Kenan Fellows
Terrarium in a Bottle: Modeling the Atmosphere, Greenhouse Effect, and Water Cycle
You've heard of farm to table ... but what about farm in classroom? Junior agriculturalists embark upon a two-week journey into the science of growing things. Based upon the classic terrarium in a two-liter experiment, the lesson plan...
National Wildlife Federation
The Water Cycle
Observe the water cycle from the comfort of your classroom with this excellent earth science experiment. Working collaboratively, young scientists first create terrariums complete with hills, plants, lakes, and an atmosphere,...
Curated OER
Terrariums: A Look at the Living and Nonliving World
Third graders examine life in a terrarium and relate it to life in a larger environment. In this terrarium lesson, 3rd graders examine how living and non-living things work together by examining the changes in a terrarium. They make...
Curated OER
Nature: Planting Terrariums
Learners observe and experiment using a terrarium. In this scientific lesson plan, students build a nature terrarium. Learners then observe their terrarium over a period of time to discover what makes the plants grow. A science...
Baylor College
Animals' Needs
Explore the wonderful world of earthworms as your class learns about the requirements of animal life. After building soda bottle terrariums, students observe worms over the course of a couple weeks, building an understanding that all...
Curated OER
Simulating the Greenhouse Effect in a Terrarium
Students identify what factors effect global warming and how the greenhouse effect occurs. In this environmental lesson students view videos then complete an experiment using a terrarium to observe greenhouse gas.
Curated OER
Science Unit Lesson Five
Sixth graders review how and which plants operate in terrariums. In groups, they follow instructions to make their own terrarium and place different types of plants in it. To end the lesson, they review the steps in the water cycle and...
Curated OER
WET Science Lesson #3: Comparison of Aquatic and Terrestrial Plants
Elementary life science explorers compare and contrast aquatic and terrestrial plants (elodea and soybeans) in a Venn diagram. Some background information is provided to support direct instruction, and general instructions are provided...
Curated OER
Modeling changes to Ecosystems Part 1
Students record changes in an ecosystem. In this science instructional activity students make a hypothesis about changes in a terrarium. They record their observations. The students conduct an experiment to test their hypothesis.
Curated OER
The Water Cycle
Students create terrariums in containers in order to study the Water Cycle. They examine how the terrarium maintains life in the closed environment.
Curated OER
Fly Detective
Learners use classification skills and clues to determine which flying insect is the one they need to circle. They read four clues and examine each of the five insects depicted. They then deduce which one is the mystery insect. Answers...
University of Connecticut
Building Your Own Biosphere
On September 26, 1991, four women and four men entered the scientific experiment, Biosphere 2; the doors were sealed for two years in order to study the interactions of a biosphere. In the activity, scholars explore biospheres by...
Curated OER
Spider Activities, Experiments and Projects
Young scholars examine seven spiders and put them into two or three groups based on their structural similarities. In groups, they create a cladogram proposing possible ancestral relationships. Students design an experiment related to...
Curated OER
Plants
Sixth graders examine how plants collect water and breathe. In groups, they participate in a variety of activities in which they discover how plants operate in terrariums. To end the instructional activity, they discuss why plants are...
Curated OER
Water Cycle
Young scientists explore Earth elements by conducting an experiment. They define water vocabulary terms such as condensation and precipitation. In addition, they conduct a water experiment in which they build a terrarium, so they can...
Curated OER
Water Cycle
Second graders investigate the water cycle. In this water cycle instructional activity, 2nd graders discover how the water cycle effects erosion and weathering. Students create their own terrariums to view the water cycle. Students...
Curated OER
Measuring Transpiration
In this transpiration learning exercise, students will conduct an experiment to measure the rate of transpiration from a plant by measuring how much weight the plant loses over 5 days. Students will record their data and create a graph...
Curated OER
Forest Decomposition
Learners explore decomposition. Students define and describe components of the decomposition process. Learners make a composter in a terrarium. Students record observations and changes weekly, drawing conclusions about the results of...
Curated OER
Water, Water Everywhere
Students study the location of Earth's water and study the water cycle using a terrarium. In this water study lesson, students study a model globe for the Earth and find Alaska. Students locate the bodies of water and study an overhead...
Curated OER
Charlotte and Her Relatives Visit the Classroom: Spider Activities, Experiments and Projects
Learners compare and contrast different spider species that they capture and maintain in the classroom for several days. They identify and research the species characteristics and living requirements then conduct an experiment on spider...
Curated OER
Venus Flytrap
Students study the Venus Flytrap including its habitat and how it eats. For this ecology lesson students complete several experiments using a Venus Flytrap to see how it reacts to various conditions.
Curated OER
Life Underground
First graders build a terrarium in order to observe animal and plant life dynamics. In this biology lesson, 1st graders compare how organisms survive in different environments. They write their observations and analysis in their journal.
Curated OER
The Water Cycle
Second graders conduct an a water cycle experiment. In this water cycle lesson plan, 2nd graders observe a puddle of water, they predict how it got there and what will happen to it. Students watch a demonstration on the water cycle and...
Curated OER
Student Designed Investigations: Observations
Students choose an organism and create an experiment with that organism. In this observation lesson plan, students expose a living thing to something from its environment and record their observations. Students must have some prior...