Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Mit: Open Course Ware: Ecology: Communities and Ecosystems
This is a collection of courses on communities and ecosystems. Some topics explored are productivity, food webs, and ecology. The courses offer video clips, lecture notes, practice problems, and exam questions. Practice problems and exam...
eSchool Today
E School Today: What Is an Ecosystem?
Learn about all the different levels of ecosystems, from the living things under a rock, up to a rainforest biome. Explains the levels of organization within an ecosystem, the different types of biomes, food chains and trophic levels,...
Georgia Department of Education
Ga Virtual Learning: Types of Ecosystems: Biomes
Twenty-two essential questions lead student learning about the distinctive climate zones and biomes around the globe.
Scholastic
Scholastic Explorers: Endangered Ecosystems
A great site with something for all grades. Do research on rainforests, follow field research on animals in Latin America, and show what you know through interactive assessments. Lots to see on this site which is a collaboration of...
University of Guelph
Canada's Polar Environments
This site is a set of images along with volumes of information make this site a treasure trove. The site has satellite images.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Investigating the Stories of the Land
In this biology field investigation, students will use observation skills to describe different types of terrestrial landscapes and compare them with one another. They will utilize these data in order to begin to put together the stories...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Our Big Backyard: How Does Our Local Ecosystem Change During the Year?
Get students observing the environment around their school with this activity. In this lab experiment, students keep a journal containing written observations and digital pictures of how local flora and fauna change during the school year.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Investigative Case: Living in an Alkaline Environment
Explore living in an alkaline environment with this three-part interactive activity. During these activity students will complete web quests and activities to investigate the ecology and diversity of life in this environments.
American Institute of Biological Sciences
Action Bioscience: The State of Ecosystems
Christian Samper details The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, a report highlighting the detrimental impact of human life on the ecosystems of Earth over the past fifty years. Ecosystems have been deteriorating from a variety of waste and...
The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry
Abpi: Human and Animal Habitats
An interactive learning game where students answer whether or not certain environments would be suitable for different animals. Printable worksheets are available for review at the end of the activity.
University of California
Ucmp: The World's Biomes
The University of California Museum of Paleontology hosts this site devoted to the study of the earth's biomes, which are the world's major communities, classified according to the predominant vegetation and adaptations of organisms to...
PBS
Bill Moyers Reports: Earth on Edge
PBS presents this report by Bill Moyer on the current state of the earth. Information is provided on each of the planets ecosystems as well as ways to get involved. You are even able to access portions of the program that was aired.
University of Michigan
University of Michigan: Global Change: The Flow of Energy: Higher Trophic Levels
This lesson addresses the following questions: What is the efficiency with which energy is converted from trophic level to trophic level? What are the differences between assimilation efficiency, net production efficiency, and ecological...
Other
Eco Library: Panoramas
Features amazing 360 degrees interactive panoramas for students to help them better understand ecological variation on our planet. Searchable by biome/ecosystem type, location, or ecological phenomena they depict.
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Earth a New Wild: Ecosystem Explorer
Three choices of virtual worlds to enter: a vulture, a wolf or a shark world. Once inside these worlds view videos, play games, and discover the ecosystems of these wild animals.
The Wild Classroom
The Wild Classroom: Biomes
This excellent resource explores all of the biomes found on planet Earth! A side menu indicates the world's biomes and provides details on each. Colorful interactive maps, video clips, lesson plans, species profiles, and so much more...
Buck Institute
Buck Institute for Education: Pblu: Schoolyard Habitat Project
An example of a project-based learning opportunity that engages students in learning what a healthy habitat is by working within the school's campus to increase opportunity for animals to find food and shelter, maintaining plants, and...
Other
Pde Sas: Relationships Among Organisms
In this lesson, young scholars compare various types of relationships among organisms (i.e., biotic interactions). Students will: explain the roles of producers and consumers, and predators and prey in an ecosystem. Explain the levels of...
Nature Conservancy
The Nature Conservancy: From America's Rainforest to America's Desert
On this virtual field trip, teachers will help their students travel to the lush, rain-soaked splendor of the Olympic Peninsula and explore the urban watershed of Seattle. Next, they will head to Arizona's dry, desert landscape and take...
University of Illinois
University of Illinois Extension: Natural Resources, Environment, and Ecosystems
A collection of lesson plans for specific age levels to help students gain a better understanding of animals, plants, and people, and how they affect each other in ecosystems. Many of the activities provide discussion questions and...
Other
Introduction to the Biosphere: Characteristics of the Earth's Terrestrial Biomes
From Chapter 9 of a textbook on physical geography that covers the biosphere. Important vocabulary is highlighted and linked to a glossary. It explains the characteristics of a biome, and describes the features of the eight different...
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Episd: Ecosystems
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Explore ecosystems and ecology on an introductory level uncovering fact about types of ecosystems and the competitive exclusion principle.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Episd: Habitat and Niche
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Students will identify and present the differences between a habitat and a niche.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Episd: What Are Biomes?
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Students will consider the influences that create different biomes. Recognize and classify the types of biomes.