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Regulating the Harvest
Students study the effect of trapping in the Illinois Territory in 1805 and compare it to trapping today. They participate in a role playing activity in which they discover how practices in early Illinois Territory led to wildlife...
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The Intertidal Zone
Students research the diverse animal and plant life that inhabit the intertidal zones along the Pacific rocky coast. As students progress through this lesson, they begin to recognize distinct behaviors, adaptations, and characteristics...
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Habitat Dynamics
Students develop an interactive diary to record bird seed consumption. In this habitat lesson, students predict and record the amount of birdseed eaten each week by birds.
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Exploring the Beach
Young scholars explore the beach. In this marine habitat lesson, students inspect sand grains, design beach profiles, classify marine life, and examine natural beach habitats. Young scholars use spreadsheets to record data from their...
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Lesson Plan: Global Warming
Students explore the concept of global warming. In this climate change instructional activity, students explore the provided links to PBS NOW sources and research the greenhouse effect and the effects of global warming. Students...
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Why Are Thinning Trees Important?
Students investigate thinning trees and why they are important to the forest. In this sustainable environment lesson, students role-play as if they are trees in the forest and simulate the overcrowding and inability to move spaces,...
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Finding the Basal Area of a Forest Plot to Determine Stocking Levels
Young scholars use graphs and plots to measure the basal area and stocking levels. In this graphing instructional activity students work in the field the use their data to help them complete a lab activity.
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Eyes on the Estuaries
Students study estuaries and compare several ones in the U.S. In this estuary lesson plan students interpret data and compare the distribution of different species.
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Saving the Bay
Students investigate water pollution prevention. In this ecology wastewater lesson, students activate prior knowledge about sewage, then view a video explaining the waste water sewage system used in the San Francisco Bay area. Students...
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Carbon Dioxide Heats It Up
Learners design an investigation to test whether vegetation in an area helps regulate the ambient air temperature. They make comparisons between the investigation and global changes in climate. In groups, they present their findings to...
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Comparing Two Turtles
Students compare and contrast the various observable features of two different turtles. in groups, they complete a visual analysis of the sea turtle and tortoise. Using their observations, they complete Venn Diagram of the observable...
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Ecology Vocabulary Exercise: Wetlands
In this ecology vocabulary exercise: wetlands instructional activity, learners read the definitions of 8 words, then categorize a species found in a wetland in their region. This page has numerous links to helpful web resources.
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Seeds of Wetland Life
Students participate in several activities on seed exploration. In this biology lesson, students classify seeds according to their dispersal method. They explain the different adaptations plant have to disperse their seeds.
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Wildlife Habitat
Students explain what a habitat is and describe its four elements. They see how an area's habitat suitability varies with different species of wildlife. They name factors that affect habitat suitability.
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Taxonomy
In this biology worksheet, students complete a crossword puzzle with 39 questions on taxonomy. They identify the different classification systems used in biology.
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PERIODICAL CICADA SURVIVAL
Students explore defense mechanisms involved in predatory/prey relationships.
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Gone Fishing
Students examine the effects of various methods of fishing on fish populations and biodiversity. They read a handout, participate in a simulation of different fishing methods, record the results, and answer discussion questions.
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ProjectWILD Aquatic: Migration Headache
Young scholars explore the important factors that affect habitat quality and the associated survival of migratory water bird populations. They discuss an organisms dependency upon a variety of habitats and habitat quality. Students play...
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Estuarine Habitats
Sixth graders study the important habitats, flora, fauna, and physical factors of coastal habitats. They compare the aquatic habitats to terrestrial habitats by researching and completing tables with the information.
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Relating Number of Insect Species to Water Quality
Students are asked to respond to questions such as:" Have there been surveys of the area to inventory the species?" (For example, for a wetland area, do they know what amphibians live there and how abundant they are?) Are there any...
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Effects Of Natural Disasters On Environment
Students investigate the concept of how natural disasters effect the environment. They conduct research using a variety of resources. They are given a scenario that needs a defensive speech. Students take a position and defend it by...
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Principles of Ecology
In this ecology worksheet, students will fill in a graphic organizer showing the relationship organisms have with their environments and with each other. This includes biotic and abiotic factors, tropic levels, and ecological pyramids....
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Indiana Tornado Project
Learners become familiar with the use of GIS for research, natural phenomena in Indiana, and analyzing collected information.