Curated OER
School Yard Park/ Ecosystem
Fifth graders examine ecosystems in their schoolyard. In this nature and ecosystem lesson plan, 5th graders map their schoolyard into workable plots. They classify plants and animals found in the plot. They revisit their site every two...
Curated OER
Creeping and Crawling Observing Mealworms and Earthworms
Fifth graders observe mealworms and earthworms. In this mealworm and earthworm lesson, 5th graders complete an experiment in which they observe the life cycle and living conditions of mealworms and earthworms. They experiment with...
Curated OER
Land Associations
Students identify and explore life forms of various biomes, define transitional regions, examine effects of abiotic and biotic interactions, research a biome, and produce newspaper that features environmental information. Lessons all on...
Curated OER
Symmetry that is Basic and Beautiful
Young scholars explore lines of symmetry. In this symmetry lesson, students divide and combine shapes along basic lines of symmetry. Young scholars explore symmetry in real life objects.
Curated OER
Habitats and Functions
Students use a large seet of habitat cards, spread out in one area. They, in groups, practice sorting themselves into the correct habitat based on what function card they received.
Curated OER
Metamorphosis Matching
Students view pictures of animals as they complete the metamorphosis from a larva to an adult. For this metamorphosis lesson plan, students view pictures and in the end are able to match pictures of a larva stage to an adult stage in...
Curated OER
What Are Ecosystems?
Third graders recognize and examine ecosystems. They observe and describe habitats within ecosystems and observe and identify organisms with similar needs that compete for resources.
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...
Curated OER
Crazy Critters
Eighth graders visit a local park to collect insects. They record the habitats, identify the insect and write a report including the kingdom, phylum, class, and order.
Curated OER
Biology: Butterfly Activities
Second graders examine various types of butterflies and insects around their school. They identify differences between beetles and butterflies. Students examine books about butterflies, complete symmetry drawings, and make ladybug key...
Curated OER
Virginia Studies
Students describe life in the Virginia colony. They explain how geography influenced the relocation of Virginia's capital from Jamestown to Williamsburg, to Richmond. Students compare/contrast life in Jamestown and Williamsburg.
Curated OER
Survivor
Seventh graders investigate changes in the ecosystem within the school year. They see that ecosystems, communities, populations, and organisms are dynamic and change over time. They, in groups, collect data in quadrants in the fall,...
Curated OER
Spy on a Spider
Students view slides or live specimens to name and describe the distinguishing features of groups of arthropods, especially spiders and insects. They complete worksheets, observe webs and then search for and record where spiders can be...
Curated OER
Energy for Animals
First graders discover how animals depend on other animals for energy. They identify sources of energy in their daily life and describes the actions of nightime and daytime animals. They list sources of food and shelter for specific...
Curated OER
Cockroaches
Students listen to a lecture on cockroaches. They work in pairs to design a cockroach trap and attempt to trap a specimen. They complete various other cockroach-related activities.
Curated OER
Making Sense of Unusual Findings
Students work on the development of observation skills and seeing how they can be used in different contexts. The lesson is good for helping the beginner and novice, along with encouraging and reminding the expert observer of right...
Curated OER
Soil Composition
Students examine soil. In this soil composition lesson students participate in soil sedimentation and filtration activities. The students discuss what non-living and living things are in soil and why it is so important.
Curated OER
Are You What You Eat?
Young scholars observe what happens to the pigment of the Manduca when food coloring is added to their diet. They discuss how coloration affects their lifestyle. They answer questions to complete the lesson.
Curated OER
Where Are the Dinosaurs?
Students examine the concept of extinction by studying dinosaurs. In this living environment lesson, students view dinosaur video clips and define the word "extinction." Students visit the "Zoom Dinosaur" website to investigate various...
SeaWorld
Animal Migrations
Here is a fabulous set of activities for your young scientists. Each instructional activity contains map, hands-on, and game activities that will help the class understand why and how animals migrate from one place to another. First...
Growing Classroom
Space Travelers
Groups of three scientists from the rocky planet Zog investigate the composition of soil so that they can take the information back to their home, create soil there, and begin to grow food.
Curated OER
Wildlife Variety Show: Biodiversity In Illinois
Eighth graders write a short report in first person about any plant or animal found on a list of Illinois species. They become the character of the plant or animal and give a short report describing the plant or animal.
Gwinnett County Public Schools
Analysis of the Tuck Everlasting and The Birchbark House Text Exemplars
Looking to introduce some text-based questions into your ELA lessons? Practice the kinds of skills the Common Core demands with the seven text-based questions and the essay prompt provided here. Designed to be a three-day lesson, day one...
American Museum of Natural History
Anatomy Adventure
Sometimes science is puzzling. Using an online animation, individuals manipulate skeletal bones of an ancient species to recreate its skeleton. Learners complete the skeletal puzzle and learn about the process of paleontology in person...