Curated OER
Where Do Animals Come From?
Students use library search engines to research an animal and its origin. In this animal research lesson, students research their assigned animal using ProQuest. Students then find the country of origin of the animal using a library...
Curated OER
Playing Hot and Cold
Students read about homeothermy. Through research and poster projects, they gain insight into the diversity among mammals and the ways specific mammals survive in their native climates.
American Museum of Natural History
What's This? Breathing
Crazy fact: Some animals can survive months without oxygen. An online resource describes some unique ways animals collect oxygen and even live without it for an extended time. Learners read about these special animals and use pop-up...
Global Change
Impact of a Changing Climate on the Pacific Walrus
How many of us can say they've seen a Pacific walrus? Not many and one of the reasons is the impact of climate change on their aquatic environment. Children get to think about the food web of the Bering Sea by creating an actual web with...
Curated OER
The Envelope Please
Students research an animal of the rainforest. They create a computerized claymation to present their research.
Curated OER
Prairie Predator and Prey
Fifth graders brainstorm a list of animals that live on the prairie, and classify them as predators and prey. They conduct interviews where they ask the animals what they need to look out for to sustain life on the prairie.
Curated OER
Animal Safari on the Internet
Students verbalize, analyze and practice various research steps including using the Internet for searches and how to use bookmarked sites. They use these skills to research animals.
Curated OER
Habitat Hopscotch
Third graders explore animal characteristics by participating in a bat environment game. In this natural habitat lesson, 3rd graders identify the physical anatomy of a bat and discuss their eating and sleeping habits. Students conduct a...
Curated OER
Classifying Vertebrates
Second graders study animal characteristics and classification. In this animal characteristics and classifications activity, 2nd graders determine how to classify vertebrates which include mammals, reptiles, amphibians, birds, and fish....
Curated OER
Designasaurus: Modeling Activity for a Paleoartist
Students create and draw fictional dinosaurs. They write a description of their dinosaur.
Curated OER
Animals of Madagascar
Students are each assigned an animal from Madagascar. They research their animal and design a picture book about their animal. Students design a cover page, back page, bibliography page and the title page. Their book will contain...
Curated OER
Furbearers of Illinois
Students study fur bearing animals of Illinois. They research a specific furbearer (it's habitat, diet, current hunting regulations regarding the animal, conservation organizations that help the animal, etc.) and give a presentation on...
Curated OER
Exploring the Temperate Forest: Biodiversity and Interdependence
Students examine the consequences of cutting down large amounts of forests throughout the world. In groups, they use the internet to complete a module taking them on a tour through different temperate forests. To end the lesson, they...
Curated OER
SPLASH – Monitoring Humpback Whales
Students view a video about the humpback whale and why it is endangered. In this endangered species instructional activity, students recognize the importance of observing and following an endangered species in an ecosystem. Students...
Curated OER
Creating a Classification System
Students create classification system for Arctic-dwelling animals, the Arctic hare in particular.
Curated OER
Wild Kingdom
High schoolers research and discuss the natural habitats and various evolutionary theories of giraffes and other animals imported into ancient Rome.
Curated OER
What Can You Learn About Dinosaurs by Watching an Ostrich?
Learners collect a variety of drawings of dinosaurs and maps of a zoo. Students observe an animal in motion during a field trip to a zoo from reproducible worksheets. Learners study about the process by which scientists and film...
Curated OER
Bats - Endangered Mammal
Pupils complete question sheet on Bats and research information using a list of websites provided by the teacher. They work with peers to complete a scavenger hunt worksheet about bats.
Curated OER
Understanding How Researchers Study Dolphins
Young scholars examine how researchers study dolphins and whales. In this scientific research lesson, students complete a Web-based interactive lesson focused on showing how researchers study aquatic mammals. A worksheet and web...
Curated OER
Can You Find...on the "Progression of Life" Poster?
Students examine and analyze a poster that presents various types of animals throughout the ages. They determine biological classification with fossils and earth history in a game.
Curated OER
The Fantastic Kindergarten Zoo
First graders create their own zoo to share with other classes and parents. Groups create displays for the animals. Have each group brainstorm how they create a display for their animal.
Curated OER
Animal Parenting
Students analyze parenting instincts. In this parenting instincts instructional activity, students view a drawing of animal they studies and describe what they learned about the animal. Students teach the class about their animal and the...
Curated OER
My Perfect Pet
Students explore pet ownership. In this my perfect pet lesson, students research common animals used as pets and complete a variety of activities based on this data.
Curated OER
Learning the Effects of Weather
Second graders examine how weather affects animals and people. They discuss Navajo and Ute stories told during different seasons of the year, and create a drawing of people or animal behavior and the connection to the weather.