Curated OER
Bringing Illinois into the Curriculum
Students of all ages are introduced to the geography of Illinois. Depending on the grade level, they participate in different activities which allow them to discover Illinois in the past and present. They examine the animals and...
Curated OER
Catch Me if You Can
Third graders investigate behavioral and physical adaptations, such as camouflage, that allow animals to respond to life needs.
Curated OER
Stranded along the Coast
Young scholars plot stranding sites onto a map using latitude and longitude as well as compass directions with respect to coastal features. They identify several species of marine animals that might become stranded; distinguish their...
Curated OER
The Good, the Bad and the Nasty Tasting
Students examine the effect of chemicals from marine plants or animals on predator's preferences. In this ecology instructional activity, students conduct taste tests and collect necessary data. They write their conclusion after...
Curated OER
Have to Have a Habitat
Pupils create a zoological and botanical garden made up of a variety of species from around the world.
Curated OER
Understanding Life System: Growth and Changes in Plants
Third graders research ways in which plants are essential to humans. In this Global Peace lesson, 3rd graders participate in tasks, such as creating a propaganda poster. Students may watch the film, The Lorax, as a closing activity.
Curated OER
My Habitat Address
Sixth graders draw a habitat and write about what they would need to survive in the habitat. They define the input of items such as materials, energy, and information, and what goes out of the habitat. They play a "Habitat Address" game,...
Curated OER
Forest Food Web
Young scholars explore the elements of a forest ecosystem. They examine the elements needed to form a forest food web. Students construct and describe food webs that include nonliving elements of the ecosystem.
Curated OER
The Trouble with Crayfish
Fourth graders compare an ecosystem before and after they introduce crayfish to that ecosystem. In this ecosystem lesson plan, 4th graders see what happens when you introduce a non native animal to a habitat. Students then make...
Curated OER
Investigation 1 - Wetlands, Forests & Deserts
Fourth graders examine surface terrain and how plants and animals are affected by the temperatures and precipitation that elevation and terrain creates. Then students predict what type of environment plants and animals live in.
Curated OER
Endangered Lands & Threatened Species Collage Mural
Fifth graders create a class collage mural illustrating endangered lands and threatened species. They also write letters protesting the exploitation of endangered habitats and the destruction of flora and fauna.
Curated OER
Will Global Warming Push Trees to Extinction?
Students examine the extinction of plants and animals through loss of habitat. They investigate the effects of global warming. They use a computer model to analyze the impact of global warming on tree growth and distirbution...
ARKive
Adaptation: Design a Species
Adapt is what an animal does to ensure it will survive in a specific environment; maybe it's more complicated than that. Your young animal experts can view this handy presentation to better understand animal adaptations and also complete...
Curated OER
When Ants Fly
Here is a great lesson on constructing line graphs. Learners identify common characteristics of birds, ants common needs of all living things. They also write a story from the perspective of an ant or a bird that has lost its home and...
National Park Service
Living & Non-Living Interactions
What better way to learn about ecosystems than by getting outside and observing them first hand? Accompanying a field trip to a local park or outdoor space, this series of collaborative activities engages children in learning about the...
Curated OER
The Queen's Empire
Eighth graders study insects and make observations about their habitat. in this insect research lesson students research the Internet to compile information on ants.
Curated OER
Migration
Students explore migration using the Internet and several pre-chosen websites. In this animal migration lesson students divide into groups and complete a lab activity.
Curated OER
Oh, Give Them a Home!
Fourth graders study the habitat of the American bison and its role in the life of the Native Americans. They investigate how the bison effect the Lewis and Clark expedition.
Curated OER
Caution: Fix It!
Students explore the concept of environmental stewardship. In this science lesson plan, students investigate events that have harmed coastal resources and how human activity has restored coastal resources.
Curated OER
Sharks: Fact or Fiction
Second graders discover the truth about sharks. In this shark activity, 2nd graders use different resources to help distinguish between fact and fiction with what they have heard about sharks. They complete an attached activity sheet.
Curated OER
Learning From Leaves: From Observation to Inference
Young scholars examine the adaptation of plants to their environments. They analyze and observe the structure, shape, and internal structure of various leaves, and make inferences about the structures.
Curated OER
The Lesson: Species Under Threat
Learners consider the plight of endangered species. In this global studies instructional activity, students research selected websites about endangered animals and identify global issues that contribute to their demise.
Curated OER
What Lives in Water: Pre and Post Activities
In this multiple choice worksheet, students answer questions about fish and how fish live. After visiting the aquarium, students chart the different creatures they see during their visit and solve mathematical equations of their findings.
Curated OER
Turtle Tales
Students watch videos and fill out worksheets about the turtles and their journey to the Costa Rican beach. In this turtles lesson plan, students learn and discuss survival, predator and prey, and stages of development.