Curated OER
Forest Food Chains and Webs
Students explore forest ecological systems. For this ecology lesson, students classify forest plants and animals according to their ecological roles. Students play a related vocabulary guessing game. Students choose a card on which...
Curated OER
Soil
Second graders name the various materials that comprise soil, including weathered rock and other organic matter. They explain that soils differ in their color, texture, capacity to retain water, and ability to support the growth of many...
Curated OER
Summer Nature Activity: Carrots! Carrots!
Young scholars investigate reading, cooking, and planting activities that teach that a carrot is the root of a plant. For this early childhood science lesson, students explore the world around them as they read The Carrot Seed and...
Curated OER
Vermicomposting
Fourth graders explore insect life by viewing a soil presentation in class. In this composting lesson, 4th graders read assigned text about the process of composting soil and the necessity of soil in plant life. Students view video clips...
Curated OER
Salt is Good On Sunflower Seeds, But What About Cypress?
Students record their observations about growing a cypress plant and putting salt in the plant. In this cypress plant lesson plan, students observe and record what is happening as the cypress plant grows. This gives directions for...
Curated OER
Farming in Space
Eighth graders examine the ways that NASA could create space farms, In this space farms instructional activity students complete an experiment where they grow several plants.
Curated OER
Just Bee-Tween Flowers!
Students examine the major plant and bee parts and the interdependency between bees and fast plants. They observe and record the stages of growth of fast plants, take photos of the plant's life cycle, and cross-pollinate plants.
Curated OER
Survey of the Plant Kingdom
In this plant kingdom worksheet, students will review the characteristics of the 12 divisions of the plant kingdom, comparing and contrasting their structures and life cycles. This worksheet has 17 matching, 5 short answer, and 5 fill in...
Curated OER
What a Weed-- Wanted Posters
In this science worksheet, learners draw sketches of "weedy criminals" and write about their bad points and how we can get them under control. Students then draw "wonderful weeds" and tell how someone would grow them.
Curated OER
Radish Seed Garden - Growth Data Table
Radishes are great plants to use in any unit on gardening. They are easy to germinate from seed. The learning exercise has groups of gardeners plant two radish seeds in one container, and four radish seeds in another. They use this...
Curated OER
Fall Colors: How the Forest Makes Energy
Read about the process of photosynthesis, and how plants use energy from sunlight to grow. The reading passage includes a photosynthesis diagram and focuses on changes in leaf color occurring in the fall.
Biology Junction
Changes in Ecosystems: Ecological Succession
Can an area with no soil turn into a forest? Scholars learn about the process of ecological succession using an interesting presentation. It covers both primary and secondary succession in the building of new ecosystems.
American Museum of Natural History
Bio-Benefits
Kick-start a discussion of the importance of biodiversity with a colorful resource that touts the benefits of maintaining healthy ecosystems. The images stress the interdependence of all the elements of an ecosystem.
Exploring Nature Educational Resources
Building A Classroom Food Web
From bears and owls to chipmunks and trees, all life depends on the sun for the energy to survive. Young biologists develop an understanding of this big idea as they arrange this series of plant and animal picture cards into food...
Mr. E. Science
Weathering and Soil
From types of rocks to types of weathering, learners gain knowledge on minerals, composition of soil, and the effects of weathering on Earth.
Teach Engineering
Algae: Tiny Plants with Big Energy Potential
My, what big energy potential you have! Scholars learn about the energy potential of using algae as a biofuel. A PowerPoint presentation first describes the structure of algae and then how researchers use algae as biofuel to produce energy.
Arbor Day Foundation
Trees are Terrific...Inside and Out!
Trees are the star of a three-step unit celebrating Arbor Day. Step one takes an in-depth look into the structure of a tree, the process of photosynthesis, and the benefits of the leafy giants. Step two challenges scholars to create a...
California Academy of Science
Sustainable Water Solutions: Weighing the Pros and Cons
Switching indoor water fixtures to low flow reduces water usage by more than 45 percent. This and other solutions to reduce water usage have both pros and cons. Scholars view videos of different solutions, discuss them in small groups,...
California Education Partners
Lashelles Garden
Let knowledge grow bountifully like plants in a garden. Given a diagram of a rectangular garden split into plots, scholars determine the area of the entire garden and the areas of the individual plots. As a culminating activity, they...
Curated OER
Dinofours My Seeds Won't Grow
Students listen to a read aloud, Dinofours My Seeds Won't Grow. They talk about what plants need to grow and study the parts of plants. They discuss what types of plants we eat after which they plant a seed in order to observe the growth...
Curated OER
All About Plants
Students identify plant needs. In this biology lesson plan, students watch All About Plants and then write a paragraph describing the various details about plants.
Curated OER
Plants
Second graders examine the characteristics of plants. As a class, they brainstorm a list of items plants need in order to survive. In groups, they complete various experiments in which they discover the functions of the parts of the plant.
Curated OER
Sowing Seeds
Students observe earth science by participating in a planting activity. In this seeds lesson, students identify the process for seeds to transform into plants which eventually produce food. Students sow seeds in the ground and eventually...
Curated OER
Plant Structure
In this plant science worksheet, students complete a crossword puzzle with 48 questions. They identify the different parts of a plant.