The human body can regulate itself through sweating and resting. Learners with visual impairments discuss how the body changes when it is under stress and what it does to regulate itself. To start, kids use talking thermometers to take...

Do you eat more when you are hot or when you are cold? Young scientists observe the eating pace of two caterpillars at different temperatures. The differences in endotherm and ecotherm animals' ability to adjust to temperature change...

Investigate how temperature affects the density of water and stratification that occurs in bodies of water when temperatures vary. Water of differing temperatures is given different colors to see the layers that form. The lesson plan is...

So many bodily activities depend on homeostasis! Give learners a solid background to understand the basic process of the human body. Scholars first examine negative feedback loops contributing to body temperature regulation and then a...

Students investigate the effect of temperature on cold-blooded animals, using a 5 x 8 inch index card to represent a dinosaur as their model organism. Students measure temperature changes that occurs at different angles to a light...

Remind your middle school scientists how fox ear size varies depending on the climate they live in; large ears allow heat loss while small ears keep heat in. Discuss how a cold-blooded animal might try to regulate body temperature. Then...

Young scholars create a list of signs the human body gives during threatening weather conditions. They investigate the causes and conditions of dehydration, overheating, and hypothermia.

Here is a terrific learning game that has pupils acting like lizards! Before the game starts, there is a class discussion on the differences between endotherms and exotherms. The main focus of the game is how each team must keep...

The topic is protecting our own protective covering: the skin. In particular, the information deals with sweating as a means of temperature regulation and the need to wear clothing appropriate for allowing the process to occur. Learners...

High schoolers observe how a cell uses an enzyme to rid itself of a poisonous substance by experimenting with hydrogen peroxide, potatoes, liver and carrots. They record the temperature and changes of the hydrogen peroxide as other...

Students research real-time and historic temperature data of U.S. and world locations, and analyze the data using mean, median, and mode averages. They graph the data and draw conclusions by analyzing the data. A spreadsheet is used to...

Students make a water sampler and use proper techniques to collect water.They write a essay explaining the inter-relationship of factors such as temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, nitrates, and phosphates in a lake that might cause a...

In this nutrition worksheet, students describe what nutrient is and how the energy it has is measured. Then they explain what is meant by interconversion of molecules. Students also list the common vitamins and mineral required by the...

Young scholars examine water, its function and how much you should consume.  In this water lesson plan students study water and why it is important, how much you should drink and what its functions are in your body. 

In this muscles worksheet, pupils describe characteristics of the three types of muscle and the function of each. Then they describe the gross and microscopic anatomy of skeletal muscle. Students also describe the steps that occur in a...

Students examine how scientists are at odds on whether or not dinosaurs were warm or cold blooded.  In this dinosaurs instructional activity students divide into groups and research the evidence that supports each side. 

Students study elephants and the features they have that help to keep them cool.  In this elephants activity students research a feature of the elephant. 

Student explore factors affecting ecosystems. They test local water samples for pH level. After creating a methodology for data collection, they collect data, compare results, and draw conclusions based upon results.

Students examine the importance of the nutritional value of explorers' meals. They investigate the concepts of caloric intake vs. caloric expenditure and examine their own nutrition.

Students evaluate the nutritional value of the explorers' meals. This is done through analyzing caloric intake versus caloric expenditure, describing the trend in diet change that explorers experienced over a two year expedition, ...

Students consider the adaptation of life forms through natural selection to fill various niches and accommodate changing environmental conditions. They select an ecosystem and conduct research to provide as much detailed information as...

Mammals of the ocean unite! Or not. The 20th installment of a 23-part NOAA Enrichment in Marine sciences and Oceanography (NEMO) program investigates how warm-blooded marine mammals survive in water. In the class activity, learners use...

Students research an elephant habit and present their findings to the class. In this elephant lesson plan, students also answer short answer questions about elephant characteristics and features.

Students examine extreme environments and the characteristics that make them.  In this adaptation lesson students see how animals have adapted to these environments.