Curated OER
What Tree is That?
Students examine leaves and the trees in their neighborhood that they came from. In this ecology lesson, students read the book, I Can Name 50 Trees Today, and discuss how a tree goes from a forest to a wood shop. Students find a tree...
Curated OER
Milkweed and Monarch Butterfly Mania: Measuring
In this milkweed and monarch butterfly mania: measuring worksheet, students use photos of milkweed plants and caterpillars next to a ruler to estimate the measurements of 10 leaves and 15 caterpillars, calculating and recording surface...
Curated OER
Pharaoh Mountain Hike: Investigating Adirondack Life Zones
Students hike a local mountain and examine its life zones. They measure various components at each zone and collect leaf litter at the sites. At the mountain top, students make descriptive observations and complete a handout about the...
Curated OER
Leaves: All-Natural Solar Collectors
Take a good look at tree leaves and notice the adaptations for collecting solar energy. Pupils trace the margins of five different leaves onto graph paper and count the number of squares covered. They then relate this infomation to the...
Curated OER
Light and Starch Production in Photosynthesis
Learners are given the unique opportunity to see the contrast between parts of a leaf that have photosynthesized and parts of the leaf that have not. This visual image helps students see the results of this biological process. At the...
Curated OER
Nature Art
In this nature art lesson, students take a nature walk and collect items with different sizes, textures and colors. Students use the items they collect to make a collage.
Curated OER
Acid Rain Effects
Get out the goggles and conduct a simple experiment to model and explore the harmful effects of acid rain (vinegar) on living (green leaf and eggshell) and non-living (paper clip) objects. Young chemists observe and describe the harmful...
Resources for Educators
Fractions of Fun
Reinforce concepts and encourage learner engagement with a collection of math games, science experiments, and cross curricular activities. In one fun resource, learners sort objects, keep a diary of everyday fractions, play a game using...
Chicago Botanic Garden
Impacts of Climate on Forest Succession
Part two in a series of four explores the effects of climate on succession or the changing of plant species in a forest. Groups review how to identify trees and then spend a day in the field collecting extensive data on trees to...
Curated OER
Bruchid Investigations: Bruchid Development Investigations
While this lesson is based on the Bruchid beetle, the focus is on conducting a scientific investigation. Ecology explorers vary the temperature or the type of leaf that Bruchid eggs are laid on and test for effects on the development...
Curated OER
Plant Systems
Students examine plant systems. In this life science lesson, students explore leaf and root systems on paper in a terrarium that they design and construct.
Curated OER
The Impact of the Physical Environment on Stream Macroinvertebrates
Students explore the relationship between leaf packs in streams and macroinvertebrate populations. They experiment with hand exposure to stream macroinvertebrates in natural leaf packs and then make leaf packs of their own. The...
Curated OER
DRASING NATURE
Learners take samples of local trees and identify the tree using a field guide. They keep data for the tree on the Tree ID sheet. They create leaf, seed, bark, and flower prints and paint them.
Curated OER
Look At Those Leaves!
Students observe, measure, and sort tree leaves. They examine leaves individually, in groups, and in relationship to the entire tree. Pupils take a walk outside for a "Leaf Walk." Students are each given a lunch size paper bag, so that...
Curated OER
Leaf Observations
Second graders examine a variety of leaves. In groups or individually, they write down their observations on each leaf type and compare them to each other. To end the lesson, they share their observations with the class and draw the...
Curated OER
Leaf Magic
Third graders adopt a deciduous tree in September, and begin regular observations of their tree. They create a timeline to show how leaves change color and conduct a science experiment to illustrate color change.
Curated OER
Look At Those Leaves!
Students sort tree leaves. In this plant biology instructional activity, students collect leaves and group them according to size, shape, and color. Students discuss their observations.
Curated OER
Look at Those Leaves!
Students observe leaves. In this math and science cross-curriculum leaf lesson, students take a nature walk and collect leaves. Attributes are assigned and leaves are sorted in various ways. Students use non-standard or standard units of...
Curated OER
RIDE THE WILD LEAF
Students identify and interpret that leaves provide food for new trees and plants. Students cut out leaves and glue them on the appropriate
number on included worksheet. Students collect different types of leaves and make leaf rubbings....
Curated OER
Science: Fossil of a Carbonized Plant
Students classify leaves by shape and margins and use them to create models of plant fossils. By using paper over a leaf, they simulate fossilization of organisms onto sedimentary rocks. Following instructions on worksheets, students...
Curated OER
Heartbeat Project
Students enter information about their heartbeats into a spreadsheet. They construct data displays and calculate statistics. They describe and justify their conclusions from the data collected.
Curated OER
Tree Identification/Tree Art
Seventh graders identify and examine a deciduous and coniferous tree. Using the descriptions, they discover the types of tress in their local area. As a class, they practice identifying trees on a walk in a park collecting leaves. They...
Curated OER
Strange New Planet
Fourth graders gather data and simulate a Mars spacecraft mission using multi-sensory observations.
Curated OER
Data Analysis of Ground Level Ozone
Sixth graders construct and interpret graphs from ozone data collected in Phoenix area. Can be adapted to other areas.