Curated OER
How Does Vegetation Decrease Erosion?
In this erosion activity, students will compare what happens to soil when water flows over soil with no vegetation and soil with vegetation. Then, students will complete four short answer questions.
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Trees and Erosion
Students examine the connection between trees and erosion. In this erosion instructional activity students experiment with the effects of rain on a hillside. Students investigate the number of trees and the amount of erosion.
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Making Recycled Paper
Students explore paper making. In this tree conservation ecology lesson, students brainstorm ways paper is used in daily life. Students examine paper fiber using a magnifying glass. Students make paper following a step by step procedure...
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Dirty Decomposers
Learners explore the ecosystem by conducting a ziploc bag experiment. In this recycling lesson, students identify decomposer organisms in our environment and how they speed up the recycling process. Learners utilize a ziploc plastic bag,...
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Structure and Function of Bulbs, Corms and Rhizomes
Students explore the concept of philanthropy and why people give. They investigate the importance of the tulip to Holland and the tradition of giving flowers away. They begin to explore the life cycle of tulips and dissect a bulb to...
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Life cycles
Students identify and explain the parts of a flower and their role in the life cycle of flowering plants, including pollination, seed dispersal, and germination. Students recap the following information: that plants need light, warmth,...
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Weeds on the Windowsill
Students study farming and reasons to control weeds. They examine pesticides necessary for the control of weeds and the damage to the environment. Through experimentation, students plant seeds in different soils and determine if seeds...
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Variation
Students participate in an online lesson to reinforce the similarities and differences in plants and animals. They classify living things according to observable characteristics.
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Mother Nature's Laboratory
Students research how various plants and animals adapt over time to specific habitats and for specific purposes. Students produce a pictorial report on an example of an animal or plant's adaptation.
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Your Own Greenhouse
Learners discuss the similarities between the Earth's atmosphere and a greenhouse. In this science activity, students make their own greenhouses out of plastic bottles and thermometers. Learners record the temperature different times of...
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The Three Sisters
Students read about the Three Sisters of the crops that helped the Native Americans and plant a garden based on companion planting. In this crops lesson plan, students complete garden designs and then create their garden.
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Soybeans: The Miracle Seed
Learners discover why soybeans are called the "miracle seeds." They make their own soynuts and share other foods made from soybeans. They create a bulletin board of soybean products.
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The Root Show
Young scholars investigate plant roots. In this plant lesson, students discover the function and structure of plant roots. Young scholars plant a plant in a milk carton with a clear section cut out in order to observe the roots of the...
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Know your roots!
Looking at an image of plant systems with their roots in the ground, learners determine which would be the most or least difficult to pull. They write short sentences describing which plant they chose and why. Intended for 3rd or 4th...
University of Wisconsin
Rain Garden Maintenance
Maintaining a garden is an ongoing responsibility. This resource follows a series of activities in a unit that resulted in the planting of a rain garden. What you will find here are general instructions for watering, weeding, pruning,...
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Germs and Your Body
Students study germs and ways your body fights against disease. For this germs lesson students complete an activity that demonstrates where germs can get into your body.
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Moldy Jell-O
Mini mycologists plan an experiment to determine what affects the growth of mold on gelatin. A list of available materials is provided, but the procedure needs to be designed by the lab group. A data table is also provided in...
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Air Quality
Learners participate in many activities examining air quality. They examine the purpose of a greenhouse and make predictions. They also collect data and make graphs and charts.
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All About Seeds!
First graders learn all about seeds. For this biology lesson, 1st graders discover: what a fruit is, what is inside of seeds, and how seeds are transported.
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Symbiosis: Help, Hinder or Destroy
Use background information and vocabulary to familiarize your students with the concept of symbiosis and the role agriculture plays in the shared relationship. They then write the vocabulary in their lab books or journals, and read the...
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Corn Harvest
Students read Corn Belt Harvest and write sentences about corn's uses. They visit a cornfield and a grain elevator or have guest speakers come to class. They design posters about harvesting or processing corn into grain.
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Planting Rabbit King’s Carrot
Even pirates know not to steal stuff you can make yourself! Read The Pirate's Parrot Stole the King's Carrot to engage your class. Then, plant carrots with your class. If this isn't possible with your kiddos, consider cutting out paper...
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Name that animal
A great way to classify organisms, is by counting the number of legs it has or how it moves. Little ones count the legs on five different creatures, then match the leg count to the proper animal name. Tip: Have them come up with other...
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Seeds in Flight Information Sheet
Seeds in flight are amazing things. Hand out a great information sheet for learners to read. They'll discover facts about seeds, why they spread, and examples of how different seeds get from here to there.