Students study starfish through dissection. In this biology lesson plan, students explore the lives of starfish as they view a slide show, observe parts of echinoderms, and compare the classification of the starfish with other...

Students study patterns. In this symmetry in nature instructional activity, students examine objects to determine what type of symmetry they have. They work in small groups to rotate through stations that have objects for them to study.

Students compare animal adaptations to human behavior. For this science lesson, students discuss animal instincts vs. learned behavior. Options for student writing, drawing and research are incorporated into this lesson plan

Seventh graders examine the physical features of an amphibian.  In this investigative lesson students compare and contrast the anatomy of a frog to a human. 

Students use a dichotomous key to classify various vertebrate jar speciments into classes. They examine the speciments for general characteristics of each class and fill in a corresponding chart and then complete a few final assessment...

Students engage in a instructional activity in order to review some of the basic concepts of kingdoms and classification. They use research methods in order to find some of the information initially an use the notes to review for the...

Students study natural selection and its process in the peppered moth. In this evolution lesson, students read about the concept of natural selection as suggested by Charles Darwin. Students then complete a natural selection simulation...

Students discuss the contributions of different organisms to our world. In this biology activity, students research countries with limited food supply. They create an improvement plan for a fictitious country assigned to them.

Eighth graders write a short report in first person about any plant or animal found on a list of Illinois species. They become the character of the plant or animal and give a short report describing the plant or animal.

Students explore the concept of scientific classification systems using a guided Internet research activity. They answer specific questions on the classification of animals by exploring a different Internet link for each question.

First graders investigate two different types of whales; toothed and baleen. They describe what the different types of whale eat. They listen to a cassette of Dyan Sheldon's, The Whale Song before making stick puppets to dramatize the...

Seventh graders used aquatic nets and other equipment to sample organisms in the lake -made plaster casts of footprints found around the edges of the lake -used reference materials to identify all organisms collected -filled out an...

Students are taken on a simulated "voyage" backward in time, to the beginning of our planet. They "witness" that beginning, the origin of life, and a number of key events from then to the present.

Learners create books about their favorite animals using graphic organizers.

Students conduct Internet research on the different parts of the skeletal system. Then they create a model arm that demonstrates how muscle and bone work together to create movement.

Students are able to recognize that scientists use different definitions of species. They are able to assess the strengths and limitations of species definitions depending on their context. Students are able to use definitions of...

Students explore the relationship between their skeletal and muscular systems, resulting in ability to name and compare types of joints and ability to demonstrate how muscles move bones.

Fourth graders work in pairs to research an animal. They fill in an animal data form in order to become experts about the animal they choose. They use the listed criteria to design a six sided brochure that includes graphics of the...

Students examine different kinds and characteristics of reptiles, and demonstrate reading comprehension skills, including reading strategies, inference, literal meaning, and critical analysis.

Third graders research prehistoric life using educational software. They design a prehistoric life while showing the use of appropriate scale and names for the prehistoric life. They follow an internet link to participate in a virtual...

Students use the Animal Diversity E-Sheet to access the Where Can Animals Live? online book.

Students identify insect (and plant) specimens using the online resource Biokeys. They record the data that they collect in their notebooks. Students use identification characteristics and features that are shared and unique among groups.

Third graders investigate how and why scientists use classification. They discuss classification strategies using animals, and as a class fill in a flowchart with their responses. Next, in small groups they cut out a variety of shapes...

Learners get acquainted with diverse forms of life by using modern biological classification systems to group animals that are related. They explore basic scientific groupings like genus, species, mammals, fish, birds, amphibians, and...