University of Minnesota
Mirroring Emotions
Do you ever give your class the "teacher look"? Without saying a word, they become silent and engaged (hopefully). How do they know what you're thinking? Explore the concept of nonverbal communication and how it relates to our mirror...
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Activity 1: The Effect of Cold on Characteristics Important to Fishes
Students explore how organisms are adapted to live in the ultimate of extreme environments. They discuss the reasons for the similarities and differences between them, themselves, and the more familiar organisms around them. Students are...
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Pond 1: Pond Life
Learners work together to investigate familiar and unfamiliar ecosystems. Using the internet, they discover how different organisms use their environment to satisfy their needs. They also examine the relationshiops between organisms...
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Urban Safari: A Walk on the Wild Side
Students discover the urban ecosystem through a series of activities. They explore both the biotic and abiotic factors of the urban environment.
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Mississippi Gulf Coast Islands
Fourth graders complete a variety of exercises as they study the creation, history, and geography of the Mississippi coastal islands. They discover the natuaral forces that act on the islands and how these forces affect the habitats and...
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Motte Rimrock Reserve: Lesson Plan for Flora
Students study the flora of Motte Rimrock Reserve while observing organisms in their natural environment. They use a dichotomous key to identify plants.
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Survival of the Fishes
Students study the aquatic environment in which largemouth bass are able to survive. They participate in a mystery animal activity based on their own basic needs to determine the identity of the largemouth bass.
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How To Get Clear On Water
Tenth graders investigate different systems that are used to purify water. They have class discussion about the benefits and challenges that different countries would face with the implementation of the systems. Students explain the...
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The Brown Pelican Experts
Fifth graders compare and contrast adaptations of brown pelicans and examine how they survive in different environments. They also make predictions of some adaptations that could be needed in certain types of ecosystems.
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Will they grow?
Third graders plant seeds and see how they will grow in a specific temperature and are questioned about different environments and how they think crops would grow there. They form a hypothesis, perform an experiment, and then collect...
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Spaced Out
Students are introduced to the space environment. This lesson covers the major differences between the environment on Earth and that of outer space and the engineering challenges that arise because of these discrepancies. In order to...
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Pollution
First graders identify and discuss different kinds and sources of of pollution. They explain why it is important to keep the environment free of pollution. They make a poster depicting the dangers of pollution and make litter boxes.
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Ecosystems of the World
Learners are able to list different ecosystems and describe their environment and organisms. They have an understanding about the function and balance of the ecosystems. Students are able to tell what type of ecosystem the St. Mary's...
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Ecosystem Field Trip
Learners investigate the different seeds and plants that are part of the Millcreek ecosystem. They take a field trip to the ecosystem and complete activities using the plants that are indigenous to the area.
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Exploring the Natural World of the Balkan Peninsula
Students explore the different habitats in the Balkan peninsula. In this ecology instructional activity, students research about a species and create a 3D diorama of its environment. They present project in class and share their research...
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Would You Like A Desert With That?
Young scholars explore the four different deserts in the United States and their characteristics. They discuss the four different types of deserts in United States and their characteristics, and locate them on a map.
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Where in the World? Biomes of the Earth
Students research a biome. In this biomes of the Earth lesson, students discuss what they already know about ecology and view pictures of different biomes. Students work in groups to research a different biome. Students use the...
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Comparing and Contrasting a Desert Reptile and a Rainforest Mammal
First graders compare and contrast two different type of animals while also making predictions, observations, and asking provocative questioning. In this compare and contrast lesson, 1st graders acquire knowledge about why some animals...
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Alaska
Fourth graders explore how humans adapt to variations in physical environment, compare how people in different communities adapt to or modify the physical environment and identify and compare the human characteristics of selected regions.
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Earth: Land Use Picture Project
Students explore how changes in human land use are impacting local environments. They also explore some of the social impacts of various land uses in their area. They identify and discuss some social impacts of the different land uses.
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Ecology and Evolution
Students identify the different taxonomic classifications of organisms. For this biology lesson, students create their own organisms and make some changes according to environmental conditions. They present their work in class.
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My Life As An Insect In Namib
Students examine the harsh living environment of the Namib Desert. They watch and discuss a video, record the types of insects observed in the video, record information about insects and animal adaptations in their science journals, and...
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Water, Water Everywhere (Pond Animals)
Second graders examine the characteristics of animals who live in a pond environment. In groups, they describe the various stages in the life of a frog and identify the characteristics of other pond animals. Using this information,...
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Make it a habitat
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...