Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Rainforest Community

For Teachers 4th - 12th
Young scholars create a miniature rainforest ecosystem, a terrarium. Students then explain how the continuous flow of energy and food in the ecosystem allows it to sustain itself.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Plant Systems

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders learn about plant systems and how plants grow and function. In this plant lesson plan, 2nd graders collect data based on roots, leaves, terrariums, plant uses, and locations of certain kinds of plants. They fill out...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Science Unit Lesson Five

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders review how and which plants operate in terrariums. In groups, they follow instructions to make their own terrarium and place different types of plants in it. To end the activity, they review the steps in the water cycle and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

De-composers - Terrarium

For Teachers 1st - 2nd
Students explore the environment by building a mock ecosystem. In this rainforest analysis activity, students define many environmental and rainforest related vocabulary terms and discuss the current status of our planet's rainforests....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How a Seed Grows and Who Grows It

For Teachers 1st
First graders explore biology by viewing PowerPoint presentations in class. In this plant life lesson, 1st graders identify the life cycle of a plant and how to properly plant a seed outside. Students view a movie about plant life and...
Website
American Museum of Natural History

What is the Greenhouse Effect?

For Students 6th - 12th
Without the greenhouse effect, Earth would not be inhabitable. A thorough online resource describes the greenhouse effect and how it occurs. The source highlights the different types of gases that work together to absorb the sun's...
Lesson Plan
Pennsylvania Department of Education

Cycles, Systems, and Webs

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders review the parts of the plant and their functions.  In this plant lesson, 4th graders recognize that plants must transfer energy to make food.  Students understand the interdependence of organisms in an...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Food Webs and Making Miniature Ecosystems

For Teachers 6th - 7th
Students model a food web and create a miniature ecosystem. For this animal interactions lesson, students engage in a role playing game which simulates a food web. Students then build miniature ecosystems using pop bottles, snails,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Life in a Cup

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders make and maintain a mini terrarium. They keep a daily journal of what happens in their terrarium and record daily observations and measurements.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Investigation 3 - Terrariums / Aquariums

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders create aquariums or terrariums to explain how creatures depend on living and nonliving things.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Terrarium Observation

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students observe the growth of plants in their terrarium. In this social studies lesson, students measure plant growth for several weeks. They predict what happens if other organisms are added in the terrarium.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Building the Terrarium

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Pupils draw a layout of their proposed terrarium. In this social studies lesson, students discuss how Mayans farm to produce food for the family. They compare their farming method with modern farming practices.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Plant Systems

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
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.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Terrariums for Project Pals

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students identify the components needed by plants to survive in the terrarium. In this biology lesson, students build their own terrariums using materials available. They present their project in class.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Explore: 1st Grade Plant Observation

For Teachers 1st
First graders grow seeds in a mini terrarium. They compare the root systems, stems, leaves, and flowers of the different plants. They categorize the plants and discuss the basic functions of plant parts.
Worksheet
Curated OER

Measuring Transpiration

For Students 4th - 8th
For this transpiration worksheet, students will conduct an experiment to measure the rate of transpiration from a plant by measuring how much weight the plant loses over 5 days. Students will record their data and create a graph of the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduction to the Elements of the Water Cycle

For Teachers 4th
The basic elements of the water cycle and how water is recycled through our environment is focused on in this lesson. Your students construct classroom terrariums and learn to make and record observations relating to the water cycle....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water, Water Everywhere

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Young scholars explore water. In this water cycle lesson, students conduct a scientific investigation that requires build a terrarium models of the earth. Young scholars record their observations of the changes regarding water in...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Miniature Water Cycles

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders create a biome of their choosing in a terrarium. Terrariums are observed and results recorded daily for 2 weeks. They observe/record changes in the water within their terrarium and use the data to write sentences...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Miniature Water Cycles

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Learners construct a model of the water cycle in action using two-liter pop bottles to build a terrarium. Locate examples of evaporation and condensation in the water cycle (e.g., water evaporates when heated and clouds or dew forms when...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water, Water, Everywhere and Always on the Move

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students create their own water cycle in a terrarium. In this water cycle lesson, students research the water cycle and complete a worksheet using the Internet. They create a water cycle of their own in a jar with stones, sand, soil, and...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Fly Detective

For Students 3rd - 4th
Learners use classification skills and clues to determine which flying insect is the one they need to circle. They read four clues and examine each of the five insects depicted. They then deduce which one is the mystery insect. Answers...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Inventing Insects

For Teachers K
Students explore the world of insects and discover what it might be like to live like one. They create an insect with physical characteristics and demonstrate how it moves. Students also compare and contrast insects to spiders and how...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Exploring Ecosystems

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders create an ecosystem as a class. They have already produced smaller ones. They use a pond or something similar on school grounds to meet the needs of certain plants and animals of their ecosystem. Specifically created will...