California Academy of Science
Coincidental Colonization
The Galápagos Islands are an amazing place of isolated adaptation, colonized by an interesting mix of plants and animals. The class plays a game to help them understand how these organisms came to live on the island through a combination...
Curated OER
Undersea Plant and Animal Life
Young scholars study the various species found in and around oceans. They examine the variations in underwater life, determined by ocean depth. Afterward, they create dimensional relief boards of seascapes. In addition, they write a play...
Curated OER
Animals and Engineering
Students study animal classification and their interactions. In this animals and engineering lesson students study animal communities and how engineers use this knowledge to create new technologies.
Curated OER
Everything Breathes!
Fifth graders test plants in the dark and in the light to see which grows better and produces more carbon dioxide. For this plants lesson plan, 5th graders also create ways for plants to go through photosynthesis that they can observe.
Curated OER
Dissolved Oxygen and Respiration
Learners are presented with the question, "Do plants that grow underwater use oxygen?" They create an experiment to test the presence of dissolved oxygen in the water using provided materials. Student experiments include a control jar as...
Curated OER
Diving the Deep
Children research plant and animal components of marine ecosystem, visualize undersea life, and picture themselves wearing scuba-diving equipment needed to explore underwater. Students then create underwater scene in which they explore...
American Museum of Natural History
North American Mammals Coloring Book
Seven pages offer scholars the opportunity to learn about North American mammals and boost their coloring skills. Animals include brown bears, beavers, jackrabbits, wolves, jaguar, and Dall sheep
Curated OER
How about a Little Give and Take?
Learners design a closed system to test the relationships between plants and animals. They monitor abiotic fluctuations within this living system by using a chemical test kit. They observe how living organisms respond to fluctuations in...
Curated OER
Cell Energy-Bubbling Plants
Middle schoolers discuss the process of photosynthesis in plants and that oxygen is produced as a by product. They observe underwater Elodea plants "breathing" in a hands-on activity. After setting up the experiment, they observe the...
Curated OER
Flowering Plants
Students conduct online research to investigate gardening and landscaping tips. They determine how they can help beautify their homes and neighborhoods.
Curated OER
The Chesapeake Bay in Captain John Smith's Time
When Captain John Smith visited the Chesapeake Bay in the summer of 1608, what types of animals and habitats did he encounter? Your young historians will analyze primary source documents to answer this question, as well as compare the...
Curated OER
Hands on Biome--Building
Students create a model biome. In this ecology lesson, students use materials to create a model biome. There is an extension activity that allows students to write about plants and animals and their specific biome.
Curated OER
Build the Arctic Tundra
Students build a model of biome in order to comprehend the abiotic and biotic factors that are prevalent in a biome. In this hands on building lesson plan, students use a box to build a biome. . Students decorate the inside and outside...
Curated OER
Ocean Life Mural
How many oceans can you name? First, have learners try to name as many oceans as they can, and then have them locate and identify the oceans on a world map. They create a recognizable ocean animal using poster board and tissue paper....
PBS
Reading Adventure Pack: Oceans
Flotsam by David Wiesner and The Magic School Bus on the Ocean Floor by Joanna Cole, illustrated by Bruce Degen, begin a reading adventure pack focusing on oceans. With story listening and thoughtful discussion, scholars complete several...
Curated OER
Sponge-Painted Ocean Mural
I love big mural projects. They bring a sense of ownership to the classroom, look great for parents, and can be a great way to complete a unit. Here are the steps and suggestions needed to create an ocean mural for your class. Learners...
Curated OER
Underwater Nature Trails
Students research dive sites on an underwater nature trail that would introduce divers to the wonders of the reef surrounding South Caicos. They then recreate each dive site using shoe box diorama and create an information station at...
Curated OER
Savanna Hands-On Biome Building
Fifth graders participate in an interdisciplinary project related to the Savanna biome. In this biome building lesson plan, 5th graders display the elements of the Savanna biome such as the geography, animals and plants, and...
Curated OER
Hands on Biome-Building: Build a Forest
Students explore Earth science by identifying environmental factors. In this biome lesson, students discuss the importance of a functioning ecology and design a biome diorama. Students utilize images of trees and plants which represent a...
American Museum of Natural History
The Tree of Life
Groups of species can have more in common than meets the eye. An interactive cladogram shows some of the connections between important groups of species. Learners click on sections of the diagram to learn more about the connections or on...
Curated OER
A Model Estuary
Young scholars assemble a poster of an estuary showing the five communities of animals and plants that inhabit the estuary. They research the concept of an estuary and find photographs or diagrams of various estuaries to identify and...
Curated OER
Hands On Biome-Building
Students create a model biome to understand the abiotic and biotic factors that go into creating a biome. In this biomes lesson plan, students should display plants, animals, temperature, precipitation, and more.
Curated OER
Build the Taiga: Hands on Biome-Building
Students explore environmental awareness by completing a construction project. In this biomes instructional activity, students identify the different elements for life to thrive in an ecosystem. Students utilize a cardboard or wood box...
Curated OER
Hands On Biome-Building
Students create a desert biome to understand the abiotic and biotic factors of that biome. In this desert biome lesson plan, students include elevation, precipitation, temperature, plants, and more.