University of California
Energy and Biomass Pyramids
Young scientists play tag as they act out the food pyramid in the ocean ecosystem. Energy circles pass from the smaller prey to the predators and at the end of the activity, a data chart and analysis questions allow pupils to apply their...
Curated OER
Honeybees are Vanishing
Young scholars decide if they agree with a series of statements about the bee population, then read a news article about the disappearance of millions of U.S. honeybees. In this biology and current events lesson, the teacher introduces...
Lesson Plans
Analogy of the Cell Project
Intended to supplement your existing cell function and organelle lessons, pairs work together to develop a real-world analogy for cell structures. In addition to writing paragraphs about the comparison, each group will make a short...
Curated OER
Dissecting Diets
Students practice making comparisons and evaluating claims regarding different suggested dietary plans using their knowledge of Biological, scientific facts. This lesson can be accomplished individually, in small groups, or in a think,...
Curated OER
Pedigree Charts
Students explain how offspring inherit traits from their parents. In this biology lesson, students investigate the genes for nicotine addiction using an interactive website. They construct a fictional pedigree using their chosen...
Curated OER
Look Alikes
Third graders compare and contrast the physical features of parents and offspring. In this life science lesson, 3rd graders classify a set of animal pictures according to their similarities. They share and explain their work in class.
Curated OER
The Gift of Life - Day 2: "Cell & Organelle Time to Tell" and "World in Color" (Chapters 2-4)
Students complete a cell biology lesson and a color lesson based on The Giver. In this biology and reading comprehension lesson set, students examine cells using microscopes. They look at the organelles and listen to How Much is a...
Curated OER
Ecology: Adaptations
Eighth graders identify different types of adaptation in organisms. In this biology instructional activity, 8th graders explain how adaptation help organisms survive. They complete a worksheet at the end of the instructional activity.
University of California
Hot! Hot! Hot!
Calories are not tiny creatures that sew your clothes tighter every night, but what are they? A science lesson plan, presented at multiple levels, has learners experiment with heat, heat transfer, and graph the function over time. It...
Curated OER
Just What are you Eating?
Students identify and articulate pros and cons of genetically modified foods (GMF) including references to scale of controversy worldwide. Students then identify where they might find GMFs in their diets, read different opinion pieces on...
Curated OER
Should Populations in an Ecosystem be Restricted?
Fourth graders experiment to determine how overpopulation effects ecosystems specifically plants. In this ecosystem lesson, 4th graders conduct an ecosystems experiment after listening to Claire Daniel's, Ecosystems. They watch a video,...
Curated OER
Onomatopoeia
Fifth graders investigate onomatopoeia. In this reading lesson plan, 5th graders create a list of onomatopoeic words from books read and brainstorm words of their own in small groups.