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Living and Nonliving Things
Students photograph five objects from a bag and five objects from the outdoors. Students categorize things by living and non-living and by properties such as color, size, structure and needs. Students draw conclusions about the basic...
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Needs of Living Things
Learners discuss and explore the needs of living things. They choose to create a slide show with captions, create a web showing the needs of one Organism using KidPix. or make picture book by hand or using Microsoft Publisher.
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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...
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Living Things
First graders learn to group living things,basic needs of living things, that there are many different living things and that each has an environment. Students learn how living things adapt to both their environment and for survival...
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Draw an Alien in Natural Habitat
Students apply prior knowledge of living things, structures of living things and how living things sense and respond to their environment. In this habitat lesson, students review the basic needs of organisms to survive. Students create...
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Classifying Living and Non-Living Objects
Pupils investigate living organisms and define the properties of a living species. In this life characteristic lesson, students examine plants in their class and discuss whether or not they are alive. Pupils create a living...
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Learning About Animal Shelters for Earth Day
Students explore habitats. in this ecology and animal habitat lesson, students listen to the book A House is a House for Me by Mary Ann Hoberman. Students discuss the basic needs of animals and go on a nature walk to observe animal...
National Park Service
Reduce Our Carbon Footprint, Let’s Compost!
Roll up your sleeves and get a little dirty with this elementary and middle school compost instructional activity. All you need is a large plastic container, a couple old newspapers, some organic waste, and a few hundred worms and...
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Hierarchical Organization in Biology: Students Presentations of Neurobiology
Young scholars gather (research) information on neuron structure and action potential. Students are guided to make inferences about the synapse and its relationship to neurotransmitter release and action. They are also guided to make...
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Physics of Sound: How We Hear Sounds
Second graders identify the different function and parts of the ear. In this physics instructional activity, 2nd graders explain how we hear sound. They read about the life of Helen Keller and respond to questions that follow.
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Living Organisms Digital Scavenger Hunt
Learners photograph living organisms. In this plan for a field trip, students go to a local park or pond and photograph themselves with various living organisms on their scavenger hunt list. The photographs taken are compiled into a...
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Hey Diddle Diddle
Students discuss their needs to grow and be healthy. They listen as the teacher explains the definition of "organisms" and "nonliving" Students identify organisms in the classroom. They listen to and view a poster illustrating the "Hey...
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Scavenging the Sandy Shore
Students explore oceanography by examining a beach. In this living things lesson, students define the terms abiotic and biotic and practice identifying living and non-living things that have been previously found on a beach. Students...
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Worming Your Way Through the Soil
Learners study soil, living and non-living particles in the soil, and learn about composting. In this soil study lesson, students study soil samples and discuss the living and non-living components of the soil. Learners classify the...
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Physics of Sound: How We Hear Sounds
Students examine the way they hear sounds. In groups, they label and identify the functions of the different parts of the ear. After reading a book by Helen Keller, they research the mechanisms of sound and how sounds are different...
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Clay Ants: Insect Anatomy
Students examine anatomic structures in order to identify insects from other living organisms. They gain a level of comfort from anxiety when observing and handling live and pinned insects. They create clay models of an insect.
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Civil War Diaries
Fifth graders examine excerpts from a diary of a Confederate soldier and his experiences in a Union prison camp. After receiving character cards, they write diary entries from the perspectives of their Civil War identity. As an...
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Amazon Rainforest Conservation, Brazil
Students explore rain forests. In this rain forest instructional activity, students participate in a "BioBlitz" of their schoolyard, observing and recording every living thing in a designated area. Students visit websites...
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The Dinosaur Body
Students recognize that body design affects balance. They investigate the basic structure of a dinosaur body to see how it achieved balance, then build any dinosaur body system they want, using small marshmallows and extra straws as needed.
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Wild Thing!
Sixth graders view several segments of the video, "How Animals Survive." They discuss elements of survival. Students list living and nonliving things found in their backyards and schoolyards. Students work in groups to complete the...
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Characteristics of Reptiles Lesson Plan
First graders draw pictures of reptiles and share them with the class describing the characteristics of the reptile. In this reptiles lesson plan, 1st graders determine if animals in pictures are reptiles or not.
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Measuring Marvels
Students discover how units of measurement help people to categorize objects. In this measurement lesson, students discuss various units of measurement, use creativity to invent new possible units of measure, and learn the history of...
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Photo Safari
Students take photographs of people and things that impact their lives. In this photojournalism lesson plan, students learn how to use a photo to tell a story and present their project.
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Turtle Lesson
Students identify ways that they can help protect turtles. In this wildlife awareness lesson, students read the story Turtle World and construct a T-chart on the board. Students create a list of problems facing turtles and possible...