Lesson Plan
Curated OER

In Your Own Backyard

For Teachers 4th - 12th
Students observe organisms in their habitat and record their observations. They then draw conclusions about the organism's habitat needs and food sources.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Wonderful World of Slugs

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Examine a slug? Of course, what else would a 2nd grader do with it? Pupils use clues and go on a slug hunt, read a slug story, or make a cooperative group mural of a slug's habitat. While older learners catalog slugs, go on a slug hunt,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Our Earth Crossword Puzzle

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
In this earth's environment worksheet, students use the 20 clues and their problem solving skills to correctly complete the crossword puzzle.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Lesson in Biodiversity: Making Comparisons Between Defensive Mechanisms Utilized by Marine Organisms

For Teachers 5th - 8th
If your upper elementary or middle school marine biology learners are going to visit an aquarium, then here is a field trip activity guide for you. It is written specifically for The Maritime Aquarium, but the idea can be adapted to...
Lesson Plan
National Geographic

Eat an Alien Invader

For Teachers 1st - 5th
If you are looking for a lesson about invasive species to ocean habitats, you have arrived! Introduce the concept to learners and have them read an article about marine invasive species. Vocabulary, relevant web links, and a cute...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Fossil Fuel and the Ticking Clock

For Teachers 6th - 7th
Students study energy sources to learn about fossil fuels and environmental concerns. In this energy sources instructional activity, students watch demonstrations for various energy examples. Students find hidden pennies, make a bar...
Lesson Plan
Rainforest Alliance

The Carbon Cycle

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Scholars learn about the carbon cycle, play a carbon cycle game, and then write a story based on their role as a carbon atom during the game. After the writings, pupils analyze the carbon cycle by leading a class discussion on the material.
Worksheet
Curated OER

The Scientific Method

For Students 7th - 10th
In this scientific method worksheet, students complete a crossword puzzle given 21 clues about the steps of the scientific method. Topics include observations, hypotheses, variables, inferences, results and conclusions.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Water Cycle and Global Warming

For Teachers 8th - 9th
Students study the flow of water in the environment.  In this water cycle lesson students evaluate the consequences of changes in the water cycle using data. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ecological Citizen

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students examine the interconnectedness of living and non-living things that constitute an ecosystem. They examine fallen trees,insects, living trees, leaves, food webs, and forests. They conduct various activities and write poems about...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water Cycle

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders explore ways water moves through various reservoirs on Earth, examine how human activities change water cycle, investigate substances present in water that indicate human activity, and discuss how understanding water cycle...
Lesson Planet Article
Curated OER

Ecosystems: A Home By Any Other Name

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students can learn more about the parts of ecosystems through exploration and hands on activities.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sibling Relationships in the Animal World

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students research sibling relationships in the animal world. In this animal science lesson plan, students read the book, Sisters and Brothers: Sibling Relationships in the Animal World and discuss the sibling relationships. Students...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Monarch Migration

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders investigate the life cycle of the Monarch butterfly. They experiment with various tools to simulate the mouth parts of insects, conduct research, record their observations of butterflies hatching, write a play, complete...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mini-Ponds

For Teachers 7th - 9th
In this mini pond worksheet, students create a mini-pond ecosystem with soil, water, and plant life. Students let their ecosystem sit for a day and they observe a sample the next day. Students identify all the pond water microorganisms...
Lesson Plan
Michigan Sea Grant

Food Web II

For Teachers 4th - 8th
A food web consists of complex food chains and the more complex the web, the better likelihood of survival. Learners compare and contrast food webs and food chains and discuss concepts like the predator-prey and consumer-producer...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What's in the Soil?

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders examine soil to find its contents, and how much water and air they can measure.  In this soil composition lesson, 4th graders perform three experiments and record their results.  In one experiment they examine...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Our Zoo Friends

For Teachers 1st
First graders plan and create a model zoo depicting the natural habitats of animals. Their models include animals and a display of written factual information about the animals. Students present their project by conductig a tour of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Biomes

For Teachers 10th
Tenth graders research locations of biomes and their barriers. In this biomes lesson plan, 10th graders examine location, environmental conditions, and species of plants and animals that live in the biome. Students take notes and create...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

GPS Ecosystem (Ecotone) Scavenger Hunt

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners describe the characteristics of an ecotone. In this ecotone lesson, students pick out their area and describe the visual appearance, conditions, ecosystem, biodiversity, predators, prey, and trees in their ecotone. They create a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What's Under My Feet?

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Students choose one rock from a collection of igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks. They use multiple resources to create an informational brochure highlighting their rock. The brochures are combined into a class rock museum to be...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Is Global Warming Happening?

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers investigate the probability of global warming and the effects of global warming on the environment. They conduct Internet research and collect data, transfer the data onto an Excel spreadsheet, and create a presentation...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Explore Zone

For Students 5th - 8th
In this food chain worksheet, students go outside to observe a small patch of grassy are. They list as many living and non-living things they can see then complete 5 short answer questions about their list.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mud Fossils

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Students create their own fossils in an activity using plaster of paris and a variety of objects which can be fossils, e.g. chicken bones, twigs, shells, etc. After making their fossils, they allow them to dry and discuss time and its...