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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

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 lesson, students discover the problems associated with having a heard of elk that is too large. After...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water Cycle and Ecosystems

For Teachers K - 3rd
Young scholars 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.
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Ecological Dilemmas

For Students 6th - 8th
In this ecological dilemmas worksheet, students read about people's impact on ecosystems. Students complete 3 activities that require them consider the negative impact humans have on their environment.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Seals, Corals, and Dollars...

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students explore the interdependence of animals and their habitat.  In this Hawaiian ecology lesson, students work in groups to research the necessity of preserving precious coral as a habitat for monk seals.  Students prepare and share...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Terraqua Column

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders create a TerrAqua column. In this ecosystems lesson, 6th graders build a TerrAqua column to conduct investigations on how living things impact the ecosystem.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Oh Panther

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Learners play a game that replicates the balance of prey and predators in an ecosystem. In this physical education lesson plan, students follow the instructions to play "Oh Panther!" Learners collect data regarding the game and discuss...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ecosystem Organization

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Learners examine the structure of ecosystems. In this ecology lesson, students listen to a lecture on relationships among organisms and biomes. Learners use the information to create ecosystem organization pyramids.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Living Environment

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students explore the cycles of an ecosystem.  In this environmental science lesson, students work in groups to research the nitrogen cycle, the water cycle, or the oxygen-carbon dioxide cycle. Students prepare a PowerPoint or other...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Edible Soil

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students model the soils layers using Oreo's. In this lesson students use their favorite food items to create a model of soil layers. A discovery lesson from a youth camp is adapted for classroom modeling and discussion of soil ecology....
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Diversity Ecosystems

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students work in teams to characterize their biomes and compare them to the biomes of the rest of the class. In this biomes lesson plan, students complete a bean activity, relate it to the diversity in biomes, and then research and...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Under The Sea

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
In this resource instructional activity, learners use non-fiction books to research ocean animals. Students discover the many features of non-fiction books and how to use these features to help them conduct research. Learners then...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Biodiversity

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students complete activities to study the importance of biodiversity. In this biodiversity lesson plan, students find images to categorize into organism groups and illustrate their interconnections. Students use measurement tools to...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Habitat, What is That?

For Teachers K - 4th
Students explore animal habitats. In this environmental stewardship lesson, students match animals to their habitats in a classroom activity. Students also observe a firefly habitat and read Fireflies. Students create bulletin boards...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Habitat survival

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders study different environments and how the food chain affects the survival of different animals. In this environments lesson plan, 6th graders share the visuals which describe the characteristics of the environment that they...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Tales of Truman's Travels Fifty Years Ago

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders study President Truman and the Whistlestop Campaign. In this US history lesson plan, 4th graders complete a KWL about President Truman and write letters to stops on Truman's Whistlestop Campaign. Students create a...
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Organizer
Curated OER

Student Exploration: Pond Ecosystem

For Students 7th - 8th
In this student exploration-pond ecosystem worksheet, students use the Pond Ecosystem Gizmo to measure oxygen concentrations and temperature and record the data on charts.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Living Things in the Ecosystem

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders explore survival in ecosystems. In this ecosystem activity, 6th graders examine what the outcome would be if different organisms were unable to survive in their ecosystems. Students conduct inquiry research regarding the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Organisms and Their Environment

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students explore Earth's biosphere. In this biosphere lesson plan, students participate in group activities regarding biotic and abiotic factors, population density, and species' habitats.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Learning from the Video Clips

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students view a wilderness video and write to explain the purpose of the video. In this wilderness video lesson, recognize how physical and living parts of the environment interact. Students understand how an ecosystem works.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Your Own Fresh Water Aquarium in the Classroom

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Learners explore aquariums. In this fish and ecosystems lessons, students establish a freshwater aquarium environment using materials provided. Learners read about and care for the classroom fish.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

School Yard Park/ Ecosystem

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders examine ecosystems in their schoolyard. In this nature and ecosystem lesson, 5th graders map their schoolyard into workable plots. They classify plants and animals found in the plot. They revisit their site every two weeks...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Living in a Watershed

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders examine watersheds. In this ecosystem lesson, 4th graders discover what a watershed is and identify the local watershed they live in. Students investigate the attributes of a watershed as well.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Who Will Care for the Water?

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students discover how humans impact natural resources. In this environmental instructional activity, students identify water resources in the local area and construct a T-chart to compare the positive and negative effects humans have on...