Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Eco-Logical: A Coastal Logic Problem

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders study the characteristics of five coastal communities. They use logic cards and matching activities to identify the proper community for plant and animal species.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Who? Who? Whoooooooo?

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students read Poppy by Avi and then dissect an owl pellet. They complete a KWL chart and play vocabulary games to prepare for the dissection. They examine what the pellet can tell us about the owl's life.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mini-Ponds

For Teachers 7th - 9th
In this mini pond worksheet, students create a mini-pond ecosystem with soil, water, and plant life. Students let their ecosystem sit for a day and they observe a sample the next day. Students identify all the pond water microorganisms...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Web of Life - Role-Playing

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students role-play how organisms adapt to their environment. They play 20 questions with plant and animal habitats. They create a web of life to demonstrate how each plant and animal relies on the other for survival.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Dirt on Worms!

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders make predictions, observe, collect and record data. They investigate several soil and worm websites. Finally, 4th graders write a letter to The President which defends earthworms by explaining their value to the United...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Columbian Exchange

For Teachers 10th
Tenth graders examine the consequences of Spanish exploration of the New World on animals, humans, and plants. They read and discuss an informational handout, define key vocabulary terms, and complete a Venn Diagram with Old World and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Columbian Exchange

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders examine the significant consequences of Spanish exploration and settlement of the New World on animals, humans, and plants. They read and discuss an informational handout, define key vocabulary terms, and complete a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

TE Lesson: How Clean is that Water?

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students examine the factors the affect water quality, and allow for animals and plants to live. They look at how engineers apply water quality information when making stream modifications in order to ensure drinking water quality. They...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Endangered Species

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students watch video clips of endangered animals. They imagine a small garden in front of a house and describe the living and non-living things that could interact to make up a garden eco-system.
Lesson Plan
Michigan Sea Grant

Food Web II

For Teachers 4th - 8th
A food web consists of complex food chains and the more complex the web, the better likelihood of survival. Learners compare and contrast food webs and food chains and discuss concepts like the predator-prey and consumer-producer...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Endangered!

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Learners research endangered species.  In this ecology and literacy research lesson plan, students work with a partner to research an endangered species of their choice. Learners choose from a variety of presentation methods and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Gymnastic Skills

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Students compete in a variety of games. In this gymnastic skills lesson, students play tag, participate in a challenge course, and practice gymnastics moves to increase physical fitness. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Preserving Health Through Biological Diversity

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students research and explore the benefits of biodiversity, particularly as it relates to human health. They write an essay in which they explain the possible effect of human activities on the emergence of new diseases.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Habitat Mural

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Learners build a collage of an ecosystem. The goal is for them to understand interactions in a community, plant and animal adaptations, and how all life depends on plants. This activity is based on Wump World and students describe what...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Environmental Conditions: Friend or Foe

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students research and answer questions on how organisms are classified and how their needs are met through their environment. They work in small groups and create a poster, chart, rap, PowerPoint, or brochure demonstrating how organisms...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Pond Ecosystem Field Trip

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Young scholars investigate the environment by participating in a class trip. In this pond ecosystem lesson, students define a list of vocabulary terms associated with ponds such as invertebrate and metamorphosis. Young scholars attend a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Creature Features

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Students examine why certain animals live in only specific places throughout the world. Using animals, they classify them based on their characteristics and identify their basic needs. They also observe and compare the life cycles of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Where are the Dinosaurs?

For Teachers K - 2nd
Young scholars find the similarities of dinosaurs and the animals of today. In this dinosaurs lesson plan, students understand why dinosaurs have become extinct. Young scholars research and create dinosaur dioramas and finger puppets.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Bugs in the Woods

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders identify insects and plants in the forest ecosystem in a structured field trip with stations and activity booklets.  In this bugs lesson, 2nd graders explore the ecosystem of the forest, complete the booklet and play...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Forest Food Web Activity

For Teachers 3rd - 7th
Students gain knowledge of food webs and ecological interconnections in the forest, and place different life forms in their proper place in a food chain. Students appreciate the balance of nature and how humans are affected by extinct...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What Living Things Need

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students apply the process of scientific inquiry to explore how living things are dependent on one another for survival. They match animals with their generalized food source. Students predict what happens to the organisms when their...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Cell-ebrations in Science

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students recognize that all living things are made up of cell and that they cannot easily be seen by the naked eye. Students become familiar with the use of microscopes as a tool for investigation.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Basics: Life Science

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers develop an understanding of the different fields of study that are encompassed by the term, life science. They view and discuss a video on the topic. In small groups they focus on on of the examples shown in the video...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Oh Panther

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students play a game that replicates the balance of prey and predators in an ecosystem. In this physical education lesson, students follow the instructions to play "Oh Panther!" Students collect data regarding the game and discuss the...