Curated OER
How Does Your Garden Grow?
Students create a design for a school garden. For this garden design lesson, students analyze what plants grow best in their school's climate and work in teams to design a garden. Students measure the existing space, determine the...
City University of New York
Energy: Characteristics of Life
An explanation of types of energy, how living things use energy and how they can convert energy forms. This is a good, basic, start to studying this characteristic of life.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: 7th Grade Life Science at the Observatory: Life Throughout the Universe
This lesson is used to review basic concepts of Life Science and to utilize that knowledge by making the students think about and wonder if there is life somewhere else in the universe and what that life would be like.
Alabama Learning Exchange
Alex: Creating a Life Form
In this particular lesson plan, the students will create an unknown life form and planet. The creation of the life forms will begin at the chemical level and be explained throughout the levels of organization to the level of organism....
BioEd Online
Bio Ed Online: Needs of Living Things: Post Assessment
A post-assessment at the end of a unit on the needs of living things. The lesson materials can be downloaded in PDF format.
BioEd Online
Bio Ed Online: Needs of Living Things: Pre Assessment
This is a pre-assessment to be done at the beginning of a unit on the needs of living things. Students draw themselves and what they need to survive. The lesson can be downloaded in PDF format.
Other
Miami University: Cellular Nature of Life?
Basic information about cells in an outline form. Gives good information in an abbreviated format.
BioEd Online
Bio Ed Online: Living Things and Their Needs: Animals' Needs
Students learn about the basic needs of animals by creating and observing a worm terrarium. The lesson and student worksheets can be downloaded in PDF format.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Biology: Basics of Biology Study Guide
This comprehensive study guide covers the main terms and concepts needed for a biology unit.
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Redwoods at Redwood National Park
This video segment from NatureScene describes the characteristics of redwood trees at Redwood National Park. [4:02]
Georgia Department of Education
Ga Virtual Learning: The Hero's Journey: Life's Great Adventure, Reg Harris[pdf]
This is the three-page PDF article "The Hero's Journey: Life's Great Adventure" by Reg Harris which outlines the characteristics of the journey motif in literature including the basic eight-step journey pattern.
Other
Biology at Shaw High School: What Do Living Things Need to Survive?
Discusses the interrelatedness of all living things and of ecosystems and biomes, and what organisms need to survive and to maximize the carrying capacity of an ecosystem. This explanation is followed by a series of activities including...
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Nature Cat: Story Exploration Packet (Spanish)
Mientras ven Nature Cat, utilice estas herramientas para guiar las discusiones y actividades de aprendizaje. Tally ho!
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Nature Cat: Story Exploration Packet
As you watch Nature Cat, use these tools to guide discussions and learning activities. Includes printables on story elements, alternate endings, vocabulary words, character traits, an episode map, and a Venn diagram.
San Diego Zoo Global
San Diego Zoo: Reptiles
What is a reptile? Use this resource to understand the basic facts of all reptiles and click to detailed information on many specific types.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Life Science: Evolution Acts on the Phenotype
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Natural selection acts on the phenotype (traits or characteristics) of an individual. On the other hand, natural selection does not act on the underlying genotype...
Alabama Learning Exchange
Alex: Introduction to Biology: Organisms
This lesson introduces basic biology principles and the characteristics of living organisms.
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Primitive Insects of the Congaree Swamp
In this video segment from NatureScene, observe dragonflies and mayflies near Cedar Creek at Congaree Swamp National Park. [5:25]
Estrella Mountain Community College
Online Biology Book: The Nature of Science and Biology
Use the scientific reasoning and critical thinking to take an in-depth look at the basics of biology.
Other
Sea and Sky: Marine Reptiles
An informative site from Sea and Sky that contains basic characteristics along with a number of beautiful pictures of the common marine reptiles.
Canadian Museum of Nature
Canadian Museum of Nature: Least Weasel
Get to know the Least Weasel.. colored photos, description, life cycle, map of habitat, food. Only the basic details of this animal are given, making this site perfect for younger researchers.
University of Michigan
University of Michigan: Viruses
This resource offers an outline of basic virus characteristics, including the reproductive process for viruses.
NASA
Nasa: The Basics of Ocean Chemistry: Carbon, Circulation, and Critters
An explanation of ocean chemistry, supported by illustrations, for example, of the global carbon cycle in the 1980s and the annual carbon dioxide flux. The concentration of nutrients in the ocean is discussed for its impact on marine...
Michigan Reach Out
Reach Out Michigan: Being Alive
This site provides a basic lesson plan that classifies objects as alive or not alive. Good for early elementary.