Insects threaten the food production industry, and aphids are one of the big players! Analyzing data of aphid populations gives insight into their behaviors. Learners model the population data of an uninhibited population with an...

Students read The Magic School Bus Plants Seeds by Janna Cole. They complete a variety of cross-curricular activities surrounding the study of plants and seeds. Included are reading, art, math, science, writing, social studies, and...

Celebrate fall with four pumpkin themed hands-on activities! After learning about pumpkins, scholars complete two activity sheets that reinforce estimation and word problems. They then plant pumpkin seeds and bake a pie in...

Students investigate the lives of trees by examining ring cycles.  In this plant life lesson, students identify the field of study known as dendrochronology and discover its history.  Students investigate a simulated tree ring...

Sixth graders explore the animals that live on the prairie and identify differences between amphibians and reptiles and the adaptations each have made to live on the prairie.

Young ornithologists watch an informative video and use the Internet to gather data about the life, size, habitat, and migration of hummingbirds. The interdisciplinary lesson includes activities that target art, science, math, and...

Fifth graders examine ecosystems in their schoolyard. In this nature and ecosystem lesson, 5th graders map their schoolyard into workable plots. They classify plants and animals found in the plot. They revisit their site every two weeks...

Students observe and categorize insects. In this insects science lesson, students create a bug catcher out of a coat hanger and plastic bag, then collect bugs from the schoolyard. Students count and categorize the insects according to...

Students discover the reproductive parts of a plant.  In this biology lesson, students identify and categorize several different plants they dissect in class.  Students record their information using a data chart.

Students collect and classify items. In this making predictions lesson plan, students go outside and collect specimens of plants, insects and minerals. They classify each item and place them in a Venn Diagram. Students compare and...

Students simulate honeybees pollinating flowers. In this pollination lesson, students role-play the process of pollination over the course of several seasons. Students graph results and share their graphs with the class.

Students are introduced to the seed cycle and draw the specific steps. In groups, they identify the human barriers to the spreading of weeds. After calculating the rate of spreading of the Yellowstar Thistle, they create graphs to see a...

First graders build a habitat for crickets after studying animal survival needs. They care for and observe the crickets in the classroom habitat.

Young scholars construct a web of life. In this ecosystem lesson students are introduced to ecosystems and life cycles. Insects are the main focus.

Fourth graders provide a habitat for live mealworms and observe their life cycle. For this animal life cycle and scientific inquiry lesson, 4th graders create a habitat for a live mealworm and observe and record related data as it grows....

Students recognize that bees are important in the reproduction of plants and to the survival of animals.  In this bee lesson, students become familiar with the parts of bees and how those adaptations help them pollinate plants....

Fourth graders study the lives, and features of insects in the series of lessons that make up this unit.

Third graders cut open a pumpkin. In this math lesson, 3rd graders complete the worksheet "From Seed to Pumpkin" and then clean out their pumpkins to see how many seeds are in it.

Students explore the wonders of bugs. In this bug lesson, students examine various types of bugs. Students make crafts, sing songs, discuss nutrition, and investigate different types of insects.

Students create a dichotomous key. In this categorizing activity, students create a dichotomous key for different types of cereal. Students classify the cereal into groups such as flakes and cereal with holes. Students discuss their...

Students use the macro mode of the OLYMPUS FE-140 CAMERAS as virtual microscopes to explore different habitats, observe plants, soil, and insects and other creatures. They download those images on electronic files and build web pages....

Students capture and observe insects. Using provided netting, students design and create a butterfly net. They study many types of insects and their benefits. After identifying insects caught, students complete a graph. Students write...

Students investigate insects. In this insect analysis instructional activity, students catch insects using nets they make. They identify the insects they catch and create a chart to show the numbers and varieties. This instructional...

Students collect "prairie insects" for data collection and analysis.