Captain Planet Foundation
Which Plant Is Which?
Learn about dichotomous keys, plant identification, and how to care for the planet with a lesson that includes several hands-on and innovative activities. Kids go on a plant scavenger hunt and classify the plants that they find...
Curated OER
Bird Ecology Unit
Birds, plants, and vegetation, is there anything more lovely? There is! Engage your class in the scientific process, data collection, and data analysis. They stroll their campus observing and identifying various birds and plants,...
Curated OER
Plant Identification: New Jersey vs. Ecuador
Sixth graders discover the different plants that grow in different climates through specimen collections. In this botany lesson, 6th graders examine plants from both New Jersey and Ecuador and discuss what conditions could create...
Curated OER
Harriman and Plant Identification
Learners observe and record botanical details from the plant specimens. They identify plants using sorting key and field guide and classify specimens for preservation and display purposes.
Curated OER
Plant Hunt
Students explore botany by conducting field research outside of class. In this plant species lesson, students examine a nearby park or beach in which they can dig and search for plants they aren't familiar with. Students collect many...
Curated OER
Guidebook
Students create a guidebook page about a plant on the school grounds. In this life and plant science instructional activity, students identify plants around the school, then research the plant and write a narrative about it. Students...
Chicago Botanic Garden
Preparing for Project BudBurst
Male deer growing antlers to begin the breeding season is an example of a phenological event. First in a four-part series is an activity requiring individuals to collect phenological data on their campus. Classes discuss phenology, the...
Curated OER
Wetland Plant Detectives
Sixth graders identify plants in the wetlands. In this plant detectives lesson, 6th graders complete a scavenger hunt on a local reserve, record observations, and respond in their journals.
Curated OER
Schoolyard Jungle: What's Out There?
Eighth graders create a plant study guide using their outdoor classroom environment. In this ecology instructional activity, 8th graders take photographs of plants they collect from the outdoor classroom and create plant field...
Curated OER
Plant Science Activities
Young scholars complete several plant life activities. In this botany lesson, students practice painting images that resemble plants they are familiar with as well as planting seeds outside of class. Young scholars participate in a...
Brooklyn Children’s Museum
Rocks and Minerals in Our Lives
Young geologists discover the important role that rocks and minerals play in our everyday lives through this series of hands-on activities. Starting off with a lesson that defines the difference between plants, animals, and...
Curated OER
Look At Those Leaves!
Students explore botany by researching plants in class. In this tree identification lesson, students examine a group of leaves and list the different characteristics before guessing what types of trees they came from. Students read about...
Curated OER
What is a Tree?
Students identify and define types of trees. In this tree identification lesson, students complete a KWL chart on trees and read the book ABCedar: An Alphabet of Trees. Students complete a tree word scramble.
Curated OER
The Great Pollinators
Young scholars discover the reproductive parts of a plant. In this biology lesson, students identify and categorize several different plants they dissect in class. Young scholars record their information using a data chart.
Curated OER
Charting the Changes in Our School Forest
Fourth graders investigate the ecosystem and how forests are disappearing. In this environmental protection lesson, 4th graders analyze the changes in their school for 2 weeks. Students practice identifying trees, birds, and...
Curated OER
Seed Diversity
Learners explore agriculture by researching different seeds. In this seed identification lesson, students collaborate in small groups to analyze a package of different seeds. Learners utilize a magnifying glass to examine each seed...
Curated OER
The Great Migration
Sixth graders explore the uses of herbal plants. They read the book Pharmacy in the Forest and discuss the vocabulary words that pertain to the structure of a plant. Students create a summary of what they have read and watch a video on...
Curated OER
In the Wild
Third graders examine the concept of ecology and how animals are suited to their habitats. For this animal adaptation lesson, 3rd graders identify a variety of plants and animal species that live in a Beech forest.Students create a food...
Curated OER
Loco for Cocoa
Sixth graders explore agriculture by viewing food related videos in class. In this chocolate identification lesson, 6th graders discuss the healthy aspects of pure cocoa and the history of the plant. Students read assigned text about...
Curated OER
Most Troublesome Exotic Invasive Plant Species Web Quest
Young scholars participate in a Web Quest activity in which they identify common exotic invasive plant species of the Southern Appalachian Region. After identifying the top 10 exotic invasive species, they choose one to research in depth.
Curated OER
How a Seed Grows and Who Grows It
First graders explore biology by viewing PowerPoint presentations in class. In this plant life lesson, 1st graders identify the life cycle of a plant and how to properly plant a seed outside. Students view a movie about plant life and...
Curated OER
Richmond Nature Park Field Trip
Pupils identify different plants and their uses by attending a field trip. In this Canadian plant lesson, students explore the great outdoors of Vancouver, B.C. and discuss the uses of plants by the Native Americans that once resided...
Curated OER
Nature and Fitness Trail
Young scholars plan stations for a nature and fitness trail and construct an accompanying e-Book for extended descriptions at each station. Data on the human impact on the environment is gathered in this lesson.
Curated OER
Logs of Straw: Dendocronology
Students investigate the age of trees by analyzing tree rings. In this dendocronology lesson, students examine sample images of tree rings and identify their age by the amount of rings. Students complete a chart identifying...