It's About Time
Adaptations
Congratulations! You exist, thanks to the wonders of biology and adaptations. The focus of the lesson explains many adaptations of plants and animals and how the environment has influenced the process. A hands-on activity demonstrates...
Curated OER
Specialized Structures and Environment
Fifth graders read about how different animals protect themselves, and how characteristics give animals an advantage in their environment. Students then discuss a variety of "outer" wear for humans, and what they might choose to wear in...
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Where It Comes From: All About Heredity
Characteristics are not only inherited, but can be acquired through interactions with the environment.
Chicago Botanic Garden
Migration, Adaptation, and Changing Climates
It is easy for humans to adapt to changing environments, but how do animals and plants do it? Classes discuss how plants and animals deal with environmental changes in the second of seven lessons. Through questions and discussions,...
Agriculture in the Classroom
A Rafter of Turkeys
How did that turkey get from the early Aztec culture to your table? Learn about the history of wild and domesticated turkeys in North America, as well as their inclusion in Thanksgiving traditions, with a two-part agricultural science...
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Reptile Adaptations
Students research animal adaptations. In this adaptations lesson, students research the physical and behavioral adaptations of animals. Students create a diagram of their animal labeling it's adaptations.
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Create a New Animal
Students understand what physical adaptations are and how they help an animal to survive. For this adaptations lesson, students research four animals and then make an original animal that has adaptations to make them survive.
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Sibling Relationships in the Animal World
Students research sibling relationships in the animal world. In this animal science lesson, students read the book, Sisters and Brothers: Sibling Relationships in the Animal World and discuss the sibling relationships. Students choose an...
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Genetics PowerPoint
If mom is bald, will her babies be bald? Here is a practical presentation that can answer that question. Viewers can take notes on the difference between dominant and recessive genes, mutations, and heritability. A large portion of the...
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Mendellian Genetics
Students describe the inheritance patterns other than simple dominance. They are taught how Mendel's principles apply to all organisms. Students review the use of Punnett Squares. They are taught the principles of probability and...
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Pets: Oh Behave
Students develop an understanding of how innate and learned behaviors and the environment determine behavior. They see how a variety of factors affects our pet's behavior-including species-specific traits, the environment, training, and...
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Yeast: A Dihybrid Cross
Students create a yeast dihybrid cross and follow two forms of each of two traits: red growth versus cream color, and tryptophan-dependent versus tryptophan-independent. They complete diagrams to represent the alleles, predict the...
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Genetics
Students explain the difference between dominant and recessive genes, identify what causes differences in the traits of parents and their offspring, and explain how sex is determined. They will also improve their reading and...
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Yeast - A Dihybrid Cross
Students make a yeast dihybrid cross and follow two forms of each of two traits: red growth versus cream color, and tryptophan-dependent versus tryptophan-independent.
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Genetics: Mice Rule! (Or Not)
Students explore genetics and evolution by examining a hypothetical mouse population. Using coin tosses, they determine mouse traits of parents and offspring. Finally, they consider the outcomes of changing environmental conditions on...
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Animal Games
Students explore a variety of games on the Internet that will teach them about animals; they focus on the Florida panther. Students choose the activity that is of interest to them, and then rotate between the games online and the games...
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Chalkboard Challenge
In this PowerPoint, students compete in a quiz show game similar to Jeopardy in which they generate questions to match science facts in a number of categories. Science concepts covered include plants, animals, and matter. Due to the vast...
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Bringing the Rain to Kapiti Plain
Students identify the African Plains and the plants and animals that are found on the plain, which are of a benefit to humans. They listen to the story and actively participate in a choral reading of Bringing the Rain to Kapiti Plain.
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Panther Scavenger Hunt
Students research a website to learn about the Florida panther. In this animal research lesson, students use the scavenger hunt directions to search a website about Florida panthers. Students also solve word puzzles within the activity.
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Diversity and Adaptations of Organisms
Eighth graders discover how animals adapt to their surroundings. They identify physical traits and behaviors that are important to survival. They examine the results of an organism's failure to adapt.
WK Kellogg Biological Station
Sounds of Selection
Do you want a creative and fun way to teach about natural selection? Hop to it by turning your middle school princes and princesses into frogs trying to catch as many bugs as possible in a Hungry Hungry Hippos style game. For high...
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Can You Identify Arthropods?
Third graders sort and classify the four Arthropod classes. They are given puzzle pieces of one Arthropod example. Each group is to put their puzzle together, glue it on a piece of construction paper and label the ir puzzle.
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Frogs, Frogs, And More Frogs
Third graders review the life cycle of a frog. They use the computer to research specific information about their frog and write a descriptive paragraph using the information obtained on the computer. They access websites imbedded in...
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All in the (Insect) Family
Students participate in a series of activities in order to explore the diversity of insects. They explore how insects are grouped and categorized.