Curated OER
Track Traces
Students explore animal characteristics by participating in an animal anatomy activity. In this animal tracks lesson, students identify the differences between specific animals and the shape of their footprints. Students utilize a...
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Up the Down Tree House
Young scholars investigate the decomposition process. In this ecology lesson, students participate in a play, "Up the Treehouse" where the main idea focuses on a decomposing tree and how food chains are effected by decomposition. After...
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Carbon Cycle Capers
Students examine the carbon dioxide cycle in the atmosphere. In this element lesson, students discuss the relationship between carbon dioxide on Earth and the plants that store it. Students play a game to ensure their understanding.
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Mr. Lincoln's Whiskers
Learn about the events that helped shape the United States of America. Elementary schoolers explore the Civil War with six different activities. Each activity has a different focus: literature connections, primary sources, vocabulary,...
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PASSENGER PIGEONS: NOMADS LOST
Students explore the concept and implications of extinction using the example of the Passenger Pigeon, once an extremely abundant species that was completely eliminated by humans.
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Predicting the Future
Students examine how scientists predict the effects of global climate change. In this environmental science lesson, students participate in a discussion about using computer generated data to create climate predictions. Students examine...
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Goldilocks and the Real Bears
Students participate in a comparison lesson plan where they compare fictional bears to real life bears. In this science/language arts lesson plan, students read Goldilocks and the Three Bears. Students...
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Climate Mime-it
Students pantomime new climate vocabulary words. In this climate lesson, students go over new vocabulary words and their meanings. Students form groups and pantomime these word's definitions.
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Who Eats Who?
Students recognize that some animals eat plants, some eat meat and some both. In this who eats who lesson, students chart animals in a food chain. Students research information from reading articles. Students chart what...
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Old Growth Forest Mural
Students explore the four characteristics of an old growth forest. In this forest instructional activity, students research old growth forests and their inhabitants. Students work in four separate groups and create a mural for their...
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TE Lesson: Can You Taste It?
Students investigate how animals adapt to use its senses to identify foods that are nutritious or noxious. They determine how they associate foods with other things such as birthdays. They discuss the role of the nervous system in the...
US Department of Education
Early Childhood: Five Themes of Geography
Any preschool teacher would be thrilled to have a resource like this one. It includes activity ideas, discussion leads, book suggestions, and a glossary for learners ages 2 - 5. The entire booklet focuses on ways to teach young children...
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Rock On!
After five class sessions, young scientists will be able to identify common rock types: igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic. This plan involves hands-on activities, includes various handouts and worksheets, and requires there to be...
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Carving Mountains
Young scholars explore geography by participating in an illustration activity. In this land-form instructional activity, students define vocabulary terms associated with glaciers and forests. Young scholars utilize pens, cardboard and...
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Track Stories
Learners identify animal tracks. In this animal track lesson, students look at "track stories" and identify the animals that made the tracks. Learners discuss if they believe the animals are predators or prey.
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Changes at Log City
Students draw three different murals of a rotting log. For this science lesson, students draw a rotting log including organisms found, one with the decomposers left behind, and the third predictions as to what they log will look...
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Which Bear?
Students study bears. In this science lesson, students compare black, grizzly and polar bears. Students measure the bear tracks and compare the bear habitats and diet.
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Models of Succession
Students create a model city in order to understand the effects human habitats have on the environment. In this environment instructional activity, students examine the effects human habitats have on the environment. Students...
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Snug in the Snow
Learners explore how snow helps animals survive in the wild. In this animal science lesson, students review key vocabulary words and discuss types of animal adaptations. Learners construct shoebox to simulate the snowy environment where...
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Forest Poetry
Students explore nature by participating in a poetry writing activity. In this forest investigation lesson, students identify images and feelings they experienced while they were in a forest on a class trip. Students identify poetry...
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Habitat Hunt
Students discover how hard it is for animals to find all the items needed in their habitat. In this habitat lesson, students play a game in which they pretend to be an animal, they discover that not all animals can find the food needed...
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Life in a Log
Students identify insects living in rotting logs. In this decomposition lesson plan, students observe pieces of a rotting log, they look at the insects that have inhabited the log and create a chart that shows their findings.
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What's That Habitat?
Fourth graders explore the environment by researching animal characteristics. In this habitat identification lesson, 4th graders utilize paper and crayons to illustrate their own habitats or homes and discuss what it contains that is...
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Beaver Succession Mural
Students explore the concept of beaver pond succession. In this succession lesson, students discuss what succession is and how it works. Students create a mural to present their understanding of this concept.