Curated OER
Striking a Balance
High schoolers simulate animals in a food chain. In this food chain lesson plan, students are identified as grasshoppers, frogs or hawks. Popcorn is spread across a lawn and high schoolers are given baggies (stomachs) and colored sashes...
Curated OER
Biodiversity Bird Hunt
Learners examine the influence of biodiversity on human culture through the use of birds. They brainstorm words that come to mind when they think of human cultures. They describe ways that human culture and biodiversity are linked.
Columbus City Schools
Diversity of Living Things
Here's a topic classes can really dig—the fossil record. Use the well-organized and thoughtful road map to take eighth graders back in time to unearth the answer. Learn how our climate has changed, and how organisms have changed along...
Chicago Botanic Garden
Leaf Litter Ecology Lab
Some organisms spend their entire lives in leaf litter. The third in a series of six is a great lesson exploring the community of leaf litter. Groups gather and then spread leaf litter over white paper and remove leaves/twigs while...
Virginia Department of Education
Equilibrium and Le Chatelier’s Principle
The best part of learning about equilibrium is that nothing changes. Young chemists observe four demonstrations during this lesson: equilibrium in a saturated solution, equilibrium with an acid-base indicator, equilibrium with cobalt...
Curated OER
The Process of Speciation
Students illustrate the results of natural selection by identifying conditions that could lead to the development of new species (speciation) based on a given description of environmental conditions and description of variation within a...
Curated OER
But, Why Sex?
Students investigate the importance of sexual reproduction in evolution. In this sexual reproduction lesson plan, students simulate species with two traits: eye and skin color. They determine what characteristics are beneficial for the...
Curated OER
Spork and Beans
Students examine natural selection, how it works and how it can cause microevolution. In this evolution lesson students complete a lab activity that shows the effects that natural selection has on organisms.
Curated OER
Bird Beak Buffet
Students complete an activity that allows them to better understand that birds traits are closely related to what they eat, where they live, etc. In this bird trait lesson students complete an activity, create a data board and graph the...
Curated OER
Reproduction and Development
In this development worksheet, students compare the characteristics of mitosis and meiosis. Students review the male and female reproductive organs and their functions. This worksheet has 4 graphic organizer, 6 short answer, and 16 fill...
Curated OER
Roots and Shoots
Students analyze the root structures of plants. In this root structure lesson, students compare the roots of several different plants. Students discover variations in root systems on many plants of the same species.
National Park Service
It's Not Easy Being Grizz
Grizzly bears can be up to 600 pounds and require a great deal of food, especially to survive hibernation. Comprised of multiple games, the third lesson of five only uses one setup. Pupils run around a large field, sorting and collecting...
Curated OER
Diversity and Adaptation
Tenth graders explore structure, function and variation among species. Through field observations, lab activities and homework, 10th graders observe and record examples of adaptation and variation.
Curated OER
Natural Selection
Eighth graders define natural selection and adaptation. They simulate natural selection within a species and relate the elements of natural selection to the simulation. They analyze the results of natural selection in terms of...
Curated OER
Big Beans, Little Beans
Students measure and note the variation in the lengths of lima beans. They compare the growth rate of different sized beans.
Curated OER
How Do Organisms Vary?
Pupils study variation of organisms. They determine this variation arises from genetic and environmental causes.
Curated OER
Introduction To Natural Selection
Seventh graders investigate the concept of natural selection and it relation to the theory of evolution. They create a definition for classification based upon looking at other subjects that are similar. The variation of species is...
Curated OER
Do You Have the Key?
Students practice using a dichotomous key. For this classification lesson, students read an article about scientific exploration and identification of new species. They use a dichotomous key to identify objects and create their own key.
Curated OER
How Things Go Wrong
Learners identify where mutations might occur and examine what effect those mutations will have through class discussion of DNA replication and cell division. Students then differentiate between mutations that affect individuals and...
Curated OER
The Voyage of the Beagle and Darwin's Observations
Students become familiar with the main events of Darwin's voyage. They comprehend the importance of geographic distribution and geographic isolation on the formation of a new species. Students analyze how living things can change over a...
Curated OER
Sexual Selection in the Animal Kingdom
High schoolers research how sexual selection plays a role in driving evolution. They experiment how variation exists within not just obvious physical traits, but metabolically and behaviorally. They write a letter describing a problem,...
Curated OER
Rain Reasons
Students explore how climatic factors influence the growth of plants. They create an experiment to find how variations in water, light, and temperature affect plant growth and describe how precipitation and geography can affect the...
Curated OER
Darwin vs Lamarck
Ninth graders describe variations in organisms and compare and contrast the evolutionary theories of Darwin and Lamarck. Students copy the definition of various given words and where they think they came from. They have to relate it to...
Curated OER
Bioregions of California
Students map out the bioregions of California by examining the species and environment in different areas of the state. They use information and pictures from a PowerPoint presentation to complete a map handout and play a trivia game.