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Enrichment Activities - "Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH"
Fifth graders read the novel "Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH."  They discuss the various characters in the book, and the different types of conflict that take place within the book.  They also research owls and rats to make comparisons...
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Forest Ecology or Who Lives Here?
Students explore a hardwood forest. In this forest ecology lesson, students examine the diversity and animals and plants as they explore their habitats at Poricy Park Conservatory. Students determine how biodiversity and abiotic elements...
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Data Analysis: bird habitats in rice farms
Fifth graders make a graph and write an essay to interpret the data of birds that take advantage of habitats near rice farms. In this data lesson plan, 5th graders calculate the information given to them and interpret it in an essay form.
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Habitats and Deep Sea Environments
Pupils examine and identify the characteristics of the four zones of the ocean.  They discover the amount of diversity in marine habitats.  They also explore the adaptations organisms have that have allowed them to survive.
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Illnois River and Lake Mussel Habitat Diorama Activity
Students identify the environmental elements of river and lake mussels. They compare the elements to the time before settlement and during industrialization. They also participate in a field trip to a mussel exhibit.
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Who Takes Care of the Maya Forest Corridor?
First graders study the animals in the Maya Forest Reserve. In this conservation instructional activity, 1st graders create a graph to compare the environment of animals to their own. They design a 3D model of these two environments.
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Rainfall Mapping
Students explore rainfall and habitats. In this rainfall lesson, students explore the relationships among rainfall, vegetation, and animal habitats. Resources are provided.
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Habitats and Adaptations
Learners research and describe the habitat and adaptations of a reef animal.  After the student is assigned a habitat, they design and draw a cresture adapted to eat each food and to live in each habitat.
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What is Cacao?
Students use the Internet to learn about the cacao plant.  In this plants instructional activity, students complete a KWL chart on chocolate, learn about cocoa plants and discuss the parts of a plant.  Students use the Internet...
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Habitats
Students complete food chains for organisms in three environments. They use copies of the Habitat worksheet. Students review the food chain terms with the teacher. They research related food chains, and interlink these to form a food...
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The Living Environment
Students use a spoon, clothespin, scissors, and toothpicks to simulate how animals get food in their environment. In this environment lesson plan, students learn about the adaptations animals make in order to survive.
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Hawaiian Natives Disappear
Students explore parts of the Hawaiian Islands to get a examine the exotic invasion, and see what challenges the natives face in reclaiming their territory. They identify the changes in the environment that have been the hardest on the...
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Ecosystem Interactions in Refuges
Seventh graders, using national parks as  models, illustrate the energy flow in ecosystems.  Working in groups, they use murals, flow charts, or other visual displays to record their findings.  Students represent the food chains and webs...
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Health and growth
Students examine ways for people to stay healthy, such as exercising and eating right.
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Earth, Sun, and Moon
Students participate in a demonstration and complete an online activity that illustrates the earth orbits the sun once a year, and that the moon takes approximately 28 days to orbit the earth.
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Rocks and Soils
Young scholars compare the properties of rocks and relate these properties to their use. They perform a virtual experiment to describe and group rocks on the basis of their characteristics.
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Reversible and irreversible changes
Students experiment with solids and liquids to find which solids will dissolve in water. This dissolution and mixtures lesson can be completed online or in class as all materials are connected to the lesson plan for both settings.
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Sorting and Using Materials
Students explore materials and their properties. For this matter lesson, students identify objects and describe their properties. Students test and sort materials using an interactive whiteboard, followed by a group discussion of what...
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Mountains
Explore the mountain habitat with this collection of slides. The climate is described, along with the associated plant and animal life. Some of the pictures are attractive, but some leave much to be desired. There is a generous amount of...
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Habitats of the World
Students complete a unit of eighteen lessons that cover climate, geography, location, plants, and animals of each of the five habitats. They are also introduced to habitat destruction and discuss ways to protect the environment. They do...
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Animal and People Habitats
Students examine how animals create a unique space in which they can live. Students read a poem about animals' habitats discuss the habitats. They draw a space of their own and write a poem that describes their habitat.
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Pond and Pond Organisms
Students explore pond ecosystems.  In this pond organism activity, students will use pond water and a plastic bad in order to locate and identify freshwater organisms.  The activity is designed for younger grades, but...
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A Natural Habitat: What, How and Why
Students understand what a habitat is. They determine why a habitat is important to our environment no matter where it is located. Students observe and recognize natural habitats in their surroundings.
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Animal Habitats
In this habitat instructional activity, 3rd graders will focus on the four different habitats of plants and animals.  Students will receive color photographs of the rainforest, desert, coral reef, and grasslands.