Curated OER
Adapting to Animal Behavior for Survival
Second graders explore animal behaviors and adaptations by researching several different animals and their habitats.
Curated OER
Animal Diversity
Students examine plants and animals for their similarties and differences. They are read stories and note how the animals in the stories do not have the qualities that real animals have. They complete a worksheet to end the instructional...
Curated OER
Flocking to Food
Learners observe shore birds feeding. In this shore birds lesson, students visit a beach and observe shore birds feeding. Learners discuss shore birds feeding behaviors.
Curated OER
Snug as a Bug
Students investigate survival strategies. In this survival strategies instructional activity, students study survival strategies used by animals. Using a seed to represent a bug, students create a safe home for their "seed-bug".
Curated OER
Where are the Dinosaurs?
Students understand what it means when an animal is extinct. In this dinosaur lesson, students create dinosaur dioramas showing their habitat and what in their environment might make them become extinct. students pay particular attention...
Nuffield Foundation
Observing Earthworm Locomotion
One acre of land can contain more than a million earthworms. Scholars collect earthworms to observe their movements. Once placed on paper, the sound of movement often fascinates pupils. When placed on glass, the earthworm is unable to...
Desert Discovery
Saguaro Seasons
Elementary schoolers take a look at how the saguaro cactus adapts to the four seasons of the year. This amazing plant has distinct flowering and fruiting cycles within the summer season, and other cycles during the other seasons. Your...
Curated OER
Flutterings and Flowers
Fourth graders investigate the significance of natural resources and the habitats of butterflies. They create a list of their own favorite foods, then watch a video about habitats. Students identify things in the video that animals and...
Curated OER
Follow a Fish
Pupils choose a fish from anywhere within the Ocean Center. They observe it for a given time, recording its behavior. Students comprehend the concept that living things have individual characteristics that enable them to live in their...
Curated OER
Building Bodies
Students identify key anatomical similarities and differences between great apes and humans. They infer likely anatomical features in ancient human ancestors and list principal anatomical changes in primates necessary for adaptation to...
National Center for Case Study Teaching in Science
A Deadly Passion
Depending on the level of maturity of your class, the case study presented here could be fascinating. It focuses on the mating behavior and post-mating rituals of the Australian redback spider, which involves the female eating the male...
Curated OER
Birds and Coffee
Fifth graders identify the changing seasons with how they affect animal and human behavior. They explain what migration is and why many birds migrate south for the winter. They then trace the coffee sold in their neighborhood and in...
Curated OER
Study of Animals
Third graders use the internet to research about an animal. After watching a demonstration, they follow the same steps to gain access to the internet as their teacher and find a picture of their animal to print. They complete a worksheet...
Curated OER
Mountain Lions in Arizona Overview
Here is an overview to a unit on the mountain lions of Arizona. Six different lessons take youngsters on a complete investigation of the adaptations, diet, population density, and management of these beautiful wild cats. Each of the...
Curated OER
Habitat Choice in Woodbugs
Students investigate woodbugs. In this scientific investigation activity, students explore the steps scientists take when conducting an investigation using live specimens. Students explore habitat preferences for woodbugs in various...
Curated OER
Birds of Prey
Students research various birds of prey on internet by following a worksheet with specific questions. Students answer questions on worksheet and write short response after completing research.
Curated OER
Animals, Animals, Everywhere
Fourth graders participate in a variety of activities dealing with animal characteristics and classifications in this multi-task lesson plan. They use graphic organizers, make booklets, and make models.
Curated OER
Animal Games
Students explore a variety of games on the Internet that will teach them about animals; they focus on the Florida panther. Students choose the activity that is of interest to them, and then rotate between the games online and the games...
Curated OER
Protect the Primates
Students make posters about saving the primates. In this primates lesson plan, students discuss primates and environmental changes and make posters with pictures about saving primates.
Curated OER
Animals and People: Who's Behaving Badly?
Students explore the relationship between human beings and animals. They participate in a variety of activities to examine animal behavior. Students create a class book and stage a mock news broadcast.
Curated OER
Frozen Seas
Students research animal life in the frozen seas. For this researched based lesson, students use the Internet to create a poster about an animal that lives in an Arctic or Antarctic environment. Students will focus on the behavioral and...
Curated OER
Beaver Ecology
Students investigate beaver adaptations, life cycle, and the effects of beaver behavior on ecosystems. They compare and contrast how beavers influence the ecology of both forest and aquatic ecosystems.
Curated OER
Migration
Students study reasons for and examples of bird migration as a behavioral adaptation. They investigate the Bernoulli's Principles.