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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mushroom Prints

For Teachers 2nd - 8th
Students create a mushroom spore design on paper while studying the facts on fungi.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

the Naturalist's Notebook

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders, after brainstorming what they already know about trees and what effect the seasons have on them, create a model of a hollow log. They participate in a young naturalist's notebook writing activity while walking outside...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Publishing With Photos!

For Teachers K - 5th
Students create books with photographs as illustrations. In this book making lesson, students create books for different subjects to accompany what they are learning. They take photographs to match what they have written. 
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Role of Fire in Healthy Prairie, Brush and Forest Lands

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students create a Venn diagram to compare and contrast wildfires and prescribed fires. In this earth science lesson, students conduct a series of experiment to explore fire characteristics. They describe favorable conditions to start a...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Milkweed and Monarch Butterfly puzzle

For Students 4th - 8th
In this milkweed and monarch butterfly worksheet, students complete a crossword puzzle about milkweed and monarch butterflies. Students complete 15 blanks in the puzzle.
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Milkweed and Monarch Butterfly Puzzle

For Students 3rd - 6th
In this milkweed bug and monarch butterfly worksheet, students complete a crossword puzzle dealing with milkweed bugs and monarch butterflies. Students answer 15 questions in the puzzle.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Food Web Follies

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders cut and paste animal pictures to create a food web and trace the path of energy. They write a paragraph explaining the importance of photosynthesis in all food webs.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mass vs. Weight

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students explore physical science by conducting a measurement experiment. In this mass lesson, students identify the differences between mass and weight and define a list of other vocabulary terms. Students utilize electronic scales and...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Planetary Orbits

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore space science by completing a solar system identification worksheet. In this planets lesson, students discuss the different planets in our star system and identify their traits. Students complete an orbital system...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Illnois River and Lake Mussel Habitat Diorama Activity

For Teachers 2nd - 7th
Students identify the environmental elements of river and lake mussels. They compare the elements to the time before settlement and during industrialization. They also participate in a field trip to a mussel exhibit.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Plants and Animals of Great Bay Animals and Plants of the Estuary

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students participate in a webquest about the plants and animals that inhabit an estuary. They role play as environmentalists researching this habitat and present the results of their research in a creative way.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Flowers, Flowers, Flowers...A Visit with Georgia O'Keeffe

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students analyze, discuss, and research Georgia O'Keeffe and her flower paintings. They select a flower to paint and create a watercolor painting in the style of Georgia O'Keeffe. Students compose a poem describing their painting.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Signs of the Seasons

For Teachers K - 3rd
Students closely observe the natural world, record data, and notice patterns as the seasons unfold, they build a deeper understanding of seasonal change! The definition of phonology is the focus of this activity and how it changes...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Pond Safari

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Students investigate organisms and animals by examining a nearby pond. In this ecosystem lesson, students participate in a field trip to a local pond where they utilize a net to gather animals, plants and pollution items, Students...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Seed Bugs; Stage 2

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students examine nature by participating in an environmental art activity. In this imaginary creature activity, students discuss the importance of a habitat when pertaining to wild animals or bugs. Students utilize tree parts which they...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What's In The Forest?

For Teachers K
Students examine forest food chains and create a forest habitat in the classroom. They are introduced to the concept of interdependence in Nature. They define a simple forest food chain and develop inquiry process skills.
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Lesson Plan
Project SMART

Dinosaur Trek

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders investigate dinosaurs. They explore various websites, submit questions to a paleontologist online, construct cut and paste model dinosaur skeletons, develop a graph to compare dinosaurs, and label pictures from online...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Long Road to Coffee

For Teachers K
Students organize picture cards of the sequene of how food gets from a farm to their home. They then sequence cards of how coffee grown in Colombia gets to their home comparing the differences.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Dirt Babies

For Teachers 1st - 5th Standards
What exactly is a dirt baby, you might ask. Look over the plan to find out! All of the materials and procedures necessary for creating a dirt baby, such as grass seeds, dirt, and nylon stockings, are listed, along with ideas for...
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Interactive
Curated OER

North American Butterflies and Moths of Fields, Meadows, and Fencerows

For Students 5th - 8th
In this North American butterflies and moths worksheet, learners click on the links in the questions about North American butterflies and moths of fields, meadows, and fencerows to find the answers to the questions and then come back and...
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Interactive
Curated OER

Mystery Caterpillar Challenge and IPM or Organic Gardening Practices

For Students 3rd - 6th
In this caterpillar activity, students look at the picture of the caterpillar and identify what kind it is. Students then decide how to take care of it.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Halloween Literature Unit: Pumpkin Patch Unit Project

For Teachers K - 1st
Students simulate an agriculture project. In this sequencing lesson plan, students observe their classroom pumpkin patch, make journal entries, and predict how the pumpkins will grow. They discuss as a class how to keep their pumpkins...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Crickets on the Hearth

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers investigate how crickets behave in cold temperatures. In this life science lesson, students explain the beneficial and harmful effect of pests. They research ways to properly manage them.
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Unit Plan
Curated OER

Charlotte's Web

For Teachers 2nd
Students examine the story, "Charlotte's Web" in the nine lessons of this unit. As the students progress through the book, they will explore the story plot, setting, character, and the value of friendship.