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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Limiting Factors for Populations

For Teachers 7th - 10th
The "Bottled Bacteria" activity instructions are a bit unclear, but the remaining activities investigating limiting factors in ecosystems are well-written. Learners model the exosystem of a bear and a herd of deer. They set up a...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Composting

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Using 2-liter bottles, junior ecologists create composting tubes in which they place nitrogen-rich and carbon-rich materials. They observe what changes occur over two weeks' time. Provide more specific direction to your class as to what...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Biosphere

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students examine the basic biosphere and its components.  In this ecology lesson plan students complete several experiments including designing a system that is balanced to sustain life.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Wild Thing!

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders view several segments of the video, "How Animals Survive." They discuss elements of survival. Students list living and nonliving things found in their backyards and schoolyards. Students work in groups to complete the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Food Chains And Webs

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students investigate the concept of soil and all its components. They collect samples from a local site and transplant it into a terrarium. Students identify the organic elements, clay ,silt, and other forms of debris. They also identify...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Soda Bottle Compost: Nutrient Cycling in Action

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Learners investigate, through their own experimentation, the important role wildlife play in nutrient cycling. Earthworms and compost are used in this experiment and different experimental setups be evaluated.
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Activity
American Museum of Natural History

Feed the Birds

For Students 6th - 12th Standards
What kinds of birds are common in the area? Young scientists use household supplies to create bird feeders. They then document the birds that come to their feeders by keeping journals. 
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Activity
PBS

Wetland Band

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Create an animal chorus as learners explore the sights and sounds of the wetlands. Individuals begin by listening to the animal calls of local frog and toad species. They then try to replicate the variety of sounds using common items and...
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Lesson Plan
Science Matters

Energy Flow

For Teachers 3rd - 5th Standards
Budding scientists work collaboratively to reenact energy flow in a food chain. Scholars take on roles such as producer and consumer and perform tasks that symbolize energy flow in order to provide evidence of how much energy passes...
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Website
American Museum of Natural History

Ask a Scientist About Our Environment

For Students 6th - 12th
Scientists respond to 26 question posed by learners. These experts answer in easy to understand language, include photos to illustrate the issue, offer suggestions for how young people can make a difference, and supply links to resources...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What do Earthworms Like to Eat?

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students encounter three ecosystems for earth worms prior to performing an experiment. It will introduce students to one form of ecosystem as well as demonstrate how earthworms and the foods they eat affect the environment in which they...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Biome Bazaar

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students construct 3-D biomes. The ultimate goal of this activity is to allow students to be official tour guides and to teach one another about biomes, environmental responsibilities, habitats, and human roles in the various ecosystems.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Symphony of Decomposers

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students discover decomposition. In this environmental lesson, students explore different types of decomposers and their role within the ecosystem. Students also discover how waste interferes with the decomposition process.
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Activity
US Environmental Protection Agency

Non-Point Source Pollution

For Teachers 4th - 7th
Investigate the different types of pollution that storm drain runoff carries into oceans, lakes, rivers, and streams with this class demonstration. Using an aquarium and an assortment of everyday items that contaminants like motor oil,...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

"Habitats"

For Teachers K - 5th
Young scholars complete a unit of lessons on animals and animal conservation. They observe a square meter of ground outside the school, set up a model environment, analyze an owl pellet, grow bread mold, and explore various websites.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Does a change in pH affect the growth and survival rate of aquatic plants?

For Teachers 9th - 11th
Students determine if changes in pH affect the growth and survival rates of aquatic plants. They evaluate the optimal pH levels for the growth of aquatic plants.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Erosion

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders study the effects of running water on erosion. They examine how the soil on the playground is affected by erosion and determine how the placement of trees and shrubs changes the path of erosion. In their science journals,...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Magic School Bus Spins a Web

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students learn along with Ms. Frizzle's class. For this Magic School Bus lesson plan, students explore the world of spiders as they travel into a science fiction film to learn the truth about spiders.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Freshwater Ecosystems Closing Lesson

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers create a commercial on how to care for fresh water. In this environmental science lesson, students write a script and use materials as props in the commercial. They present it in class and share comments and feedback.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What Is In The Water?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students investigate the biotic and abiotic factors that are found in an aquatic ecosystem. The emphasis is upon the investigation of present an projections of future water quality. Then students visit a local body of water to gather...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water Quality Tests Explained

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students define all eight water quality parameters and list at list one source for each of the eight water quality parameters. They determine how each of the eight parameters affect river ecosystems.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Wetland Water Testing

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students examine the different properties that affect water quality.  For this pollution lesson students play a game, complete a hands on activity and computer lab. 
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Watersheds and Wetlands

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Young scholars simulate a chemical spill. In this watersheds and wetlands lesson, students build a watershed and observe what happens when it rains. Young scholars add wetlands to their watershed models and examine the effects of water...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Wacky Water Critters

For Teachers 4th - 9th
Students recognize the biodiversity that exists in a wetland ecosystem. They identify individual wetland organisms. Students define, identify, and comprehend the importance of adaptations. They describe the process of metamorphosis.

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