Curated OER
WHAT, IF ANYTHING, IS A ZEBRA?
Young scholars read the essay, "What, If Anything, Is a Zebra?" following a teacher made reading guide. They investigate cladistics, shared derived characteristics, with further online research to enhance their study of evolution and...
Curated OER
Vertebrates: Part I, Fishes & Amphibians
A simple set of slides shares the three classes of fish and the class amphibia. The first three slides cover fish characteristics and structure, while the last three cover amphibian characteristics and life cycle. Though somewhat...
Curated OER
Fun with Phylogenetic Trees
Tenth graders differentiate angiosperms and gymnosperms. In this biology lesson plan, 10th graders construct a musical phylogenetic tree from information they gathered on resource websites. They present their project in class.
Curated OER
The Use of Biocards for Topical Review
Students create biocards to represent vocabulary from their biology course.  They review and reinforce their basic knowledge of terminology, structures, or concepts.  They create the cards to test themselves or classmates.
Curated OER
The Different Fresh Water Ecosystems
Pupils summarize the characteristics of an ecosystem. In this biology lesson, students identify five major fresh water ecosystem. They define terms and write a journal about what they learned.
Curated OER
"Publication" of Scientific Papers And Posters
High schoolers create and display a scientific poster in the same format that scientists use at a research symposium.  They compile data and make conclusions about the classification of the Arizona Hedgehog Cactus as an endangered...
Curated OER
ABC Wide World of Animals
Fifth graders use the software Wide World of Animals. This lesson is incorporated into a science unit on animals. The unit focuses on classifying animals into kingdoms and identifying the characteristics of animals within the different...
Teach Engineering
Skeletal System Overview
It is best to know all about the skeletons in the closet. The third segment in a five-part series focuses on bone structure, development and growth, and functions. Class members connect what they learn to their study of...
Montana Natural History Center
Studying Grassland Ecosystems
At first glance, grassland ecosystems might seem dull and uninteresting, but once you start to explore it's amazing the things you'll find! Through this series of engaging lessons, activities, and experiments, elementary students examine...
Curated OER
Ecology and the St. Lawrence River
Ninth graders complete a unit of lessons on ecosystems, organism interactions, and energy flow. They create a key for known species of fish, diagram the movement of energy through an ecosystem, and create and present food chains and food...
Curated OER
Pseudogene Suite
Pupils use Biology Workbench to explore DNA sequence data for the GULOP gene in humans, chimpanzees, orangutans, and crab-eating macaques and the beta globin gene and its pseduogene in humans, gorillas, and chimpanzees.
Curated OER
The Loneliest Animals
Students examine the different species that are headed towards extinction.  In this animal population lesson students compare the causes of extinction, research an endangered species and present an oral report. 
Curated OER
SEXUAL LIFE CYCLE DEVELOPMENT USING MONOCYSTIS
Students perform a lab to becoe familar with scientific concepts. The skill of inquiry is essential and this lesson furthers its development. The intelligence of kinesthetics is used as learners perform the many aspects of this lab...
Curated OER
Evolution: Natural Selection
Students analyze and discuss the evolutionary history of dinosaurs.  In this investigative lesson students monitor different organisms in the environment and analyze the pressures that affect the chances of survival. 
Curated OER
Cell Cycle Duration
Young scholars examine the cell cycle and how its duration can vary.  In this cells lesson plan students complete a worksheet and answer questions. 
Curated OER
Trail Adventure
Students create a trail with numbered specimens. Students complete an accurate and functional interactive trail activity brochure. They complete a web page tree identification guide and interactive identification activity. Students...
Curated OER
Environmental Science/Water Pollution
Students study natural habitats, aquatic life, renewable and non-renewable resources. They discuss conservation efforts for sea otters and desert toad in this units.
Curated OER
"For the Birds" [part I]
Students identify birds that appear in Chinese and Japanese art, learning about 
their physical characteristics, classifying them according to scientific principles, and exploring their habitats and migration patterns. This is part one...
Curated OER
Show Some Backbone and Teach Invertebrates
Fifth graders identify two similarities and two differences between two phyla, assign fictitious invertebrate to its phylum and explain why it belongs in that grouping, and construct member of given phylum and explain why it should be...
Curated OER
All in the Family: Calculating Cousins
Students view pictures of distant "cousins" to humans. They place them in order by their distance from humans. Students receive a packet of six pages featuring graphics and a cousins summary page. They work in groups to complete 5 cousin...
Curated OER
Ecology
Students explore, experience and experiment identifying the human impact on the environment of vegetative differences within the same biome. They assess what causes deserts, rain forests, savannahs, tundras and saguaros and how these...
Curated OER
The Living Environment
In this living environment worksheet, learners complete a crossword puzzle given 34 clues about the various species in the environment that produce, consume and decompose. Topics also include photosynthesis, respiration, glucose, organic...
Chicago Botanic Garden
Impacts of Climate on Forest Succession
Part two in a series of four explores the effects of climate on succession or the changing of plant species in a forest. Groups review how to identify trees and then spend a day in the field collecting extensive data on trees to...
Out of Africa Wildlife Park
A Thematic Learning Guide to Lions
Written as an accompaniment to a field trip to the Out of Africa Wildlife Park in Arizona, this is an interdisciplinary, themed lesson on lions. Even if you cannot take your upper-elementary kids to this attraction, there are a few...