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Prairies
Students identify the basic characteristics of the prairie ecosystem, and several commonly known prairie species. They create a classroom mural of a prairie ecosystem; and create reports about what they have found out.
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Major Functions
Seventh graders investigate the basic characteristics and needs of living things. They identify the major parts of plants and animals by making lists. Students focus upon one living thing and speculate how if one part is changed how it...
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Amazon Rainforest Conservation, Brazil
Students explore rain forests. In this rain forest lesson, students participate in a "BioBlitz" of their schoolyard, observing and recording every living thing in a designated area. Students visit websites about rain forests...
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A Rainbow Under the Sea: How Do Animals Survive in the Ocean?
Second graders, with adult help, create a PowerPoint presentation on a selected ocean animal.
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Building a Butterfly Garden
Students examine the habitat and life cycle of a butterfly. In this early childhood lesson plan, students identify the parts of a butterfly, as well as the stages of the butterfly life cycle. Students also plant a garden in which they...
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S-O-I-L Soil
Fifth graders research soil, its nutrients, and plant growth. In this soil lesson, 5th graders create soil journals, trace flowers, and include nutrient information on each petal. Students read an excerpt from "McBroom Tells the Truth."...
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Animal Adaptations
Learners will participate in classroom discussions and visit a website to learn more about animals and how well (or poorly) they've adapted to satisfying their needs in their natural habitats. This will help move them toward the goal, in...
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Fabulous Fossils
Seventh graders investigate how fossils are formed and discuss how scientists determine the appearance of ancient plants and animals. They make fossils of everyday objects for others to identify. They make spreadsheets to display fossil...
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Habitat Mural
Young scholars build a collage of an ecosystem. The goal is for them to understand interactions in a community, plant and animal adaptations, and how all life depends on plants. This activity is based on Wump World and students describe...
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Winter Survival
Students examine what animals need in order to survive. In this investigative lesson students play a "role" of an animal in winter.
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Summer Camp in the Classroom
Students explore wildlife plants and summer activities. In this natural science instructional activity, students identify plants and animals and create a scrapbook of their findings.
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The Intertidal Zone
Students research the diverse animal and plant life that inhabit the intertidal zones along the Pacific rocky coast. As students progress through this lesson plan, they begin to recognize distinct behaviors, adaptations, and...
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Dinosaurs 2: What Were Dinosaurs Like?
Students compare and contrast dinosaurs to animals that are alive today through basic research.
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Wegener and Plate Tectonics: A Hands-On Lesson
Students are introduced to and experiment with the basic concepts of plate tectonic theory as well as assess the history of the theory of plate tectonics. They explain and illustrate the basic concepts through diagrams and models of...
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Strawberry DNA extraction
Students study the basic function of DNA and then extract it from strawberries. In this DNA extraction instructional activity students examine DNA and see why the extraction of it is so important to scientists.
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Fish Haunts
Middle schoolers examine some of the different ecosystems that fish live in. While doing this they identify the species of fish and the ecological conditions needed for survival. Students use research resources to make fish cards that...
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Look at Those Seeds Grow!
Students explore plant science by participating in a botany activity. In this seed growth instructional activity, students identify the necessary elements to ensure a plant grows well and prepare seeds for planting. Students plant their...
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Habitat Preservation Project
Students demonstrate what happens when nature takes back land after humans have managed it. They find an area in the schoolyard, and mark it off with a boundary. Students build a simple fence with string and stakes. They put up a sign...
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Explore the Food Web
Young scholars identify plants and animals in the journals of Lewis and Clark's expedition. They describe the various animal habits. Students interpret the behaviors of the animals discovered on the expedition. They design a food web...
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Learning From Leaves: Adaptation Scavenger Hunt
Young scholars participate in an adaptation scavenger hunt at. They obtain various plant specimens, and sort the plants based on whether they came from a desert, tropical rainforest, or wetlands.
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Polar Biomes
Second graders research the animals, climate, and plant life in both of the Polar regions. They explore a variety of websites and complete a WebQuest. Students complete a chart, view a PowerPoint presentation, and answer true/false...
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Plant Growth
First graders investigate how seeds are moved and how plants grow. In this plant growth instructional activity, 1st graders listen to stories, play a game, and view a PowerPoint about plant growth. Students examine various seeds...
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Lewis and Clark
Ninth graders study the plants and animals Lewis and Clark discovered on their expedition. There is a plant illustrator, a plant recorder, an animal illustrator, and an animal recorder. They research the plants and animals and the ...
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Winer Survival
Students study how animals need water, food, shelter, and space to survive. They also study what animals need to survive in the winter. They play the part of animals and winter "threats" in a game of tag to reinforce concepts.