Do great gardeners really have green thumbs—or just really great soil? Environmental scholars discover what makes Earth's soil and soil quality so important through research and experimentation. Learners also develop an understanding of...

Did you know that California produces two thirds of the fruits and nuts consumed in the United States? That it produces almost one third of the vegetables? Did you know that scientists warn that California is facing the onset of a...

Join the fight against bacteria. An open investigation shows pupils different aspects of antimicrobial substances, such as disinfectants, deodorants, or plant oils. They design and conduct their own experiments on the effectiveness of...

Learners investigate the interdependence of agriculture and the environment. They research areas of interdependence and provide examples of situations where farmers are practicing conservation in the local area. Their findings are...

Students are given the unique opportunity to see the contrast between parts of a leaf that have photosynthesized and parts of the leaf that have not. This visual image helps students see the results of this biological process. At the...

Students compare and contrast native Mexican poinsettia plants to those marketed in the United States. They watch a PowerPoint presentation, and listen to a version of the legend of the poinsettia. Students then create a paper pinwheel...

For this fraction learning exercise, fourth and fifth graders solve six word problems, all having to do with adding or subtracting fractions with like denominators. This learning exercise can be adapted to the Common Core standards in math.

Fertility in soil is the topic of this presentation. Future farmers will be able to define fertilizer, list ten essential soil elements, and describe the roles of both primary and secondary nutrients in plant production. Although there...

Students create friendship bracelets and quilt squares. In this plant lesson student dye their own string and cotton material with plant pigments. Students use the naturally dyed materials to create the friendship bracelets and quilt...

Students discover what types of objects reflect and absorb light. In this science inquiry activity, students use flashlights to determine whether different objects absorb or reflect light.

Students explain the stages of the plant growth cycle, and create a slide show to chart the stages of growth.

Young scholars investigate the growth and changes in plants. They view a video and discuss the changes in plants. They work in small groups to demonstrate vocabulary words to the class. They visit a green house and take pictures of...

Fifth graders consider the uses of corn.  In this agricultural lesson, 5th graders examine corn as a natural resource and discuss the many ways to reuse the grain.  A variety of activities, books, and web resources are included...

Here is a very age appropriate idea that can be stretched, modified, or used as is. Learners review plant parts, discuss pollination, read the story The Tiny Seed, and write a retell sentence. Their sentences describe to way a seed...

Equip young campers with important survival knowledge with a set of engaging lessons. Teammates work together to complete three outdoor activities, which include building a shelter, starting a campfire, and finding directions in the...

Roll up your sleeves and get a little dirty with this elementary and middle school compost lesson. All you need is a large plastic container, a couple old newspapers, some organic waste, and a few hundred worms and you're ready...

Here is an activity that will peak your super scientists' interest and knowledge of greenhouse gardening. Green thumbs flourish when they build, prepare, take care of, and observe their seedlings inside a miniature greenhouse. With...

A walk through the grocery store is like a walk around the world. An interactive activity shows popular grocery items and where the ingredients originate. Perfect as a remote learning resource, the lesson connects groceries to the...

Can corn power the world? Young scientists learn about how corn and other plants can provide renewable biofuels in the second of nine lessons. They set up an experiment to investigate how different variables affect plant growth. All of...

Young scholars learn that heredity comes down to the flip of a coin with this cross-curricular math and science lesson. Using smiley faces as a model, learners toss coins to determine which dominant or recessive traits...

Create rows and rows of vegetables. Pupils use their knowledge of multiplication to find the number of vegetable shoots planted in a garden and ways to arrange the vegetables in the performance task. Teachers use the suggested unit...

Students identify plants parts and their functions.  In this plant cycle lesson, students examine parts of plants and how the parts help them survive in its environment. Students use graphic organizers, the internet, books and...

First graders compare plant samples obtained from two different sites to explore how climate affects plants.

Fourth graders make a PowerPoint presentation that includes a picture of a plant or animal, and the name that Lewis and Clark called each specific plant or animal. They make a personal journal entry written as Lewis and Clark may have...