Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What Does Earth Day Mean? - Biology Teaching Thesis

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students possible sources of water pollution, and explain the effects that water pollution can have on the food on the food chain. They Name human and other animal (i.e. fish) illnesses that can be contracted from drinking polluted...
Lesson Plan
Rainforest Alliance

Investments in Forest Carbon

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
One hundred metric tons of CO2 can accumulate in one acre of forest over time—that's a lot of carbon! In the activity, groups of middle school learners determine what makes forests important. They then solidify the concept by using a...
Lesson Plan
Consortium for Ocean Science Exploration and Engagement (COSEE)

Understanding the Food Web

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Building on prior knowledge of the pervious instructional activity in the series, pupils explain the previous instructional activity to each other. Then they write a simple guide for a young child to read on the same topic. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ecosytems: Water Purification

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore how ecosystems purify water and what kinds of things humans do that alter these processes. They use a website to access information on local watersheds and develop a "river" newspaper
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Matter of Survival

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders dance with inspiration from wild animals. In this creative movement lesson, 4th graders watch a video clip and then move like an animal might move in their natural surroundings.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Reading Through Rainforests

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Students investigate the concept of the rainforest through the use of nonfiction texts. The teacher reads to the class to give some information. Then they read their own books to find further information and perform the follow activities...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Children's Literature Across the Curriculum Ideas-In The Small Small Pond

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students read In The Small Small Pond by Denise Fleming. They complete a variety of cross-curricular activities surrounding the study of the pond ecosystem. Included are reading, art, math, science, writing, social studies, and library...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introducing Biodiversity

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students investigate biodiversity by creating reports with their classmates.  In this ecosystem lesson plan, students utilize the Internet to research the different types of life in our environment and different locations around the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Where in the World is..?: An ecological study

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers analyze different ecosystems from the perspective of someone from another planet. They compare different ecosystems to determine which would be suitable to inhabit. This is an interdisciplinary activity.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Flower Power

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students view examples of Robert Harris' artwork to identify and describe the ecosystems in them. In groups, they work together to discuss how ecosystems breakdown and create solutions to keep this from happening. To end the activity,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mini-Ecosystems

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students use plastic bottles to create terrariums and plant Venus Flytraps. They observe the plants and the terrariums for illustrations of the water cycle and species' adaptations to a specific environment.
Lesson Plan
Wild BC

Is Climate Change Good for Us?

For Teachers 6th - 10th Standards
Is it really that big of a deal if the global climate undergoes a little change? Young environmentalists consider this very question as they discuss in small groups the impact of different climate change scenarios on their lives,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rainforest Rescue

For Teachers 1st - 5th
Students explore threats to diversity in the Central African rainforest. They use a guided website to research animals that are threatened with extinction, examine human uses of the rainforest and think about what they can do to help...
Lesson Plan
Georgia Aquarium

The Ocean's Nursery

For Teachers 6th - 7th
Linear perspective, estuaries, and water ways converge in a science-inspired art project. The class uses what they've learned about eco-systems, estuaries, and the food chain to create scale models of a local marsh. While the lesson...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Nutrients Nutrients We Need

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders examine the six nutrients humans need to maintain good heath. In this ecosystem instructional activity, 2nd graders learn about how plants grow and compare how humans need nutrients from plants to how plants need nutrients...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water's Edge Café

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Students observe water birds feeding at a local wetland, record what they see, and construct an appropriate menu for a "Waterfowl Cafe." They also play a "flocking" game.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Environmental Exchange Box

For Teachers K - 8th
Students examine the characteristics of their own environment and compare them to another region. They prepare a box filled with items and stories about their own region, exchange the box with another class in another region, and...
Lesson Plan
Rainforest Alliance

Forests of Guatemala

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
With 90 percent of its land area covered in forests, Suriname, a country in South America, contains the largest percentage of forests throughout the world. Here is an activity that brings classmates together to learn about the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Tibetan Plateau

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Young scholars discuss the characteristics of the biosphere, with a focus on the Tibetan Plateau. They participate in a question and answer period discussing biomes and climate patterns. They compare and contrast different ecosystems.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Spinning the Eco Web

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
Students examine the components and relationships of ecoregions and ecosystem management. They define ecoregion and ecosystem, list ecoregions, and participate in a simulation that demonstrates the connections between parts of the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Animals of Julie of the Wolves

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore Arctic animal life through use of electronic resources. They discover facts about various animals that share that ecosystem with wolves.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Teeter Totter

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students explore the two types of spotted sandpipers. They create a puppet show using the spotted sandpiper from Puerto Rico and the spotted sandpiper from Alaska. Students research the habitats of the two sandpipers.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Adaptable Mandibles

For Teachers K - 8th
Students define adaptation and highlight example of adaptation in birds and other animals. They study feeding techniques of seabirds and investigate the effect that trash has on wildlife.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Invasive Species

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners use the Internet to research non-native plants that exist in their local community. Using this information, they analyze the invasive species effect on their environment. In groups, they plan and execute their own project to...