Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Charlotte and Her Relatives Visit the Classroom: Spider Activities, Experiments and Projects

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students compare and contrast different spider species that they capture and maintain in the classroom for several days. They identify and research the species characteristics and living requirements then conduct an experiment on spider...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Role of Cerci in Escape Responses of the Cockroach

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners investigate the changes in escape behavior in Madagascar Hissing Cockroahes when their sensory apparatus is removed. They use puffs of air at differnt angles to simulate a predator's approach then collect and analyze data on...
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

Invent an Insect

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Explore biology by researching adaptation. First, learners research and define a list of insect vocabulary terms and discuss the benefits of each insect characteristic. They then utilize a worksheet to create their own insect and share...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Chain Reaction

For Teachers 9th - 11th
Students study animal behavior and how it changes to its environment.  In this animal lesson students design and conduct experiments.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sexual Selection in the Animal Kingdom

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars research how sexual selection plays a role in driving evolution. They experiment how variation exists within not just obvious physical traits, but metabolically and behaviorally. They write a letter describing a problem,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Two Way Causality in Ecosystems

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students complete various activities in order to explain that ecosystems are complex and that animal behavior (mainly that of a predator) is not necessarily intentional or bad.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Animal Communication

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers understand that all species have some capacity for communication. Students are exposed to the fact that all species have a capacity for communication. They are enlighten to the fact that communication abilities range...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Cloud in the Classroom

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students describe the relationship between animals and humans. For this biology lesson, students research about the history of horses in America. They present a mock news broadcast about their research.
Lesson Plan
Virginia Department of Education

Adaptation and Evolution

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Um may be the atomic symbol for confusion, but it won't be needed in this lesson. Scholars rotate through seven stations completing experiments, hands-on activities, writing exercises, and analysis. Stations include material on...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Pets: Oh Behave

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Young scholars develop an understanding of how innate and learned behaviors and the environment determine behavior. They see how a variety of factors affects our pet's behavior-including species-specific traits, the environment,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

From Wolf to Dog

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Learners explain how dogs evolved from wolves based on the video. In this biology lesson, students research about breeding animals for specific traits. They interview dog owners and create a presentation about the dog.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduction to Lumbriculus variegatus

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students conduct two set experiments on Lumbriculus worms and create a third experiment of their own. The first of the two set experiments allows students to observe regeneration of the worms while the second allows students to test the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Nature Superfish

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students study the behavior or ocean animals called  billfish. In this life science lesson, students create their own documentary about a local animal. They share their videos with the entire school.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Hawaii's Freshwater Animals - Species Report

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students explore biology by creating a report for the class. In this oceanography instructional activity, students research and identify the survival characteristics of a list of freshwater animals by utilizing the Internet and library....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What Makes a Cat a Cat?

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Young scholars investigate the lives of pets by videotaping them.  In this animal life activity, students videotape a cat and other pets using school cameras in a computer lab.  Young scholars review the footage from the cat...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Wildlife Track Identification

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Even though the PowerPoint slides for this lesson are not included, you may find it useful for the wildlife track preservation instructions provided. After demonstrating the steps for making track casts, take your class outdoors to make...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Territorial Behavior in Dragonflies and Damselflies

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore dragonfiles/damselfiles and their behaviors. They examine their differences and their life cycles. Students observe the dragonflies in a field and determine the number of different species.
Lesson Plan
NOAA

Deep-Sea Ecosystems – Cool Corals

For Teachers 7th - 8th Standards
Young oceanographers research deep sea corals that thrive on chemosynthesis. The lesson plan focuses on the biology of the animal, preferred habitat, associations, and interactions.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Fish Eyes - More than Meets the Eye

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Inform your class about the adaptations in fish eyes: cones, lens size, endothermy, and speed of vision. The adaptations are related to diving behavior. Junior marine scientists compare the adaptations of four different fish species to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Pets: Oh Behave

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students develop an understanding of how innate and learned behaviors and the environment determine behavior.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Intertidal Zone

For Teachers 7th - 12th
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...
Lesson Plan
National Center for Case Study Teaching in Science

A Deadly Passion

For Teachers 10th - Higher Ed
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...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Who's Range is it?

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students investigate the habits of panthers by analyzing radio transmitted data.  In this animal life lesson, students utilize computers to view the range of different statistics dealing with Florida panthers.  Students...