Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Designing a Real Life Ecosystem!

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students research abiotic and biotic factors concerning the concept of an ecosystem. Record and analyze data collected. Write a lab report in proper and scientific format with thinking and analytical skills. Work as a cooperative team.
Lesson Plan
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Exploring Ecosystems

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students examine the characteristics of an ecosystem. They create their own landmass of an ecosystem and creating a map of the area. They develop a brochure sharing information about their new landmass.
Activity
Curated OER

Introduction to Watsonville Wetlands

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Identify the different plants and animals found in wetlands, your class will explain the importance of wetland ecosystem and locate the different wetlands in their area.
Lesson Plan
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Biomimicry, Nature: Architecture of the Future

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore the relationship between nature and architecture. In this cross curriculum history, culture, and architecture lesson plan, students observe and discuss structures visible in nature. Students view websites in which Native...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Where Do Birds Live? Cavity Nesters of the Watsonville Wetlands

For Teachers 6th - 7th
Students compare and contrast primary and secondary cavity nesters. In this life science lesson, students explore the different types of nests that birds make. They play a team game to apply what they learned.
Lesson Plan
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Species Diversity in Ecosystems with Different Techniques of Land Management

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners visit numerous places to help in their understanding of Ecology. For this biology lesson plan, students will learn about characteristics and how to identify numerous plants and animals. This lesson allows for many field trip...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Flora and Fauna of the Hill Neighborhood

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers compare and contrast the characteristics of plants and animals. In this ecology lesson, students observe the outdoors and describe the relationship among different living things. They relate plant diversity with animal...
Lesson Plan
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Celebration of Trees

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders listen to various, grade appropriate stories about trees. They create their own construction paper trees and discuss the importance of trees to the ecosystem and the importance of taking care of them. Finally, 2nd graders...
Lesson Plan
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The Wonders of Water - Biology Teaching Thesis

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students name 3-5 aesthetic values of the Potomac River. They state the importance of water in their own words. Students describe what Earth Day is and why it is important. They list 5-7 ways that they can help minimize water pollution.
Lesson Plan
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The Delicate Balance within a Forest Ecosystem

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Learners examine the causes and effects of alterations in a forest ecosystem and evaluate how human actions may only seem to have minor consequences, but can lead to extinctions of large numbers of populations. Students produce an...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

To Dam or Not to Dam

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Young ecologists explore the Aswan Dam in Egypt via the internet. Each collaborative group is assigned a specific article about the ecological impact of the dam. Then they prepare a presentation to share with the rest of the class. Some...
Lesson Plan
EnLiST

Trap Your Own Insects: What’s in Your Backyard?

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Young entomologists construct three types of insect traps—pitfall, pollinator, and panel—before setting their traps out and observing what they caught. They then observe what types of insects the different traps attract.
Lesson Plan
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The Environment and Interactions of Living Organisms

For Teachers 7th - 12th
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.
Lesson Plan
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Ecosystems Beneath the Surface

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders create a KWL chart about microorganisms. In this biology lesson, 6th graders create and label a diagram on a microbial mat. They investigate the processes involved in the carbon, oxygen and sulfur cycles.
Lesson Plan
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Animal Habitat Dioramas

For Teachers K - 5th
What a better way to have learners show what they know than with a diorama? Kids research an animal, its habitat, ecosystem, and environment in order to create a three-dimensional diorama. Have older children write a short paper on their...
Lesson Plan
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Sensational Soil

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Fourth and fifth graders explore soil by taking a simulated field trip under the earth. They go to an Internet site that runs a simulation which charges them with finding a source of pollution that could destroy all of Earth's soil, and...
Lesson Plan
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Please the Trees, But Not These, Please!

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students study trees. In this forestry activity, students complete a variety of activities where they learn the basic parts of a tree and their functions.
Lesson Plan
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What is an Ahupua'a?

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students research ahupua'a ecosystems. In this ahupua'a lesson, students explore how land is subdivided in Hawaii and the effect on the ecosystem. Resources are provided.
Lesson Plan
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MATERIALS, Using What’s Local: Native Materials, Local Sources

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students consider the development of different societies. In this environmental building lesson, students consider local resources and how societies choose to use them. Students use their findings to design a 'green' building for use in...
Lesson Plan
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Introduction to Invasive Species

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students explore the environment by identifying invasive species. In this ecosystem observation lesson, students identify the native species that exist in an exotic land such as Hawaii and the impact of invasive plants, insects and...
Lesson Plan
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Nature of Science and Ecology

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students identify the different biotic and abiotic components of an ecosystem. In this ecology lesson, students perform a case study on current environmental problems. They write a position statement about their chosen topic and share it...
Lesson Plan
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Soil, Designer Soil: From Rainforests to the Prairie

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students explore the role and importance of soil in the ecosystem.  In this Science and Social Studies lesson, students complete an experiment using various kinds of soil and clay and then examine how soil has a direct impact on our...
Lesson Plan
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Sounds of the Wetlands

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Students identify the sounds of different bird calls. In this biology lesson, students create a sound map. They explain how this method is important in tracking wildlife.
Lesson Plan
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The Greening of Mars: The Changes Necessary to Sustain Life on Mars

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders discuss the currents conditions on the planet of Mars. In groups, they work together to develop a mechanism that allows for a balanced ecosystem to survive on the planet. After presenting their ideas to the class, they...