Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Reconstructing a Fossil Pterosaur

For Teachers 8th - 11th
Students reconstruct the skeleton of the fossil Scaphognathus crassirostis. In this fossil lesson plan, students discuss the Kingdoms of life, geologic history and the history of the skeletons of species. Students are given 20 minutes to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Web of Life - Role-Playing

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students role-play how organisms adapt to their environment. They play 20 questions with plant and animal habitats. They create a web of life to demonstrate how each plant and animal relies on the other for survival.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Activity: Bird Beak Buffet

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students study the functions of bird beaks. In this animal evolution instructional activity, students compare and contrast different types of bird beaks focusing on how the beaks are adapted to the foods the birds eat. Students record...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Animal Kingdom of Vertebrates

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders classify fish according to their characteristics. In this classification lesson plan students learn how to group animals including birds, reptiles and amphibians.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Migration

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students study reasons for and examples of bird migration as a behavioral adaptation. They investigate the Bernoulli's Principles.
PPT
Curated OER

Sunken Millions Animals

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
This PowerPoint includes a game with ocean graphics in which two teams answer increasingly difficult questions about animals. Topics covered include plant and animal cells, animal adaptation, and similarities and differences between...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Life-Cycle Sleuth

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students analyze an animal's life cycle and behaviors, and examine what animals need to stay alive and reproduce. They develop theories and hypotheses about the reasons for migrations, using the Journey North online project.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Animal Instincts

For Teachers K - 5th
Pupils compare animal adaptations to human behavior. In this science lesson, students discuss animal instincts vs. learned behavior. Options for student writing, drawing and research are incorporated into this lesson plan
Handout
National Wildlife Federation

Penguin Fun Facts

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
What's black and white and can dive up to 1,800 feet under water? That's right, penguins! Learn this and many other amazing facts about these unique birds with this handy reference sheet.
Lesson Plan
Science 4 Inquiry

At the Top: A Bald Eagle's Diet

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Bald eagles are opportunistic predators and eat fish as well as raccoons and other mammals. Pupils learn about bald eagle diets through a simple simulation and videos. They collect and analyze data to understand the adaptability of this...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Key To Classifying Animals

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Explorers of the environment construct a dichotomous key for a variety of organisms and design a key to classify Galapagos animals based on descriptions and images. The lesson includes a link to an animal gallery and the worksheet for...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Plant and Animal Changes

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders listen as the book, "What Do Animals Do In Winter?" is read to the class. They discuss that during the winter, some animals migrate, hibernate, hide, change color, and some make changes in their bodies like growing extra...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Hunters and Gatherers

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders participate in mapping and other activities to understand why ancient civilizations developed as they did. In this ancient civilization lesson, 6th graders recognize that there were three important climate zones and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Critters in Your Own Backyard

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Learners identify various animals and their habitats, as well as their specific traits In this animal habitat lesson, students list animals they've seen in their backyard. Learners select one animal and do research. Students then answer...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Bird Beak Anatomy

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders participate in an activity to determine which tool will work the best to gather food. They create analogies about how the experiment relates to birds. They brainstorm about which adaptation helps or hurts the survival of an...
PPT
Curated OER

Academic Raceway: Animals

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Race to the finish line with this interactive PowerPoint! Students must answer multiple choice questions about animals to get to the Winners' Circle. Tip: Have students play individually until they can get all of the questions correct.
PPT
Curated OER

Biology Jeopardy

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Play Jeopardy as you review what might possibly be an entire year's high school biology course! The vast variety of questions requires that you read through the slides to make sure that they all relate to your curriculum. You could make...
Worksheet
English Worksheets Land

That Darn Cat!

For Students 3rd Standards
Read about the darnedest can in two fables adapted from Aesop's Fables. Readers answer three reading comprehension questions that prompt them to compare and contrast animal characters in the two stories.
Lesson Plan
Sea World

Seaworld Science Activity

For Teachers K - 4th
A fun collection of activities about marine life would be a great addition to your elementary science unit. From cute penguins to scary sharks, the unit features crafts, experiments, and basic research projects that will teach your...
Interactive
American Museum of Natural History

What's This? Colorful Creatures

For Students 6th - 12th
An online resource shows learners some species that are very good at using their camouflage as well as other ways species use their coloring for survival. Interactive and digital, the lesson is perfect as a remote learning resource.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Week 8 - Sea Life

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Using a magnifier, mini marine biologists examine the barbules of a bird feather. They swirl the it into a mixture of oil and water and then re-examine the feather. After the activity, discuss how the oily feathers pose a problem to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Pets: Oh Behave

For Teachers 5th - 8th
They say that a dog is a man's best friend. Why is that? Discuss with your class why people like pets and the responsibilities with owning one. They read an article about pet behavior and write a short essay comparing one of their...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Do Seasons Affect Animal Adaptations?

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students study migratory birds and other animals.  In this animal adaptation lesson students study pictures of animals, complete an activity and discuss their findings. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Habitats

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students are introduced to various animals and their habitats. In groups, they must determine which animal skin matches the correct animal and identify the texture. They discuss the reason for the texture and width of the skin to end...