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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ecosystems

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers study ecosystems and the biodiversity within.  In this ecosystems instructional activity students complete a lab activity and assess the biodiversity in their own community.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ecological Organization

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explain the impact of ecological organization. In this web-based lesson, students work through a series of activities to explain how biotic and abiotic interactions occur in ecosystems.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Coral Reefs

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students examine the animals that live in a coral reef and how they adapt to their environment.  In this coral lesson students write a short book on how animals inhabit the coral reefs. 
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Exploring Ecosystems

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders investigate ecosystems. In this ecosystem lesson, 4th graders explore producers, consumers, and decomposers and study the interdependence of each.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Build An Island

For Teachers 3rd - 7th
Students explore erosion. In this science lesson, students build an island and observe the effects of erosion on the island. Students discuss freshwater ecosystems in Hawaii.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Coral Reef Ecology

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Young scholars explore coral life cycles. In this coral ecosystems lesson, students view videos explaining the life cycle of coral, including examples of sexual and asexual reproduction. Young scholars read a related article...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Impact of Invasive Species on Food Webs and Ecosystems

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders explore how invasive species affect the Great Lakes. In this science lesson, 5th graders research invasive species and create a food chain involving the invasive species. Students discuss how the environment is affected by...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Biodiversity

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students explore the diversity of different marine sanctuaries.  For this biodiversity lesson students work in groups to explore a sanctuary.
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Lesson Plan
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Are You Getting Thirsty?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students study droughts and how they affect communities and coastal ecosystems.  In this ecosystems lesson students use data to examine drought conditions in certain areas. 
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Lesson Plan
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Modeling Changes to Ecosystems Pt. 2

For Teachers 4th - 7th
Students explore the environment by creating a poster. For this ecosystem protection lesson, students analyze a list of vocabulary terms associated with the scientific method. Students create a poster which answers a specific question...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Earth Systems Science

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers perform experiments designed to grow plants and bacteria in a controlled environment.  In this ecosystems activity students investigate varying conditions for growing plants and bacteria. 
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Big Picture: Systems

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students study the ways that agro-ecosystems function to support sustainable agriculture.  In this investigative lesson students examine the different cycles of ecosystems and food systems. 
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Understanding Interactions Among Local Species and the Local Environment

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Students examine the differences between biotic and abiotic factors, explain the difference between habitat and niche and compare how organisms get their nutritional needs.  In this local environment lesson plan students trace the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Are There Too Many Elk?

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students use information about elk populations in Arizona to make recommendations about population management. In this ecology instructional activity, students discover the problems associated with having a heard of elk that is too...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Indian Ocean Explored

For Teachers 4th - 7th
Students consider the information presented in the WNET videotape of India: Land of the Tiger/Unknown Seas (Episode 3).  In this biology instructional activity, students view the video and engage in a discussion about the questions...
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Lesson Plan
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Biomes: Adapting To Deserts & Other Ecosystems

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Young scholars examine how animals must be adapted to the conditions of its environment to survive.  In this biomes lesson plan students research desert adaptations then discuss how these animals have survived. 
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Lesson Plan
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Plant Identification Pictionary

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
Young scholars examine ecosystems and the variety of plants and animals that can be found in them.  For this plant identification lesson students identify the basic parts of a plant and categorize them according to their...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Coral Reefs Endangered

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students identify different types of nutritional relationships in a coral reef system and trace the energy flow.  In this marine biology lesson students create a simulation of acidification of the coral reef. 
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Lesson Plan
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How do people use ecosystems and their resources?

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Learners examine how natural resources are reusable, renewable or nonrenewable.  In this ecosystems lesson plan students see the effects humans have on ecosystems and complete an art lesson plan activity. 
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Graphic Organizers Aid Comprehension

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students create story webs to aid comprehension of ecosystems. In this reading strategies instructional activity, students discover the importance of organizing information while reading a nonfiction text. Students produce story webs to...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Decomposers- Nurse Logs

For Teachers 1st - 4th
Students investigate temperate forest ecosystems. In this environmental lesson, students discover different forms of decomposition and its effect on the environment.
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Lesson Plan
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Ecosystems

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students examine biodiversity in plant life and what an ecosystem is composed of.  In this ecosystem lesson students go around their school and collect specimens and examine the plant species they encounter. 
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What Critters Tell Us About Water Quality: A Macroinvertebrate Lesson

For Teachers 3rd - 7th
Students explore our ecosystem by investigating the quality of our water. In this aquatic insect lesson, students examine a group of random insects collected from different streams and ponds in the area. Students record their...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water Cycle and Ecosystems

For Teachers K - 3rd
Students explore the water cycle. In this investigative lesson, students examine the water cycle process. They will record their observations and discuss marine and freshwater ecosystems.