Curated OER
Tackling Taxonomy
Learners study physical characteristics of separate phyla and place them into similar groups. This lesson is part of a multi-segmented unit on the diversity of life. students develop a classification system by grouping animals into...
Curated OER
You Belong in the Zoo Project - Using HyperStudio
Students explore the diversity of living organisms. They research an animal found in the zoo and plans a 10-card HyperStudio project about his/her organism.
Curated OER
Biodiversity: El Imposible National Park, El Salvador
Fifth graders explore the concept of how the more diverse an ecosystem is, the more interdependence of species exists within that system. The complex relationships among diverse species are difficult to identify. As species disappear or...
Curated OER
Land Use
Students examine ecosystems that covered Illinois 200 years ago, investigate some living and non-living components of ecosystems, identify components of prairie system, create food webs, and observe human effects on environment. Lessons...
Curated OER
Build a Bug
Students design an ideally adapted macroinvertebrate to live in a water habitat. They illustrate their animal, name it and specify the adaptations it has that enable it to survive.
Curated OER
Amphibians Internet Activity
In this amphibians instructional activity, students click on the links in the questions about amphibians to find the answers to the questions and then come back and answer the questions. Students answer 10 questions total.
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Comparing Theories: Lamarck and Darwin
High schoolers compare the evolution theories of Lamarck and Darwin. They use self-assessment and a video to increase their knowledge of evolution theories. They research questions and present them to the class.
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All About Seeds!
How do fruits relate to flowers and seeds? Identify the seeds and their purpose with a coloring activity for kindergartners. Once they color the seeds of apples, bananas, and peas (among others), kids get hands-on experience with bean...
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Environmental Exchange Box
Students examine the characteristics of their own environment and compare them to another region. They prepare a box filled with items and stories about their own region, exchange the box with another class in another region, and...
Western Kentucky University
Understanding Genetics: Punnett Squares
Can scientists really predict genetic outcomes or are they simply making a lucky guess? Scholars first learn about Gregor Mendel and how to make Punnett squares. Then they extract DNA from a strawberry in a lab with included conclusion...
Curated OER
Bats
Learners model how the bones in a bat wing are organized. They develop questions about bat body parts based on photographs. They hypothesize how bats locate their food.
Curated OER
Activity 2: Salinity & Tides
Students explore the effects of tides and salinity on an estuary. For this salinity and tides lesson plan, students complete 3 activities which help them understand estuarine systems. They study the tides in the Chesapeake Bay, they...
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Lamarck And Darwin
Students compare Lamarck's mechanism for evolution with Darwin's theory of natural selection.
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Red Tail Ridge Wetland Study Project
Fifth graders use a real life scenario of the wetlands to gather information on creatures of the habitat. In this wetlands lesson, 5th graders research the interdependence of organisms in a healthy habitat. Students collected samples...
Curated OER
Change or Adaptation
Students identify the adaptive forces in the life cycle of plants, animals, and humans, isolate and identify the role that change and adaptation play in extreme environments and research and write a short term paper using MLA citations.
Curated OER
The Energy Debate - Global Warming
Young scholars describe what global warming is, what causes global warming and the impact to our world. They study the threat of global warming and its relationship to the use of fossil fuels.
Curated OER
Technology of the Ancient World Lesson Plans
Technology of the ancient world lesson plans can open students' eyes to the influence of early innovations.
Curated OER
Oral History
Young scholars interview a Native Elder to learn about oral history and cold weather. In this weather lesson, students ask an Elder about the coldest day they remember in their community and complete two worksheets for the topic.
Curated OER
Elders Predict Snow
Young scholars interview Native Indians to learn their ways for predicting and measuring snowfall. In this weather measurement lesson, students invite a Native Elder to their classroom to tell them about how they predicted weather. Young...
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Different Environments
Students read literature selection, discuss habitat, divide habitats into different categories such as water, soil, and land, list animals that live in each habitat, and describe habitats using descriptive words in vocabulary list.
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DNA: The Search for the Genetic Material
Students study the history of DNA and how to extract it. In this genetic lesson students complete a DNA experiment using bacteria.
Curated OER
Different Types Of Bugs
First graders create their own bug that contain the different characteristics that a bug can have. In this bugs lesson plan, 1st graders first list 3 - 5 characteristics before they create their bug.
Curated OER
Dinosaurs 1: Where Are the Dinosaurs?
Students explore dinosaurs. In this dinosaur identification activity, students watch video clips for different dinosaurs from the Discovery Kids website. Students discuss the clips with their teacher. Students may then role play the...
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Norman Suburban Activity
Students analyze the factors affecting organisms in the pond ecosystem. In this environmental science lesson, students perform an experiment to determine pH, nutrients and temperature of different pond sites. They present their result to...