Curated OER
Hatching Chickens
Students observe how chickens hatch. For this life cycles lesson, students read the book Hatching Eggs: A Step by Step Guide and use an incubator to hatch the eggs. Students observe the chicks hatching and take care of the chicks by...
Curated OER
Endangered Species 1: Why are Species Endangered?
Emerging ecologists examine endangered species by visiting the US Environmental Protection Agency website. They consider human contribution to the decline of different species. They research an endangered animal and then craft a poster...
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Classification Number Two
A three-page quiz assessing budding biologists' understanding of classification. Middle-level learners may need a little additional time on this, but should be able to handle the concepts with ease.
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Ecosystems
With a variety of multiple choice and short answer questions, the handout found here could be used in many ways in the classroom: pretest/posttest, study guide, reading guide, or entry/exit questions. There is not a lot of space for...
Curated OER
Hotels in Acapulco
Students explore a website for a hotel in Acapulco, Mexico, answering questions about hotel offers, prices, and special activities. They prepare a skit between family members, or prepare an ad for a hotel.
Curated OER
WET Science Lesson #11: How Light Affects Water
Scientists listen to the story of Wadja Egnankou who works to save African mangrove forests. They experiment with refraction and the introduction of particulate matter to water. They conclude with creative writing about the need for a...
Curated OER
Dissolved Oxygen Introduction
Students are shown how dissolved oxygen enters the water. They are taught the difference between a water sample that has been exposed to the air and one that has not. Students brainstorm what organisms need to survive. They use dissolved...
Biology Corner
Cell Theory Rap
All that this will link you to is a rap about cell theory and organelles. Use it as an example for a creative assignment in your biology class. Divide the class into groups and assign them a topic for which they write and perform a skit,...
Curated OER
The good microbes
The question posed for the class to consider; What would decay and what would not? They read the short passage on decomposition and microbes, then mark the items that would decay after a two-week period. A scientific investigation idea...
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Food Webs in the Bay
Learners get acquainted with a type of ecosystem and how different organisms of that ecosystem compete with one another for resources. They analyze the submerged aquatic vegetation of a bay ecosystem. Students study plants.
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Biology: Butterfly Activities
Second graders examine various types of butterflies and insects around their school. They identify differences between beetles and butterflies. Students examine books about butterflies, complete symmetry drawings, and make ladybug key...
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Life Cycle of the Butterfly
Students listen a variety of books on butterflies and are introduced to their life cycle. In groups, they describe the life cycle in the correct order and watch the life cycle from larva to the butterfly in a demonstration. To end the...
Curated OER
Why Do We Need Petroleum?
Students learn the many ways petroleum is used in our industrial society, and the advantages and disadvantages of its use. They explore what it would be like to live in a world without petroleum.
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The Web of Life
Students describe the importance of having a balance ecosystem. After a brief lecture, students give an explanation of the properties of an ecosystem. They create a web, using yarn which shows how the various members of the ecosystem are...
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Life Cycle of a Frog
Students observe the life cycle of a frog. In this life cycle lesson, students will observe and record the changes in the life cycle of a frog.
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Mount Everest History Lesson
Students explore Mount Everest. In this exploration lesson, students read "The Top of the World: Climbing Mount Everest," by Steve Jenkins. Students then respond to discussion questions and participate in a map skills activity.
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Obtaining Food -- The Impact of Over-fishing
Students play a fishing game. In this food supply lesson plan students regulate their fishing in a game about over-fishing. The students identify resources that could be extracted from that biome.
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Food webs and Energy Flows
Learners become familiar with food chains. For this food chains lesson, students understand that as consumers eat other consumers energy is passed. Learners understand the vocabulary associated with food chains.
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Coloration
Students conduct an experiment picking out colored vs. camoflauged toothpicks out of the grass. They list and describe different types of coloration and explain how coloration assists the great horned owl and the striped skunk survive.
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Science: Putting Down Roots
Fourth graders, in small groups, observe plants and note their characteristics. After drawing pictures of the plants, including their roots systems, they hypothesize in which environments the plants would best thrive. Finally, 4th...
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Habitat Movies
Students create movies of various habitats and animals using their knowledge of the subject and the computer program iMovie. Emphasis is placed on cooperative learning and research.
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Observing the Growth Spurt
Students notice a growth spurt in their Brassica plants and closely monitor this growth by measuring their plants and predicting the next day's growth based on the pattern of their data. They also read and highlight the objectives in...
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Hide & Seek Butterflies
Students examine a variety of butterflies and discuss how they believe they get their color variations. In groups, they brainstorm the advantages and disadvantages of their color schemes. To end the lesson, they watch butterflies in...
Curated OER
WALK, DON'T RUN
1. Bring two quarts of moist soil, a cake pan, a sprinkling can of water and a quart of grass clippings to class.
2. Share background material, and introduce the word "erosion."
3. Prepare a small model hill by mounding the soil in the...