A publication of the Natural Hazards Center focusing on natural disaster research. Specific information available for numerous subtopics.

Build a dam in the middle of an ecosystem and observe how the population of plants and animals adapt to their new environment with this science simulation. Learn how the populations adapt to survive in their new habitat. Then remove the...

Students use their senses to observe nature then sketch a plant and/or animal in their science journals using detail and color. Using these sketches, they will create classroom books which are shared with the class.

Come explore with Elinor! Use the tools provided to observe your environment as you take a nature walk. What will you find?

Detailed lesson plans and materials designed for ELL/ESL students that has them observing, discussion and writing about, and from the perspective of, plants and animals. Students create a book (may be bilingual) to be reviewed by peers....

The fascinating biography of a gorilla named Titus in Rwanda, captured in video over a thirty-four year time span. Researchers, under the first guidance of Dian Fossey, were able to follow his development and experiences through most of...

The concept of interdependence in an ecosystem and its effect on the evolution of populations is further explored through a model of a dam. Students build a dam in the middle of the field, dividing the ecosystem in half to illustrate the...

Students focus their observations during a nature hike by recording their observations on a sheet of paper which has been horizontally divided into thirds. Alongside the divisions is a stick figure with the top of the head touching the...

In this biology lab students will compare two sample populations of sunflower seeds. Comparison of the two populations will be done through the generation of a histogram for each population. One population will be black oil sunflower...

Identify the conditions required for natural selection and describe how it can result in changes in species over time. Follow Charles Darwin through a life of exploration, observation, and experimentation to see how he developed his ideas.

Students are introduced to our planet's structure and its dynamic system of natural forces through an examination of the natural hazards of earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides, tsunamis, floods and tornados, as well as avalanches, fires,...

Smithsonian in the Classroom presents "Introduction to the Nature Journal." Teachers can download this comprehensive teaching package in which students will practice and develop their skills of writing observations and making hypotheses....

Smithsonian in the Classroom presents "Introduction to the Nature Journal." Teachers can download this comprehensive teaching package in which students will practice and develop their skills of writing observations and making hypotheses....

Five inquiry-based investigations designed for the observation of primates in a zoo setting. The labs ask guiding questions and list notable primate behaviors.

Take a submersible down to the seafloor. As you descend, passing through the ocean's sunlight, twilight, and midnight zones, you can observe how temperature, pressure, and light levels change. When your submersible reaches the seafloor,...

In this experiment, you will concentrate on understanding the chemistry of ion exchange and estimate the capacity of an ion exchange column from your observations.

The Smithsonian Arctic Studies Center offers a portfolio of arctic animals. A page dedicated to each animal provides a physical description, personal observations of the animal in the wild, and several pictures.

Students can carry out an investigation using sugar and water to determine whether heating or cooling a substance may cause changes that can be observed. This activity reinforces the ideas that the properties of materials can change when...

By observing photos of plankton at different life stages, students can obtain information that will allow them to construct evidence-based accounts of how parents and offspring don't always look alike.

Students can plan and carry out investigations of local weather patterns by building their own weather stations to collect observations of various weather conditions: rainfall, wind direction, and air pressure.

Looks at how spirals form in nature when cells reproduce in a flower, for example. An interactive lets students try entering different values to see if they can make a spiral pattern with no gaps. The correct figure would be the Golden...

This activity is modeled after the popular storybook character of Flat Stanley who traveled the world with real people. Students are asked to take 'Flat Blue,' an image of a blue goose, with them to a natural setting. They explore the...

Scientists traveled deep into the world's jungles to document the behaviors of animals using high-tech cameras, ones that we have rarely had the opportunity to observe in such detail. A three-minute video is available online, and the...

PlantWatch is a Canadian program that uses volunteers to record data about a variety of plant species in each province and territory, and then submit their observations. Monitoring plants provides valuable information about the health of...