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American Museum of Natural History

What is Marine Biology?

For Students 6th - 12th
A marine environment covers the majority of the earth but is arguably the least understood. Teach young scientists about the characteristics of oceans and ocean species using an interactive online lesson. The in-person or remote learning...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sand Shakes & Mud Pies: Investigating Sediment

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Take a field trip to a location where water and land meet to study patterns of sediment organization in wet habitats: river or ocean beaches, sand dunes, tidal marshes, the edge of a pond, or a woodland stream. Small groups collect pairs...
Lesson Plan
Illinois Department of Natural Resources

Section Four: How Can We Protect Biodiversity?

For Teachers 3rd - 5th Standards
Look into the future with a lesson plan on biodiversity and natural habitats. Learners read articles about different perspectives when it comes to planning future development, and decide which angle is the highest priority in a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Turtle and Tortoise Preschool Lesson Plan

For Teachers Pre-K - K
One of the best parts about teaching the littlest learners is that you can create thematic lessons that use one topic to address every subject. Here is a nice set of thematic teaching ideas that uses turtles and tortoises to teach...
Lesson Plan
University of South Carolina

Home Sweet Home

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders will research a biome (land or aquatic) and create a project (diorama, model or another idea of the student's choosing) which includes the geographic features of that biome as well as plants and animals found there and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Biodiversity in Illinois-Pond Habitats

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders construct a pond habitat in the classroom using a small swimming pool partially filled with water, real cattails, a tree log adjoining, and plastic animal life appropriate to a pond setting. They examine the frog in detail...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The High Plains: Land of Extremes

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students complete activities surrounding the study of groundwater movement, energy resources, wind energy, and riparian areas. They debate/role-play the viewpoints of different interest groups in considering whether the black-footed...
Lesson Plan
National Park Service

Living & Non-Living Interactions

For Teachers 2nd - 6th Standards
What better way to learn about ecosystems than by getting outside and observing them first hand? Accompanying a field trip to a local park or outdoor space, this series of collaborative activities engages children in...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Forest Habitat Fragmentation

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders discuss the loss of animal habitats and the importance of refuge areas for them. They collect small pictures of animals found in their state and glue them to an outline of their state according to their range. Finally,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rocky Intertidal Field Trip

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Young scholars investigate tides and the land submerged under them.  In this intertidal field trip, Students visit the intertidal zone and observe the habitats and animals that live there.  Young scholars view the pools under...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Modeling Estuaries

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Learners create a model estuary. For this modeling estuaries lesson, students identify characteristics and mix water of varying densities. Learners form a hypothesis, conduct an experiment, and analyze the results.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Marine & Aquatic Habitats -- Journey of a Drop of Water Through a Watershed

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students discuss pollution and the steps in the hydrologic cycle. They follow a drop of water through a watershed simulation. They discover the components of a water cleaning system as well.
Lesson Plan
Ocean Explorer

Easy as Pi

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Seamounts are large, extinct volcanoes that rise up from the bottom of the ocean floor. They are a relatively new landform in the scientific community, and this activity invites students to learn about the amazing diversity of life found...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Living Environment

For Teachers K
Students investigate animals and their environments. In this animal similarities and differences lesson, students explore animal adaptations and features and their habitats. Students get into groups to discuss the habitat and how...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Wild Chain Reaction

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students explore habitats. In this habitat  instructional activity, students break into groups and are labeled as a part of a habitat. Students then do an activity with yarn that shows how all of the parts are connected...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How would an oil spill affect a Marine Sanctuary?

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Young scholars explore the concept of environmental stewardship. For this science lesson, students discover how scientists assess damages to the environment following oil spills. Young scholars conduct a simulation of a public meeting in...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Wildlife

For Teachers 5th - 7th
First, biology pupils research land and marine habitats along the route of skipper Rich Wilson's Great American II. Then, using colored paper clips scattered across a colored paper background, they play the predator-prey game to...
Lesson Plan
Indian Land Tenure Foundation

Relationships to Places

For Teachers K - 2nd
Young historians take a look at how the Indian tribes of California promoted a mindful relationship between people and the land. They begin to understand how the Indians were champions of conservation, and at preserving the natural...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sensational Seaweed

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students compare kelp and land plants. In this sea plant lesson, students look at the role of algae in aquatic environments. They research the properties of kelp and explore seaweed. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Two Rivers Ran Through It

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders discover the problems that early Mesototamian farmers faced while developing agriculture in the land between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. They design a working model that solves those unique challenges.
Lesson Plan
NOAA

Climate, Corals and Change

For Teachers 7th - 8th Standards
Global warming isn't just an issue on land; deep ocean waters are also showing troubling signs. Young scientists learn more about deep water corals and the many recent discoveries researchers have made. Then they examine data related to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What If We Run Out?

For Teachers 3rd - 7th
Students explore the consequences of shrinking habitats and the human impact on wildlife populations. They participate in a game to study the consequences and describe the preservation of animal habitats.
Worksheet
Curated OER

Turtle Fun Facts

For Students 2nd - 3rd
In this turtles activity, students read two pages of facts about turtles. Students match four kinds of turtle pictures to their habitats.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Transportation

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Learners read about various modes of transportation for people, plants, and animals. In this transportation lesson, students read information about the transportation modes for people plants, and animals using water and land. Learners...