Learners study families and their genetics.  In this investigative lesson students explain how variations in genetics can be harmful and how some can help with survival.

Ninth graders compare and contrast animals according to their four systems.  In this living environment lesson students complete their assignment on the animal they were given and present their findings to the class. 

Eighth graders investigate animal behavior by studying the lives of three female behavior scientists.  In this human organism lesson students do different activities that inquire and approach each females work. 

Students investigate the stages of the Monarch butterfly and its life cycle.  In this butterfly life cycle activity, students discuss when, where, and how the Monarch butterflies lay their eggs.  After discussion, students...

Students role-play members of an ecosystem. In this lake ecosystems lesson, students simulate various organisms within an ecosystem to discover the impact on the environment.

In this communities worksheet, students will write down 1 main idea about communities formed by living things. Then students will brainstorm 3 details to support their main idea. This worksheet is a graphic organizer.

In this science worksheet, middle schoolers use the key code on the right to unscramble each of the scientists. They also match each of the scientists found to their correct description.

In this biology instructional activity, students locate and identify various vocabulary terms related to classifying living things. There are 24 biology terms located in the word search.

In this classification worksheet, students complete a crossword puzzle with 17 clues about vocabulary pertaining to the classification of organisms.

In this classification activity, students are provided with the answers to a crossword puzzle which has 17 clues pertaining to classification of organisms vocabulary.

Fourth graders, in small groups, observe plants and note their characteristics. After drawing pictures of the plants, including their roots systems, they hypothesize in which environments the plants would best thrive. Finally, 4th...

Students are told to create a community using words or pictures. They walk outside to an area in front of the school which has a strip of grass, ditch, and corn field. Students discuss the difference between an ecosystem and a...

Students identify given species of animals, such as various mussels, by sets of physical characteristics as they use a key. They also read about mussels on the Illinois River and look at mussel species in the online database. Finally,...

Students are explained that they are spending the next few days researching an organism in preparation for a field trip. They are shown an overhead of the Field Guide. Students discuss what habitat means. They use their organism to...

Students simulate the differences between animals protected by fat and those that aren't. They fill one of the mugs with shortening. Students cut a small hole, and place a thermometer in each piece of cardboard. They position the bulb of...

Learners identify a food chain sequence. They compare, identify, and record the rodent skeletal parts to a rodent skeletal diagram. Students construct a rodent skeleton from the skeletal parts found in the pellet. They are given the...

Students watch a demonstration using Duco glue and water and try to determine if the "monster" shown is alive. After the demonstration, they discuss what characteristics make an organism "alive". They participate in a card sorting...

Students identify and interpret the concept of an ecosystem and the potential impact humans have on ecosystems. They also proficient in organized and methodical Internet searches. Finally, students become proficient with public...

Students explore how organisms are adapted to live in the ultimate of extreme environments. They discuss the reasons for the similarities and differences between them, themselves, and the more familiar organisms around them. Students are...

Second graders participate in a teacher led bead sorting activity in which they describe different ways the beads can be grouped. Next, they participate in activities in which they sort and resort themselves into groups according to...

Students explore the definition of what an endangered or threatened species is and the criteria for a species being endangered or threatened. Many examples are shown and discussed with the students within this lesson. In addition, they...

Seventh graders investigate the differences between native and non-native species. They answer different level questions using Bloom's Taxonomy. This is done creatively with the students playing a version of the game Jeopardy. Students...

Second graders engage in a instructional activity that seeks to discover information about Brine Shrimp. They conduct research using a variety of print and electronic resources. Students study the type of environment the shrimp need and...

First graders investigate living things that are part of a class aquarium. They make observations and answer guided questions about each organism. Students read a Science textbook and engage in a class discussion about the content. Then...