Curated OER
Ecosystem Lesson Plan: Food Chain/Food Web
Students discuss ecosystems, eliciting their current knowledge of an ecosystem. Students receive an Ecosystems document and look at the picture. Students brainstorm connection between the cover picture and ecosystems. The indicated...
Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Section Two: Why is Biodiversity Important?
Explore soil, genetic traits, natural resources, and pollution in a series of lessons that focus on biodiversity. Kids complete experiments to learn more about the importance of varied genes and organisms in an ecosystem.
Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Section Four: How Can We Protect Biodiversity?
Look into the future with a lesson plan on biodiversity and natural habitats. Learners read articles about different perspectives when it comes to planning future development, and decide which angle is the highest priority in a group...
Curated OER
Animal Classification
Pupils classify animals. For this animal classification lesson, students identify characteristics from each of the 5 categories of vertebrates. Pupils group animals by categories.
Curated OER
Animals
Second graders discuss the term "endangered". They identify the reasons some animals are in danger of being wiped out. They discover ways humans can help the species survive.
Curated OER
Diversity and Adaptations of Organisms
Eighth graders discover the difference between extinct and endangered animals and discuss the reasons why this has occured. They identify threatened and endangered animals living in their local area as well.
Curated OER
Endangered Species Research
Seventh graders research animal species using the library. For this research lesson students are given an animal species to research in the library.
Curated OER
Waltz Across Texas
Seventh graders conduct research about regions of Texas by using the web. They research an endangered plant AND an endangered animal that is found in their region. Students prepare and deliver oral reports about their region.
Curated OER
Lessons of the Lorax
Fifth graders read a story that is about the brown pelicans. Then they use the story narrative in order to apply it to the concept of adaptations in different species. The benefits of certain adaptations is examined.
Curated OER
Graphing X, Y, Z
Seventh graders explore how proportion controls the image of a drawing. They examine a coordinate plane and discuss plotting. Student experiment drawing an object one size, and then drawing an identical object on a different scale.
Curated OER
Beaver, or not?
Learners study the role of the beaver in Illinois during the 1800's and how overtrapping cause the near extinction of the beaver colonies in Illinois by 1900. Students role play various people in 1945 who have an opinion about the...
Curated OER
Raising Trout
Students investigate the life cycles of fish as they observe a trout's life in class. In this fish life lesson, students create a proper habitat in a fish tank for the trout eggs to spawn and thrive for several weeks. Students record...
Curated OER
Penguins: Sensitive Indicators
Students examine how penguins are affected by climate change. In this climate change lesson students research the impact of climate change then create a poster to call awareness to it.
Curated OER
3-D Model of Lake Benthos
Students create 3-D models of Lake Benthos. In this scale drawing lesson, students create a 3-D model of Lake Benthos. Students work in groups to create the models. Students use the models to to encourage people to conserve natural...
Curated OER
Celebrating Earth Day With Students
Student's attention is focused on the environment during Earth Day. This helps to stimulate their creativity and imagination, so that they can act persuasively to help solve environmental problems.
Curated OER
The Superheroes of Public Land Management
Students study public land management agencies and their missions. They research a management agency, design a superhero to represent the agency and describe the skills and training needed to manage public lands. They include the...
Curated OER
Forest Management Techniques
Young scholars work as a group to determine a management plan for an imaginary forest. In this forestry lesson plan, students discuss timber management techniques and develop a list of pros and cons for the techniques. They develop a...
Curated OER
Introduction to Urban & Community Forestry: Why Do We Need Trees?
Twelfth graders construct a timeline to show changes and trends in the future of urban and community forestry. In this forestry lesson, 12th graders discuss the importance of trees. They read a timeline and add future events to show...
Curated OER
A Walk in the Wild
Fifth graders identify characteristics of animals and their habitat. In this animal science lesson plan, 5th graders read Crinkleroot's Book of Animal Tracking and and Animal Tracks. Students match animal tracks to the correct animal...
Curated OER
To Fish or Not to Fish?
Students demonstrate the decision-making process for marine reserves designations. In this role-playing lesson students analyze maps and data relating to a proposed reserve. They formulate the best decisions based on overall issues.
Curated OER
Design a Plankton
Students explore animal and plant adaptation. In this ecosystems science lesson, students view websites to gain information about plankton and its interdependence within ecosystems. Students identify ways in which plankton has adapted...
Curated OER
Dynamic Wetlands
Learners construct and observe a model of two different types of wetlands. In this wetlands lesson, students create a model of a wetland with constant drainage and a wetland that maintains a well-saturated soil. Learners observe and...
Curated OER
Maps with a "Spin"
Students, in groups, research and map the effects of a proposed airport three miles outside of town. They prepare a presentation based on a set of maps they make and explains its different points of view from the viewpoints of the town...
Curated OER
The Same But Different
Fourth graders observe different types of bats. They look for characteristics that appear to be fundamental for survival. Students observe population numbers in order to identify if adaptations aid in survival.