Unit Plan
Next.cc

Next: Prairie

For Students 3rd - 8th
Complete these three activities to learn about prairies and where they are located. Includes links to explore related material.
Handout
Alberta Online Encyclopedia

Alberta Online Encyclopedia: Natural Regions of Alberta

For Students 9th - 10th
Using a colorful interactive map of Alberta, you can learn about the geographic regions of the province. Facts and photos of each region are included.
Handout
Encyclopedia of Earth

Encyclopedia of Earth: Terrestrial Biome

For Students 9th - 10th
Gives short descriptions of the many different types of biomes found on land all over the world. (Updated: February 22, 2013)
Website
Other

Introduction to Biomes

For Students 9th - 10th
This site provides an introduction to biomes. There are also links to each different type of biome.
Handout
PBS

Nh Pbs: Nature Works: Black Tailed Prairie Dog

For Students Pre-K - 1st
Discover more about the Black-tailed Prairie Dog through this educational resource. This site features information on reproduction, habitat, range, diet and more.
Handout
A-Z Animals

A Z Animals: Animal Facts: Grasshopper (Caelifera)

For Students 9th - 10th
This entry identifies the defining characteristics of Caelifera, more commonly known as the grasshopper.
Interactive
Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Habitat Network: Native Grasses for Your Native Lawn

For Students 9th - 10th
Find out how to use native grasses to increase wildlife diversity in a backyard.
Article
Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Habitat Network: Native Lawn Ftw! (For the Win)

For Students 9th - 10th
Find out about the advantages of planting native grasses in a lawn.
Handout
Canadian Museum of Nature

Canadian Museum of Nature: Arctic Ground Squirrel

For Students 9th - 10th
The Canadian Museum of Nature provides characteristics of the Arctic Ground Squirrel.
Handout
Lincoln Park Zoo

Lincoln Park Zoo: African Lion

For Students 9th - 10th
A wonderful research tool for gathering information about the African Lion. Information that is given includes what it looks like, what it eats, where it lives, its life history. Additional information included is about its special...
Website
African Wildlife Foundation

African Wildlife Foundation: Lion

For Students 9th - 10th
This resource takes an exploratory look at the lion. Content includes information on this animal's physical characteristics, habitat, behavior, diet, caring for the young, predators, and more.
Handout
Science Struck

Science Struck: 12 Types of Ecosystems

For Students 9th - 10th
Describes twelve kinds of ecosystems.
Handout
Center for Educational Technologies

Nasa: Classroom of the Future: Spheres: Biosphere

For Students 9th - 10th
Use this site to learn about the different areas of the biosphere, known as biomes.
Unit Plan
Scholastic

Scholastic: Study Jams! Science: Ecosystems: Biomes

For Students 3rd - 7th
A video and a short multiple-choice quiz on the topic of biomes, and the six different types that are found on Earth.
Lesson Plan
Alabama Learning Exchange

Alex: Beginner's Avl (Alabama Virtual Library)

For Teachers Pre-K - 1st
Learners will research the red fox using an online encyclopedia from the Alabama Virtual Library web site and answer questions provided by the teacher. This is a good lesson for students' first experience in using the AVL.
Handout
Smithsonian Institution

National Museum of Natural History: American Mammals: Southwestern Myotis

For Students 4th - 8th
Southwestern myotis live in a variety of southwestern mountain habitats, from desert grasslands up into pine and mixed coniferous forest in the United States, and in desert and grassland in Mexico. These bats and two other myotis...
Handout
Smithsonian Institution

National Museum of Natural History: American Mammals: Ord's Kangaroo Rat

For Students 4th - 8th
By occupying the short grass prairie of the Great Plains, and a variety of habitats where there are fine-textured, sandy soils, Ord's Kangaroo Rat has managed a truly enormous geographic distribution. The varied habitats that it occupies...
Handout
Canadian Museum of Nature

Canadian Museum of Nature: Bactrian Camel

For Students 9th - 10th
Bactrian camels are found wild in the Gobi Desert, and in the grasslands of China and Mongolia. Details about this animal can be found here along with photos.
Website
Other

David Ward

For Students 9th - 10th
David Ward is a Canadian author of novels for junior and intermediate students. In some of his novels he creates imaginary worlds, such as in his trilogy about a place called Grassland. This is his website where you will find a biography...
Handout
Nature Canada

Nature Canada: Suffield National Wildlife Area: Mammals at Risk

For Students 9th - 10th
Ord's Kangaroo Rat and Western Harvest Mouse are two prairie mammals that are being affected by the erosion of their habitats. The proposed drilling of gas wells in Alberta and the loss of prairie grasslands to agriculture are factors...
Website
Ducksters

Ducksters: Science for Kids: Tundra Biome

For Students 1st - 9th
Kids learn about the tundra grasslands biome. This cold and dry ecosystem is located far to the north.
Handout
Smithsonian Institution

National Museum of Natural History: American Mammals: Canyon Deermouse

For Students 4th - 8th
Canyon Deermice inhabit arid shrublands and grasslands in the inhospitable "slickrock" deserts of the West. In the canyons where they live, the common denominator is bare rock, and they are remarkably agile at scampering on vertical or...
Handout
Smithsonian Institution

National Museum of Natural History: American Mammals: Black Footed Ferret

For Students 4th - 8th
Once widespread in the grasslands and western basins of North America, by 1987 Black-footed Ferrets were thought to be extinct in the wild. Captive animals were bred in an effort to save the species, and in 1991, some were reintroduced...
Handout
Smithsonian Institution

National Museum of Natural History: American Mammals: Silver Haired Bat

For Students 4th - 8th
Somewhat resembling the larger hoary bat, the silver-haired bat has frosted tips on the black or dark-brown fur of its back. Silver-haired bats occur in both grassland and forest and are abundant in old-growth forest. Learn more about...