American Museum of Natural History
Tools of the Trade
Archaeologist David Hurst Thomas details his search for a lost Spanish Mission on St. Catherines Island, Georgia. A great way to introduce youngsters to the life of and the tools used by archaeologists.
Curated OER
Life in a Drop of Water
High schoolers examine the structure, function, and characteristics of microscopic organisms that inhabit freshwater through collection of water samples and observation through microscopes.
Curated OER
The Gift of Life - Day 2: "Cell & Organelle Time to Tell" and "World in Color" (Chapters 2-4)
Students complete a cell biology lesson and a color lesson based on The Giver. In this biology and reading comprehension lesson set, students examine cells using microscopes. They look at the organelles and listen to How Much is a...
Curated OER
Brine Shrimp Life Cycle
Third graders examine brine shrimp through "A Sea Monkey's Life" story. They study the living environments and life cycle of brine shrimp. They look at brine shrimp and cysts through a microscope, identifying new vocabulary that was...
Curated OER
Life Cycle: Diversity in a Balance 4th Grade Workbook
In this life cycle workbook, 5th graders examine plant and animal cells, classification of organisms, human biology, photosynthesis, and natural environments. 21 different activities make up the Life Cycle Workbook.
Curated OER
Plankton / Phytoplankton
Students discuss the importance of plankton in the ocean ecosystem. In this biology lesson, students identify the different types plankton by observing them under the microscope. They explain how plankton population affect global climate.
Scholastic
Study Jams! The Senses: Tasting
Mmmmmmm, here is a tasty little slide show to use when introducing upper-elementary learners to the sense of taste. Photographs and detailed computer images accompany explanatory text about how the taste buds and the nose send signals to...
Pace University
Grade 6-8 Living Things
What characterizes a living thing? Scholars explore the concept during a differentiated instruction unit on living things. They perform lab experiments to determine how animals adapt to stimuli, watch videos and learn about...
Curated OER
Microfishing
Students use a simple method to collect living microorganisms from natural and/or artificial environments and develop skills in microscopy, observation, drawing, speculation, hypothesizing, oral presentation, and raising questions.
Teach Engineering
Are We Alone?
Find an answer to the age-old debate of whether life exists on Mars. Groups determine criteria to help look for signs of life on Mars. The activity has the class simulate testing Martian soil samples for signs of life before drawing...
Curated OER
How Diverse is That?
Compare various types of biological diversity in a coral reef and calculate a numeric indicator that describes the diversity found in coral communities. Your class can work in groups to look at the abundance and distribution data of...
Curated OER
Elaine Humphrey, Gwynne Thompson
Second graders become familiar with the parts of the microscope and how it works. In this microscope activity, 2nd graders experiment with different light and settings. Students answer questions based on their experiment.
Curated OER
Pond 2: Life in a Drop of Pond Water
Students observe organisms found in pond water with a microscope. In groups, they discuss how single-celled organisms satisfy their needs for food, water and air. They compare and contrast the needs of macroscopic and microscopic...
Polar Trec
Rings of Life
Individuals analyze tree rings to determine the health of an ecosystem. They then look at otoliths of fish, hard calcium carbonate structures located behind the brain, in the same manner.
Rural Science Education Program
Bees and Flowers – Partners in Pollination
Why are bees so important? After several activities where kids investigate the form and function of flowers, they learn about the different types of bees and label them. They then examine pollen under a microscope and decide which bees...
Curated OER
The Web of Life
Middle schoolers participate in a game in which they discover the balance of life in the ocean. They identify different organisms that rely on different types of food. They answer questions to complete the activity.
Curated OER
Butterfly Round-Up
Learners classify the characteristics of butterflies and moths moths. In this life cycle instructional activity, students identify butterflies and moths common in the state of Iowa as well as their characteristics. Learners then learn...
Curated OER
Introduction to Biology
Students participate in a variety of activities to introduce them to biology. In this biology lesson plan, students use microscopes, discover bacteria, view human anatomy, and more.
Curated OER
Quiz Questions - Cells
In this cells worksheet, students read and choose the multiple choice answers to 20 questions involving cells, microscopes, and the life process of Growth.
Curated OER
Applied Science-Science and Math Lab
Students explore magnification. In this scientific observation skills lesson, students observe sea life items and draw pictures of what they observe. Students predict which lens will have the strongest magnification when given three...
Curated OER
Life in Extreme Environments
Pupils compare and contrast local environments with the extreme environment of the Dry Valleys, Antarctica. Students explore and gain knowledge of the adaptations organisms use to survive extreme conditions and the diverse conditions...
Curated OER
Sponges and Cnidarian Crossword Puzzle
In this marine science worksheet, students complete a crossword puzzle with 32 questions on sponges and cnidarian. They identify the different characteristics of sponges and cnidarian.
Curated OER
Ride the Wild Leaf Cycle
Fourth graders complete a worksheet. In this life cycle lesson, 4th graders learn about the leaf cycle and complete a worksheet where they put the leaf cycle steps in the correct order.
Curated OER
Sea Connections: Marine Ecosystems
Students identify producers and consumers from marine ecosystems and describe the balance among them in the environments. After constructing a food chain from a marine ecosystem, they examine human activities that can upset the balance...