Nutrient Cycle Teacher Resources

What happens when intestinal epithelia receive the wrong directions during differentiation? Discover how tumors form in the intestinal lining using a narrated video. The resource shows both normal and cancerous growth using specially...

Fixin' to add a great resource to your plans? Scholars perform an experiment to investigate nitrogen-fixing bacteria from plant roots. Along the way, they learn about the concepts of symbiosis and mutualism.

Take an in-depth look at nutrient loading, eutrophication, and hypoxia using data on The Chesapeake Bay as an example. This comprehensive presentation includes detailed graphs, photos, and details about the changes in marine organism...

The female body is an amazing thing. This short video explains the amazing cycle that has developed to ensure the continuation of life. Did you know that only monkeys, apes, bats, humans, and maybe elephant shrews menstruate? 

The general characteristics that affect classification of fungi and other organisms in the domain Eukarya are detailed for the students on 12 attractive slides.  Teachers can access individual slides to cover life cycles or...

The general characteristics that affect the classification of fungi and other organisms in the domain Eukarya are detailed on 12 attractive slides. Teachers can access individual slides to cover life cycles or diversity, or can use the...

Divide your school gym into breeding grounds and non-breeding grounds so that your zoologists can play a game simulating the seasonal migration of shorebirds. Players pick one of the included game cards and follow its directions, which...

Students explore Afro-American history. They identify the commonality between African, Carolinian and Cleveland Black culture. Students explore the water cycle, oceanography, hydrology and bio-geochemical processes. They discuss the...

Students review how their nutritional needs change over time. In groups, they design their own menu in which they get all the nutrients they need. To end the lesson, they share their foods with the class and complete a wordsearch...

Students examine the major plant and bee parts and the interdependency between bees and fast plants. They observe and record the stages of growth of fast plants, take photos of the plant's life cycle, and cross-pollinate plants.

Learners explore the emotional and nutritional needs of teenagers in a six-lesson unit, which covers such topics as food sources, cooking skills, emotional well-being, and the positive effect of food and family occasions. 

Ninth graders apply ecological analysis to fruit and vegetable production systems.  In this horticulture lesson students learn about different management practices.

Students observe the pistil growing into a tiny string bean-like seed pod. They then observe the development of the fertilized pods between Day 17 and Day 35 and record their observations by drawing and labeling, writing, and graphing. ...

Students illustrate the adaptation and co-evolution of organisms. They examine set up an experiment to determine the effect of adding the Rhizobium bacteria to a group of legume seeds.

Pupils examine how global wind and water patterns aid in the spread of worldwide pollution. In groups, they read articles about the domino effect of pollution and create posters displaying its journey. On blank world maps, students...

Ginkgo trees existed for more than 350 million years, and, at this time, only one species still remains. While plant diversity generally increases over geologic time, some interesting exceptions occur. Young scientists learn about plant...

The fifth installment of a 23-part NOAA Enrichment in Marine sciences and Oceanography (NEMO) program defines dead zones and how they form. Pupils then examine data from the Gulf of Mexico to determine dead zone formation.

Small but mighty! Learners explore the role of microbes in a healthy ecosystem. An engaging lesson asks pupils to design an aquaponics system that demonstrates that healthy microbes are necessary to maintain the ecosystem.

A video starts by defining an ecosystem. It expands on the concept by covering trophic structure, primary producers, primary consumers, secondary consumers, tertiary consumers, detrivores, and bioaccumulation. 

It may seem simple, but water is one of the most unique substances on Earth. An interactive online lesson describes its properties and importance in so many different situations. Learners interact with the lesson to learn the role water...

Students explain the main concepts of food webs and food chains. They describe the role of animals, plants, and other organisms in cycling energy and matter through a food web by creating mobiles. Lesson contains adaptations for all levels.

Learners recognize that plants and soils have a close relationship. They view a photo essay on the common practice and natural process of composting. Afterwards, they observe the process of plant decay over the course of several days.

Roll up your sleeves and get a little dirty with this elementary and middle school compost lesson. All you need is a large plastic container, a couple old newspapers, some organic waste, and a few hundred worms and you're ready...

Students examine how to use ecological analysis to animal production systems.  In this sustainable agriculture lesson students examine where the nutrients flow in a system and complete several activities.