Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Animal Habitats: English Language Development Lessons (Theme 4)
This activities in this packet, the second in the series of support materials for the Houghton Mifflin Harcourt thematic units on animal habitats, are designed specifically for English language learners.
PreKinders
Ocean Word Cards
Dive into ocean vocabulary with a set of 29 picture word cards. Each card presents a picture of an animal or item from the ocean in vivid color, as well as its name.
Curated OER
Life in the Crystal Palace
Marine biologists research sea ice communities. Assign some groups to construct paper models of sea ice communities in winter, and some to construct models of them in summer. The lesson is simplistic, but the Internet resources provided...
Curated OER
Mixed Media Ocean Art
Students design pictures of ocean environments. In this art lesson, students use mixed media art materials to develop a picture that depicts the ocean environment. They use paint, sand paper and various basic art materials.
Curated OER
Entering the Twilight Zone
Students describe major features of cold-seep communities and the process of chemosynthesis as it relates to organisms in each habitat. In this deep-sea habitats lesson plan, students study the categorization of ocean habitats according...
Curated OER
Build a Polyp
Young scholars research coral polyps. In this coral polyps lesson, students discover the anatomy of a coral polyp and how they feed. Young scholars create an edible coral polyp model.
NOAA
What's New?
Biodiversity in some areas is more diverse than one might think. Using a two-day lesson plan, pupils consider the biodiversity of the Hudson Canyon and the characteristics of one organism. They begin with an analysis of the common...
Curated OER
Design a Reef!
Students explore coral reef ecosystems. In this ecosystems science lesson, students research coral reef ecosystems to determine the major functions the participating organisms must perform. Students construct a miniature coral reef...
Curated OER
Seaworthy Presentations
First graders research ocean animals and plants on the web. For this ocean habitat lesson, 1st graders prepare a multimedia presentation. Students will work on their presentations in pairs and every group should have its own animals or...
Curated OER
The Magic School Bus Goes to Mussel Beach
Students investigate tides and create a model of an intertidal zone. In this hands-on marine science lesson plan based on a Magic School Bus book, the teacher leads students in a discussion about tides, then helps students model a tide...
Curated OER
Ocean Habitats
Students examine the water samples from a demonstration and discuss the difference between fresh and salt water. They draw different animals that live near or in the ocean and how humans can harm the ocean habitat. They draw pictures of...
Curated OER
A'ama and Pipipi Adaptations
Students explore ocean creatures. In this crustacean lesson, students determine how Black Nerite snails and Sally Light-foot crabs have adapted to their ocean habitats. Students complete diagrams and hypothesize about the necessity...
Curated OER
Critters in the Classroom
Students investigate with sea urchins. In this ocean habitat lesson, students observe sea urchins and other ocean grazers. Students work with lab equipment to examine the anatomy of these creatures.
Curated OER
A World in a Grain of Sand
Students go exploring Britain's beaches. In this geography lesson, students visit selected websites to learn about specific beach habitats and the history of cleaning those beaches.
Curated OER
Oceanic Habitat Zones
Students explore ocean habitats. In this oceanic environment instructional activity, students research various habitats in the ocean. Then, in a jigsaw format, students teach others in the class about the habitat they researched.
Curated OER
The Dead Zone in the Gulf of Mexico
Students explore hypoxic (low oxygen) conditions in the Gulf of Mexico. In this ocean habitat lesson, students hypothesis, design and implement an experiment to explain the existence of the "Dead Zone" in the Gulf of Mexico.
Curated OER
Exploring the Beach
Students explore the beach. In this marine habitat instructional activity, students inspect sand grains, design beach profiles, classify marine life, and examine natural beach habitats. Students use spreadsheets to record data from their...
Curated OER
Restaurant Beneath the Waves
In this marine life worksheet, students fill in the boxes beside each ocean creature name with one of the following feeding methods: predator, scavenger, grazer, and filter feeder. Students then list or draw marine creatures that use the...
Curated OER
Sharks
Students research sharks, the food chain, and the water habitat shared by humans and sharks.
PBS
Pbs: Secrets of the Ocean Realm
At this site students can read about sea creatures and ocean plant life, and see pictures of each.
Wonderville Media
Wonderville: Ocean Habitats
Habitats are places where plants and animals live. There are many different habitats in the oceans of the world. Every plant and animal in the ocean prefers a particular habitat. Learn about Ocean Habitats in this well-constructed...
Monterey Bay Aquarium
Monterey Bay Aquarium: Animal Guide
An extensive image-rich field guide to marine habitats and inhabitants, with detailed descriptions and "cool facts" about each.
PBS
Pbs Teachers: Ocean Activity Ideas
Explore ocean habitats, learn about the extreme weather of the ocean and examine environmental threats to the ocean. Conduct experiments on buoyancy and osmosis, and research sailing and ocean-based industry.