National Park Service
Living & Non-Living Interactions
What better way to learn about ecosystems than by getting outside and observing them first hand? Accompanying a field trip to a local park or outdoor space, this series of collaborative activities engages children in...
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Deserts: How Do You Define One?
Second graders identify what constitutes as a desert by reading a habitat checklist. In this environment lesson, 2nd graders read a nature website to discover facts about the desert and where they are located. Students...
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Desert Habitat
Students examine how desert plants and animals are adapted to life in the desert. They listen to the book, "Seasons of Saguaro," conduct experiments to demonstrate plant succulence, and create and draw an animal or plant that...
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Desert Water Keepers
Students experiment with models to find how plants survive in the desert environment. In this plant mechanisms activity, students make leaf models to understand how leaves conserve water. Students collect cactus in bags and observe...
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Cactus Wheel
Students explore plant biology by conducting field experiments outside of class. In this desert plant instructional activity, students discuss how cacti thrive in such dry climates and how dense their populations are. Students utilize...
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Desert Adaptations: Water
Students experiment with methods of water conservation. In this water conservation lesson, students explore the importance of water for plants and animals in a desert biome.
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Taking Count of Biodiversity
Here is a well-designed lesson on biodiversity that should intrigue your charges. In it, pupils compare a natural desert area to a school field to see how habitat destruction affects species diversity. Groups set up transects and collect...
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Plants and Ecosystems
The relationships within and between ecosystems can be explored. after examining an area for living and non-living things students complete the same examination in the forest ecosystem. Students identify abiotic and biotic elements in an...
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Biomes and Plant Growth
Seventh graders design four biomes models and plant three types of seeds in them to observe growth. In groups for each type of biome, they predict the seeds' growth in each of the settings. Students follow the conditions on a biome chart...
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Timeline for Bird and Plant Research
Students research and observe birds and plants in selected habitat areas.
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Unique Plants of the Biomes
Students examine how the earth is divided into different biomes that are characterized by a distinctive climate. In this earth's surface lesson plan students identify adaptations of plants in specific biomes.
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What's That? A Habitat!
Students identify and define what oceans, deserts, woodlands, and cold places are. Then they identify animals that live in different habitats by playing a hands-on sorting activity. Students also research various web sites as instructed...
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Lets Think About...Plants
Students bring in various vegetables and make friendship soup. They plant seeds and discuss the things plants need to grow and thrive.
Desert Discoveries
Amazing Arthropods
Arthropods are the stars of a fine science lesson. Learners look at the diversity, characteristics, adaptations, and important roles that these insects play in the Sonoran Desert environment. A terrific document called "Amazing...
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Classifying Conundrum
Fourth graders identify plant characteristics from different environments and communicate that information in different ways. They use a simple scheme to classify Utah plants and animals and make observations and record them in a...
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Mountain Barriers
Learners examine geographical change. In this mountain barriers lesson, students conduct an experiment to discover how mountains affect surrounding land. Learners draw conclusions on how change in land affects plant and animal life.
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Habitats: Cactus Hotel
A reading of Brenda Z. Guiberson’s, Cactus Hotel, launches a study of animal habitats. Working with parent volunteers or teacher aides, groups travel outside the classroom to select a habitat, take digital pictures, and incorporate the...
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Living in the Greenhouse
Students discuss the different types of climate zones found throughout the world. They participate in activities which relate to real events. They make observations and the consequences of their actions on the environment.
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Terrestrial Communities
Students watch a video about different terrestrial communities. They conduct an experiment with sponges conserving water. They research desert characteristics comparing them with other biomes.
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Yerbas y Remdios: A New Look
Students explore human health by participating in a medicine class activity. In this herbs lesson, students identify plants which Native Americans used throughout history to cure illnesses. Students research specific herbs in groups and...
Desert Discoveries
Creating a Garden Journal
Youngsters create science journals which are used to record observations from the school garden. The goal of this activity is to help kids tune into nature by making daily observations on the growth of the plants, and also to take note...
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Discovery Science Center Activities
Fourth graders complete a variety of experiments to meet science goals. In this life sciences lesson, 4th graders make yogurt, discover the attraction of opposite charges in electricity, learn the effects of glaciers, and explore...
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Biomes and the water cycle
Students create a desert biome and a prairie biome and see how plants survive in both. In this biomes lesson plan, studnets create their biomes and see how the water cycle effect each biome and plant differently.
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Camp Expedition
Learners select an animal to research that lives in the camp environment. Students spend time using books and the Internet to research their animals, including size and appearance. Learners create a mural to depict the environment and...