Food Project
Introduction to Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems
A series of hands-on, outdoor activities increase understanding of agricultural terms, soil management, pest control, and more. Plan ahead for this one as it requires a number of supplies and could be messy. Activities include...
Kenan Fellows
Attack of the Aphids!
Insects threaten the food production industry, and aphids are one of the big players! Analyzing data of aphid populations gives insight into their behaviors. Learners model the population data of an uninhibited population with an...
Curated OER
Buggy Diner
Pupils observe different insects and the different kinds of foods they like to eat. In this insects lesson plan, the teacher collects insects and different plants and roots. Then the students learn about those insects and have to be able...
Curated OER
The Risk-Benefit Factor Challenging Our Environment
Seventh graders examine the factors that are contributing to the degrading of the Earth's environment. In groups, they analyze the types of hazards when dealing with pests and give an example of each. For each situation given, they...
Alabama Wildlife Federation
Itsy Bitsy Spider
Bring the outside in to make observations in a controlled environment. Pupils learn about predator-prey relationships with spiders firsthand. They first construct a spider habitat and then feed the spider insects to make observations...
Curated OER
Cows, Worms and Compost
Third graders explore agriculture by viewing a PowerPoint presentation in class. In this animal relationship lesson, 3rd graders identify the types of farm animals humans feed on and their dependency on such small insects like worms....
Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Tracking Genetically Modified Mosquitoes
What's that buzzing in your ear? An insightful lesson about genetically modified mosquitoes! Partnered pupils explore the creation, release, and monitoring of mosquitoes designed to reduce the mosquito population. After watching a video,...
Curated OER
Grasshopper Plague
Students study grasshoppers and Mormon crickets by visiting website to view images and listen to sound. They research the issue of serious insect infestation. They read about students who eat the insects as snacks and read insect recipes.
Curated OER
Night Creatures of the Kalahari
Learners conduct an experiment to demonstrate how fruit fly populations are controlled by spiders. They observe a variety of environments with fruit flies and spiders and consider how vital spiders are to controlling the insect population.
Curated OER
Learning in Cockroaches
Students make scientific observations. In this stimulus response lesson, students make observations and collect data to determine if cockroaches can learn. A secondary purpose of this lesson is to provide students with the opportunity to...
Curated OER
Bhopal - Runaway Reaction
Young scholars research and study the disaster of Bhopal to grasp the essential concept of controlling chemical reactions. They explain how the Bhopal disaster might have been prevented based upon their knowledge of factors affecting...
Curated OER
Survival of the Fittest -- Battling Beetles
Students experiment with traits. In this Science lesson, students test the strength of beetles using M&M candies in lieu of the insects. Students use the Hardy-Weinberg Equation to calculate possible offspring traits of further...
University of Connecticut
More Than Just Dust Bunnies
Teenagers will never complain about cleaning their rooms after this activity. In the first lesson plan of a four-part series, budding scientists collect samples of dust, chalk, and other particulates from various areas of the classroom....
Curated OER
Vermicomposting
Fourth graders explore insect life by viewing a soil presentation in class. In this composting lesson, 4th graders read assigned text about the process of composting soil and the necessity of soil in plant life. Students view video clips...
Curated OER
WHAT'S ORGANIC?
Students explore how certain foods come to be certified "organic." They write the words "organic" and "synthetic" and given the definitions of each. Students are given dictionaries. They are asked: "What is organic food?" Students grow...
Curated OER
Be A Bug Scout
Students perform outside activities to determine the amount of insects, flowers, or common weeds within an area. They predict the number of insects they will find within their square area. Using calculators, students organize the data...
Curated OER
The Praying Mantis
For this praying mantis reading comprehension worksheet, students read a 5 paragraph non-fiction selection about the insect and test their reading comprehension as they answer 7 multiple choice questions based on the reading.
Curated OER
Food Pesticides and Their Risks to Children
Pupils examine an industrial disaster in India which affected the food for generations to come. In groups, they research the history of pesticides and place them into groups based on the type of pests they control. They partcipate in a...
Curated OER
Brillant, Beautiful Bats!
Students use the internet to gather information on bats. They write their own bat poem and describe the differences between the parts of a bat's body. They identify how bats are important to humans and how they control the insect...
Curated OER
Ecosystems and Climate
Students examine climatic effects on ecosystems. They plant tomatoes and observe the differences in plant growth with differences in light. They create picture collages of plants, animals, and insects found in each climate of the U.S.
Curated OER
Bug Time
Students identify basic pest they find in the school yard. They discover and examine pest control. They also explain the benefits and risks of pests. High school students present a short lesson to third graders.
Curated OER
Balance and Flux Reveal How Organisms Are Connected in Ecosystems
Students read about cats in Borneo and discuss role predators play in controlling population size. They map the interdependencies among species. They read about flux in ecosystems and complete a worksheet.
Curated OER
Little Me in a Big World: Ants
First graders predict, observe and record strategies to overcome them using discussions, role play, and charts. Over a three or four day period, they examine obstacles that humans and insects encounter.
Curated OER
Blue birds Project
Students examine the eastern bluebird and acquire knowledge regarding their species and their struggle for survival. In this blue bird project lesson, students explore the blue birds' habitat and discover how they are excellent...