Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Acid Rain

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Simulated acid rain, a dilute sulfuric acid solution, needs to be prepared for this demonstration. After a condensed lecture on acid rain, you will apply the solution to a sample of granite and a sample of limestone. Your young...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Big Fleas Have Little Fleas

For Teachers 6th - 8th
A benthic habitat hosts a vast collection of organisms and its structure influences the biodiversity. Middle-school marine biology explorers will discuss how corals impact structure, and therefore diversity, on the ocean floor. They draw...
Lesson Plan
University of Minnesota

What's the Deal? Addiction Card Game

For Students 9th - 12th
Addiction is a big deal! Playing a game of cards helps learners understand the concept of addiction. Through their analysis, they examine the potential for addiction and how it varies for each individual.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Design a Reef!

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Using a miniature coral reef aquarium kit, young ecologists model this unique ecosystem. They research various coral reef organisms and their niches, and they culminate the project by working together to write a report. Use this activity...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

From Curiosity Cabinet to Museum Collection

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Students study binomial nomenclature and museum-based research. They create a curiosity box, label the objects in their curiosity box , develop a classification scheme for the objects, and create a database of all objects collected by...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Measurement and Variation

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Examine the concept of variation through observation and measurement. Middle schoolers will study a peanut and record any distinguishing characteristics visible as well as sketch their peanuts and describe them in writing. Their peanut...
Lesson Plan
ARKive

Adaptations for Movement

For Teachers 6th - 8th
What animals are best suited for moving around a rainforest, or a desert? Design your own animal species based on a particular habitat, focusing on the characteristics it will need for optimal movement. Great as a group lesson or...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Creative Ways To Teach Evolutionary Concepts

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Research how DNA, the genetic blueprint of living organisms, plays an essential role in the continuity of life. High schoolers will summarize how their influence may very well effect the destiny of the population from one generation to...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Speciation and Genetic Drift Worksheet

For Students 9th - 12th
Fifteen terms pertaining to speciation, extinction, and gene flow are to be matched to their definitions. This simple, easy-to-read worksheet can be used as a pop quiz for your biology learners when studying natural selection principles...
Lesson Plan
Cornell University

Renewable Resins and Composites

For Students 9th - 12th
Merge chemistry with environmental science to study biodegradable materials. An engaging activity allows learners to experiment with different resin concentrations and composites. Through experimental tests, scholars test their creations...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water Cycle Reading and Writing

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Here is a great way to get pupils to express a scientific concept in a fun way. After hearing the story of Walter the Water drop and learning facts about the water cycle, the class will write a creative expository piece describing what...
Lesson Plan
Nuffield Foundation

Assessing Human Hearing

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
Young scientists explore hearing through multiple experiments, demonstrations, and activities. They focus on the changes in hearing over a lifetime, how we can determine where a sound is coming from, and the ability to filter noises.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Endangered Species in the Sonoran Desert

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students identify and explain some caused of endangerment and extinction for species as well as explain the effects of extinction on an ecosystem. Teachers use this lesson plan before teaching students about collecting insects or plants.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Classroom Aquaponics: Exploring Nitrogen Cycling in a Closed System

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students investigate nutrient cycling in a simplified desktop ecosystem involving aquarium and hydro-ponically grown plants. They set up an aquarium with 10 gallons of water at least a week before the lab is planned and place...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Urban Ecosystems 2: Why Are There Cities? A Historical Perspective

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students investigate the importance of food surpluses to the historical development of urban ecosystems.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Forest Fun

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students explore orienteering and how to use a compass. They explore the importance of forests and identify some of the trees in a local forest.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lake Strata and Internal Waves

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Use the classic density demonstration of placing a cola, a clear soda, and a diet soda into a tank of water. Then let learners attempt to pour some of the soda into layers in a clear container. The procedure explains a thermocline, and...
Activity
Wild BC

Maple Trees and Marmots

For Teachers K - 3rd
Kinesthetic activities simulate animal activity as the seasons progress in a lesson that introduces climate change to primary pupils. The kids role-play maple trees collecting what they need to survive, but as each year comes...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Fantastic Flower

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Here is a clever lesson on pollination of flowers for you. In it, learners study the anatomy of a flower, and play a game in which they simulate the process of pollination. This fine plan brings in elements of art, physical education,...
Worksheet
Curated OER

AP: Chapter 20: DNA Technology

For Students 9th - Higher Ed
This nine-page biotechnology resource contains six pages of questions regarding DNA technology. Questions cover cloning, restriction enzymes, the polymerase chain reaction, different techniques, the human genome project, and more. The...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Placing Artificial Domiciles to Attract Bumble Bees

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students investigate how to entice bumble bees to accept artificial domiciles. They conduct research about bee biology and nest architecture, plan and construct an artificial domicile to attract bumble bee queens, and monitor and record...
Lesson Plan
Nuffield Foundation

Following Gene Transfer by Conjugation in Bacteria

For Teachers 9th - 12th
After the lab, you'll be able to solve this analogy: Natural selection is to vertical transfer of genes as ___ is to the horizontal transfer of genes. Young biologists conduct an experiment on E. coli bacteria to explore the process of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Evolution of Sea Creatures

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students identify and describe the mechanisms of natural selection. They study Cambrian Period animals and discuss adaptations for their specific environment.Students compare and contrast a modern sea animal with the Cambrian era animal...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Evolution Number Two

For Students 9th - 12th
Are you looking for evidence that your high schoolers are adapting to the concepts of natural selection and evolution? Assess their knowledge with a pretest and posttest. Naturally, you can select and adapt the worksheet to be the...