sunshine
Three activities introduce upper elementary ecologists to photosynthesis and food webs. In the first, an experiment is set up to determine how plants respond to different types of light. In the second, they connect organism cards with...
Curated OER
Inviting Butterflies to the Schoolyard
Students create a butterfly garden. In this butterfly garden lesson, students plot a garden with plant species that will attract butterflies. Students learn about the specific plants and items that will help butterflies use the garden.
Curated OER
Plants And Pollination
Students describe sexual reproduction in plants, including the process of pollination, how insects assist in pollination, and how pollination differs from fertilization. They also explore the importance of honey bees to Arizona agriculture.
Curated OER
North Dakota Plants with Medicinal Value
Students use the internet and plant guides and other resources to identify plants and their medicinal importance as seen by the Native Americans. They view a copy of the Lewis and Clark journal that held photos of the plants of their...
Curated OER
Dichotomous Keys
Students define the word dichotomous and explain why a dichotomous key is a useful tool in identifying different species. Then they look up words they are unfamiliar with or mollusk reference books so students can
learn the names of...
Curated OER
The Beautiful Works of Georgia O'Keefe
Students discover the art of Georgia O'Keefe. In this art history lesson, students investigate the influential power nature has on art. Students create their own works of art by observing local nature.
Curated OER
Prairie Food Chains & Webs
Students complete a food chain. In this ecosystem lesson, students learn about producers, consumers and decomposers. Students identify herbivores, carnivores and omnivores and complete two worksheets.
Curated OER
Teacher's Plant Collection Guide
Students explore a variety of guidelines that involve collecting plants in a responsible manner and participate in a plant pressing activity. In this teacher's plant collection guide lesson plan, students collect data regarding plants,...
Curated OER
State Flowers
Students become acquainted with the state flowers of the 50 United States through observation, comprehension, and research. After discussing the State Flower Chart and how state flowers are selected, they research their state flower to...
Curated OER
Texas Native Plants
Students "adopt" a plant for use during this activity. They take digital photographs of the plant over time, and measure and record the growth of the plant. Students write an article describing the plant and its needs for optimum growth....
Curated OER
Plants / Animals Seen by Lewis & Clark
Students conduct research to find references to plants or animals and their uses by Lewis & Clark's Corps of Discovery by using materials available such as journals, books, internet sources, library materials. Groups create a...
Curated OER
Habitats of the World
Students complete a unit of eighteen lessons that cover climate, geography, location, plants, and animals of each of the five habitats. They are also introduced to habitat destruction and discuss ways to protect the environment. They do...
Curated OER
Native vs. Non-native Species: Who Will Win?
Pupils examine non-native species and the problems they have caused in the waters of the Chesapeake Bay. They create a "Wanted" poster for one of the species. They describe the effects of non-native species on the schoolyard species.
Curated OER
Ecoregions of Texas
Learners map the ecoregions in Texas and illustrate the vegetation native to the region. They will use their maps to investigate why prehistoric hunter-gatherers might have decided to live in one area over another, such as the ancient...
Curated OER
Growing Native Plants From Seed
Second graders plant seeds of native plants. They study the concepts of native plants, where they grow, how they grow, and why they are so special. They assess long term care monitoring the seedlings as they grow and write the name...
Curated OER
Habitat Preservation Project
High schoolers demonstrate what happens when nature takes back land after humans have managed it. They find an area in the schoolyard, and mark it off with a boundary. Students build a simple fence with string and stakes. They put up...
Curated OER
Diverse Environments
Students explore life forms in different environments. After exploring different biomes within their state, students research different plant and animal species within each biome. They prepare a group report on one feature of the region...