Pennsylvania Department of Education
Light the Bulb!
Third graders investigate electrical circuits and how light bulbs are powered. In this electricity and power lesson, 3rd graders study the vocabulary necessary which includes the different types of circuits, electrical currents, and...
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Ecology and The Endangered Species Act
Learners listen to a lecture about the basics of Ecology. They take a field trip in which they observe a specific organism and their characteristics.
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Ecosystem Food Web Mural
Learners create a food web mural about an ecosystem of the freshwater marsh. For this food web lesson plan, students write about the organisms and how each one depends on another.
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Organisms and Their Environment
Learners explore Earth's biosphere. In this biosphere lesson plan, students participate in group activities regarding biotic and abiotic factors, population density, and species' habitats.
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Ecology Vocabulary
In this ecology learning exercise, students read the vocabulary words and then categorize a species found in a field, meadow, or fencerow in their state or region. Students complete 6 problems.
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Ape Cave Exploration
Students simulate online the formation of Ape Cave, in order to better explain its construction. They observe, illustrate and discuss geological features of this lava tube.
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Tortoise Tales
Learners read journal entry from a Gal??pagos field researcher, find examples of five ecological relationships (competition, predation, parasitism, mutualism, and commensalism) and take notes on the details they find in the entry using a...
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Have You Seen Me? An Introductory Lesson on the Loss of Biodiversity
Young scholars investigate environmental law and policies involving endangered species as well as discuss human impact on biodiversity through an Internet research project. Students create a milk carton of their "missing" endangered...
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The Environment and Interactions of Living Organisms
Students study the environment and interactions of living organisms. They identify abiotic and biotic factors and create a foldable and vocabulary cards. They create a poster illustrating soil and watch a video to study symbiosis.
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Night Hike
Learners explore Upham Woods at night and investigate about the special adaptations of nocturnal animals. They identify three nocturnal animals and how they are adapted to the night. Students explain what night vision is and how it works.
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Interactions Among Living Organisms
In this animal population worksheet, students will complete 8 short answer questions based on population density, including limiting factors and carrying capacity.
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Convening, Creating, and Conventioneering
Students study coelenterates. In this science lesson, students author a story regarding the life cycle of coelenterates following an in depth study of the creatures.
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Biology Trivia
In this biology trivia worksheet, students write short answers to 101 questions about animal classification, human anatomy, animal facts, and attributes of organisms.
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Light the Bulb
Students explore electricity. In this power experiment lesson plan, students determine what is required for lighting a bulb. Students develop an understanding of open and closed circuits, and how energy is formed
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If It Smells Good, Is Edible, and Attracts Wildlife, Then It's a Practical Garden
Students explore landscape design. In this practical gardening lesson, students design landscape plans that call for shrubs, trees, and plants that can be used for aesthetics, cooking, and wildlife.
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A Coastal Arctic Food Web
Students create a food web of the arctic ecosystem. In this biology lesson, students explain how global warming affects this ecosystem. They explain how losing a species affects the entire community.
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Characteristics of Energy
Students explore Earth science by completing energy worksheets in class. In this energy forms instructional activity, students identify and define a list of energy vocabulary terms and a K-W-L chart. Students view a matter video clip in...
Pennsylvania Department of Education
Energy in Motion
Fifth graders explore energy transfer. In this thermal energy lesson, 5th graders stretch rubber bands several times and estimate the band's temperature change. Students identify this action as an example of thermal energy. Students...
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Compettion at its Best
Sixth graders role play predators, prey and other parts of the aquatic ecosystem. They show inter and intra-specific competition as well as the link between abiotic and biotic components in an ecosystem. Students play games about the...
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Animals of Rainforest and Temperate Forest
Students research an animal from each type of forest, and compare/contrast them on a concept map. They write a letter from one animal to the other, using information from their research.
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Critters of the Water
Students examine different organisms in various marine habitats. They identify any adaptations that have allowed the organisms to survive. They develop an imaginary organism and describe its life cycle.
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Aquatic Insects: Water Quality Index & Diversity Index
Students search stream beds to study the life cycle and adaptations of stream insects. They explore creeks and streams to see the diversity index of creeks or streams and to find the water qualit index.
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Invertebrates
Students identify insect body parts and look for local insect life. They create an insect using recycled material and design a classroom mural with bug facts. They study Monarch butterflies and dragonflies.
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Alphabetical Insects
Students research using the internet, the library, and other sources to create a list of insects beginning with each letter of the alphabet. They provide the common name, the resource where it was found, and a brief description of each...