Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What's in a Name?

For Teachers 4th - 7th
Students explore the plants that grow in Glacier National Park. In this plant biology lesson, students invite a guest speaker to speak about plants that grow in Glacier National Park, as well as the scientific names for the plants....
Lesson Plan
Monterey Bay Aquarium

What's in a Name?

For Teachers 3rd - 6th Standards
Combine art and word analysis in a lesson about genus and species. Elementary children sleuth out the meaning of scientific names for a number of shark species using a prefix and suffix definition chart. They then draw an image of the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What's in a Name?

For Teachers 5th - 9th
Students study the binomial system of naming organisms. They are given a name of an organism and they must draw a picture of what they think the organism looks like. Then they research the organism, find what it really looks like, and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What's In A Name?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore the concept of the binomial system of nomenclature for classifying organisms. Students travel on a field trip to observe organisms displayed and their common names. Students complete several classroom activities and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

ARE WE IN THE MIDDLE OF A MASS EXTINCTION?

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students identify and interpret the following: What is mass extinction, and what are some theories for why it happens? How often do species become extinct? What is the normal rate of extinction? Why are some species endangered? What...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

PRIMATE CLASSIFICATION: Evolution, Cladograms,

For Teachers 7th - 10th
Students transfer examples (names) of primates from their location in an outline hierarchy of primate groups into a set of nested boxes reflecting that same hierarchy. A cladogram can then be drawn illustrating how these groups are...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

"Finding Your Sweet Tooth"--An Introduction to the Dichotomous Key

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders classify candy according to observable characteristics. They use a dichotomous key to identify their bag of "treats." Thus, describe how dichotomous keys help to the identifying of organisms. Design a self-generated...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Environment: Endangered Mammal Project

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students research different mammals and create illustrations and narratives about them. Working individually or in small groups, students compose their rough drafts prior to creating their posters or dioramas. Students present short...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Lizard Lab

For Students 9th - 12th
In this detailed and comprehensive multi-day activity, budding evolutionary biologists use real data from lizard populations in the Canary Islands to examine evolution and natural selection. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Creating a Classification System

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners create classification system for Arctic-dwelling animals, the Arctic hare in particular.
Unit Plan
Curated OER

Classy

For Teachers 5th
Students explore the classification system in this seven lessons unit. The diversity of life forms and their characteristics are examined using a microscope. Kingdoms, classes, and families are investigated.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Honey Bee Biology

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students review the basic parts of an insect and explore the anatomical characteristics of a honey bee. The second part of the lesson focuses on ways to identify a honey bee from other stinging insects.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Where Do I Belong?

For Teachers 10th
Tenth graders study the diversity of life in the world. They classify and sketch organisms into the 6 kingdoms.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

From One Seed Grow Many Seeds

For Teachers 1st
First graders practice identifying plants by singing a song.  In this plant life lesson, 1st graders sing the song "Parts of a Plant" which is based on the anatomy of sunflowers.  Students discover agriculture techniques while...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Classifying "Pastanimals"

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students explore biology by creating a poster presentation. In this animal classification lesson, students utilize a SMART board and practice organizing a group of animal shapes by placing them with similar animal families. Students...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The First Humans: Prehistory-3500 B.C. "Lucy"

For Teachers 3rd - 7th
Students explore prehistoric times by completing web activities in class. In this human ancestry lesson, students identify the archaeological discovery of the "Lucy" skeleton and what it meant for science. Students investigate the Leakey...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Goals of the Diversity of Life Unit

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students are introduced to the unit on the importance of diversity of life and the role that interdependence plays in our worlds. this is part of a multi-lesson unit on the diversity of life.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Creative Classification

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students create an animal by using physical characteristics to classify that animal in the Linnaean Classification System. This lesson is part of a multi-segmented unit on the diversity of life.