Curated OER
Ecological Pyramids
Students apply the ecological pyramids of numbers and biomass with an activity using topographic maps. In this trophic level lesson, students work in groups using a topographic map to determine the number of organisms that can live in an...
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Simulating the Effects of Biodegradable Wastes on Dissolved Oxygen
Students evaluate the relationship between biodegradable waste and dissolved oxygen in water. In this biodegradable wastes instructional activity students complete a lab activity in groups then analyze their results.
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Adopt A Twig
Sixth graders explore leafless twigs and identify leaf buds. In this forest resources activity students complete a lab activity that shows them how to identify tree and leaf identification.
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A Walk in the Woods
Eighth graders observe and identify the different levels of the forest. In this forest zones lesson students observe, identify and name a variety of forest components and describe how humans impact the forest ecosystem.
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Speed of a Forest Stream
Students study stream speed. In this stream speed lesson students complete an activity and formulate an opinion and study its effects.
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Leaf Arrangement: Kinetic Cognitive Connections
Students use critical thinking to identify leaf patterns. In this problem solving activity, student compare leaf patterns by "acting out" the positions and structures they see. This is a kinetic lesson plan where concepts are attained...
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Water Quality
Students examine water quality and how to improve it, how to measure it and how it relates to human activities. In this water quality instructional activity students sample water from different sources, and test the samples.
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Must We Shoot Bambi?
Students explore the deer population. In this environmental lesson, students participate in a hands-on activity to better understand the concept of controlling the deer population.
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The Sonoran Desert
Little learners examine a map of the southwestern United States and identify the Sonoran Desert. They locate different cities and rivers, determining whether or not each is found within this special ecosystem. A student handout is...
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Groundwater as Part of the Water Cycle
Ninth graders study the effects of soil and rocks on filtering groundwater. In this groundwater lesson students complete a lab activity that includes sources of contamination.
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White-tailed Deer Issues
Ninth graders examine the white tail deer population in Pennsylvania and explore the impacts that the deer have on the flora and fauna. In this white-tail deer lesson students complete an activity and graph their results.
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Sea Level Trends ~ Ocean Front Property: An "Immerging" Market
Young oceanographers take a look at sea level data from several cities over a few centuries. They use the data to fuel a discussion about what kind of changes are taking place and the impact they are having on the coastal ecosystems....
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Earth Water Distribution and Water Consumption
Young scholars explore the need for conserving fresh water and understand that it is a limited supply. In this water consumption lesson students participate in an activity and answer questions.
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Identifying Pennsylvania Watersheds
Ninth graders study and identify the six major drainage systems in Pennsylvania. For this watershed lesson students read an article, complete an activity and take a quiz on what they learned.
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"Potato Mountain": Reading/Understanding Topographic Maps
Middle schoolers investigate how to read topographic maps. In this map reading lesson students complete a topographic map activity.
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Is there a Doctor in the Treehouse?
Students investigate the afflictions of trees and compare the health of a human to that tree. In this tree lesson plan students complete an activity and create and present a report.
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Steps for Taking a Cutting for Your Own Forest at Home
Young scholars study renewable and nonrenewable resources and take a hardwood cutting. In this hands on activity students learn what rooting hormones are, how they generate roots and then take their own cutting and root...
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Leaf Pack Study
Young scholars conduct an experiment using leaf packs. For this leaf lesson students complete an activity in groups and complete a handout.
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The Turkey Web
Students identify habitat and feeding habits of the wild turkey. In habitat and diet instructional activity students view a demonstration, complete an activity then follow turkey sign.
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If You Mess With A Wetland, At Least Try to Make Amends!
Eighth graders examine the role of wetlands in an ecosystem. In groups, they use the internet to research how humans have disturbed and ruined the effectiveness of wetlands throughout the country. They pretend they are in charge of...
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A Tale of Two Wetlands
Students observe 2 separate wetlands (following downloadable worksheets) and record 10 similarities and 10 differences between them. Then they present their recommendations to the class who roleplay the government's wetland conservation...
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Wetlands Field Trip
Seventh graders used aquatic nets and other equipment to sample organisms in the lake -made plaster casts of footprints found around the edges of the lake -used reference materials to identify all organisms collected -filled out an...
Curated OER
The Wetlands
Complete a comparison of the wetlands found in New York and Louisiana. Using various research methods, gather data on the wetlands found in New York and Louisiana, the animals, conditions, etc. Data is used to create a brief report on...
Chicago Botanic Garden
Calculating Your Ecological Footprint
You can lower your ecological footprint by recycling! Lesson four in this series of five has individuals, through the use of a computer, calculate their ecological footprints. Through discussions and analysis they determine how many...