Curated OER
Wolves: Friend or Foe?
Students study wolves and their habitat in Yellowstone. In this environment and behavior lesson students create an interactive map of wolves in Yellowstone.
Pennsylvania Department of Education
Cycles, Systems, and Webs
Fourth graders review the parts of the plant and their functions. In this plant lesson, 4th graders recognize that plants must transfer energy to make food. Students understand the interdependence of organisms in an...
Pennsylvania Department of Education
Animal Classes and Their Ecosystems
Students explore animal characteristics by participating in an environment identification activity. In this animal habitat lesson plan, students discuss a range of different wild life and the ecosystems that they are a part of. Students...
Curated OER
Investigating Local Ecosystems
Students observe a local area for living organisms and their habitats. In this local ecosystems lesson, students complete an online field journal. Students share their findings and sort them into categories. Students visit a...
Curated OER
Food Chains & Food Webs
Tenth graders examine how energy is lost through different trophic levels. In this trophism lesson students construct a food web and view a video.
Curated OER
Shark Attack Odds and the Importance of Sharks
Students examine an ecosystem. In this food web lesson, students discover the importance of sharks and what threat sharks actually pose to humans. They participate in class discussions and work independently on a couple of different...
Curated OER
Aquatic Ecosystems
Students study the diversity of marine life and their habitats. In this aquatic ecosystems activity students complete a lab activity and experiment.
Curated OER
Exploring the Water Cycle
Students investigate the water cycle. In this water cycle activity, students create an ecosystem within a 2-liter bottle. Students record scientific observations as they observe the water cycle within their ecosystem.
Curated OER
Eco-Detectives
Students explore natural decomposers. For this decomposing lesson, students participate in a WebQuest to discover how nature handles decomposition. Students compare natural methods for decomposition with recycling efforts.
Curated OER
Food Webs
Learners identify predator/prey relationships based on the food web of the tropical rain forest ecosystem and realize they need a food web for survival. In this food web lesson plan, students complete a role play activity being animals...
Curated OER
Insects!
Students explore the diet of insects. In this "insects" biology lesson, students take a nature walk and collect various natural materials they think may be eaten by insects. Students sort and classify these materials into three diet...
Curated OER
Fish Fashion 101
Students explore fish anatomy. In this fish anatomy and adaptation lesson, students define and identify the location of fish body parts. Students add these parts of a fish's anatomy to a life-sized fish costume worn by a student. ...
Curated OER
What is an Ahupua'a?
Students research ahupua'a ecosystems. In this ahupua'a lesson, students explore how land is subdivided in Hawaii and the effect on the ecosystem. Resources are provided.
Curated OER
Rocky Shore Food Web Drama
Students explore food chains. In this ecosystem instructional activity, students discover how plants and animals rely on each other for survival. Students research the rocky shore ecosystem and create a skit representing the ecosystem.
Curated OER
Barn Owls and Owl Pellet Dissection
Students explore birds of prey and food chains. In this ecosystems and birds of prey cross curriculum science and literacy lesson, students brainstorm characteristics of birds after viewing photographs. Students view a video and document...
Curated OER
Biomimicry, Nature: Architecture of the Future
Students explore the relationship between nature and architecture. In this cross curriculum history, culture, and architecture lesson, students observe and discuss structures visible in nature. Students view websites in which Native...
Curated OER
Web of Life
Students construct a web of life. In this ecosystem lesson students are introduced to ecosystems and life cycles. Insects are the main focus.
Curated OER
Layers of the Forest
Students explore rain forests. In this rain forest ecosystems lesson, students identify and describe the layers of the rain forest. Students paint and decorate a large rain forest mural. Students write riddles about animals that...
Curated OER
Forest as a Filter
Students experiment using soil and water. In this forest as a filter instructional activity, students identify the role of forest cover, vegetation, and foliage impacts erosion and evaporation. Students conduct a simple experiment, form...
Curated OER
Producers -- Focus on Trees
Learners examine the needs of trees and plants. In this forest ecosystem lesson students use seedlings to investigate the basic necessities of plants. They discuss the consequences of these basic needs not being met.
Curated OER
Food Webs and Making Miniature Ecosystems
Students model a food web and create a miniature ecosystem. In this animal interactions activity, students engage in a role playing game which simulates a food web. Students then build miniature ecosystems using pop bottles, snails,...
Curated OER
Start at the Very Beginning
Young scholars explore ocean ecosystems. In this cross curriculum art and oceans lesson, students create a collage featuring three-finger algae using sand paper, tissue paper, and construction paper.
Curated OER
Receding Waters
Learners explore the effect of environmental factors on ecosystems. In this wildlife and ecology lesson, students identify and describe the stages in a frog's life cycle. Learners participate in a simulation demonstrating the...
Curated OER
Mountain Pine Beetles
Students research and develop power point presentations that answer the question, "What is changing our forests?" In this ecology lesson, students research the niche of Pine Beetles and their increased effect on the forests in...