Curated OER
Biotechnology: An Agricultural Dilemma
Learners investigate the types of genetically modified crop plants there are and the benefits and risks of such plants. The agricultural needs in developing nations for this biological knowledge to resolve societal issues is also...
Wilderness Classroom
Ocean Life
Our oceans are composed of many complex relationships. Young oceanographers explore relationships between organisms, understand the world ocean's currents, and discover the effects of water pollution and how it behaves. There are three...
Curated OER
Exploring Three Categories of Human Induced Environmental Problems
By exploring the three categories of human-induced environmental problems students can gain a global perspective.
Howard Hughes Medical Institute
The Anthropocene: Human Impact on the Environment
Will human existence define an epoch? Many scientists think we are in a new epoch, the anthropocene, defined by humans and our impact on the environment. An online interactive demonstrates the immense impact humans have had on every part...
Curated OER
Great Blobs of Jelly!
Students explain how zoo-plankton have an impact on the global process. In this ocean zoo-plankton lesson students calculate carbon flux and plankton densities.
Curated OER
Ecology 13 Human Effects 2
Students identify and explain human effects on the environment. They explore the terms biodiversity, natural resources, ozone and global warming. After exploring all the terms , they connect technology to them and how it effects the...
Curated OER
A Coastal Arctic Food Web
Students create a food web of the arctic ecosystem. In this biology lesson, students explain how global warming affects this ecosystem. They explain how losing a species affects the entire community.
Curated OER
Climate Watch
Students participate in a national survey of biological indicators of climate change by gathering and submitting data on local plants and animals.
Curated OER
Why do we need Vitamin C in our diet? Or Why do we carry old inactive genes in our genome?
Pupils explore and explain how mutations in the DNA sequence of a gene may be silent or result in phenotypic change in an organism and in its offspring. They analyze how evolution and biodiversity are the result of genetic changes that...
Curated OER
Population Growth
High schoolers investigate the biodiversity of living things and how they are interdependent upon each other. They conduct research using a variety of resources. Specifically students create a graph to show how a population can grow in...
Curated OER
Maintaining Plant Genebanks
Students examine the use, costs, and the need for plant gene banks. The rationale for gaining ownership over scientific information and the implications of the developing nations' reliance on biotechnology is explored in this lesson.
Curated OER
Rainforest Rescue
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...
Space Awareness
Ocean Acidification
Learn the science behind ocean acidification and its effects on ocean wildlife. Young scientists conduct a laboratory investigation that monitors the acidity level of water. While burning a candle, learners capture the carbon dioxide in...
Space Awareness
Transforming Water Into Acid ... And Back
Greenhouse gases affect marine wildlife in life-threatening ways. Through experimentation, your classes explore the acidification of water from the main greenhouse gas carbon dioxide. As they introduce carbon dioxide to water, a pH...
Teach Engineering
Extinction Prevention via Engineering
It's time to save endangered species through engineering. The third lesson in a nine-part Life Science unit has young environmentalists study species extinction. An engaging discussion leads to some ideas on how to use engineering design...
Curated OER
Reflections on Earth: Exploring Planet Earth from Space
Students examine satellite images of Earth and contrast images at different scales. In this exploring Earth from space lesson plan, students use satellite images to contrast images at different scales, calculate distances from the scale...
Curated OER
The Census of Marine Life
Young scholars explain diversity and abundance in marine life. In this oceanic biology lesson plan, students collect information for various geographical areas to collect a census of marine life.
Curated OER
A Frog's Life Story
Students investigate the lives of frogs by completing several worksheets. In this biology instructional activity, students discover the life cycle of a frog from tadpole to death. Students complete frog life cycle puzzle as well as...
Curated OER
The Good, The Bad, and the Arctic
High schoolers investigate the social, economic and environmental consequences that might result from Arctic climate change. Students identify and discuss at least three consequences.
Curated OER
Paper Makers
Students make recycled paper out of scrap paper, water, and leaves. In this natural resources lesson plan, students learn about conservation of the forest and how we can use recycled paper to fuel our paper supply.
Curated OER
Climate Change Effects on Organisms and Ecosystems: You are the Experts!
Seventh graders research about the effect of climate on different ecosystems. In this life science activity, 7th graders present their research by creating a poster, infomercial, skit or song. They discuss how organisms adapt to climate...
Curated OER
Arctic cleanup
Ninth graders examine pollution problems and how it affects the community. In this arctic cleanup lesson plan students study ocean currents and how they affect pollution.
Curated OER
Natural Selection
Students use discussion questions, handout information and research topics to explore several issues related to natural selection and evolution. They examine Darwin's research on the finch and antibiotic resistance.
Curated OER
Rainforests of Madagascar: Role Playing and Decision Making
Students examine reasons for deforestation and become familiar with Madagascar and its culture, while describing biological and abiotic components of a rainforest, and looking at aspects that must be addressed to resolve the issue of...