Curated OER
How Does Your Garden Grow?
Students construct and maintain a school garden. In this gardening lesson, students plan the construction of the garden by writing letters to local businesses asking for supplies and materials; students build the garden using their math...
Curated OER
How Plants Help Us Breathe
Third graders discuss how humans breathe and how plants help us to stay alive. In groups, they identify and label the different parts of plants and describe their functions. They compare and contrast the ways plants and animals breathe...
Curated OER
Let's Grow Plants!
Students read and dramatize the stories "The Tiny Seed" and "The Carrot Seed" as an introduction to seeds and what they become. They work in small groups to plant their own seeds and over the span of a week (+ or -)students keep track of...
Rainforest Alliance
Investments in Forest Carbon
One hundred metric tons of CO2 can accumulate in one acre of forest over time—that's a lot of carbon! In the activity, groups of middle school learners determine what makes forests important. They then solidify the concept by using a...
Curated OER
Ride the Wild Leaf Cycle
Fourth graders complete a worksheet. In this life cycle lesson, 4th graders learn about the leaf cycle and complete a worksheet where they put the leaf cycle steps in the correct order.
Curated OER
The Nitrogen Cycle
Students design and create a compost pile in order to study the Nitrogen Cycle. They then use the scientific method to determine if plants grow better when they add organic matter from their compost pile to the plant's soil.
Curated OER
The Water Cycle
Students are introduced to the components and importance of the water cycle. They are shown how groundwater moves using a model. Students list 9 places on earth where water is found. They define the terms cycle and water cycle.
Curated OER
The Life Cycle of a Butterfly
Students complete lessons on a butterfly life cycle, moon phases, hot water, and shadows. In this science lesson plan, students complete activities where they read books, look at demonstrations, and complete experiments.
Curated OER
Life Cycle of the Butterfly
Students observe and analyze the life cycle and metamorphosis of the Painted Lady Butterfly. They write observation journal entries three times a week and summarize what they observed. Using KidPix computer software they create pictures...
Curated OER
Marine & Aquatic Habitats Activities - Marine Ecology
Students enact the life cycle of a sessile animal and quantify the possibility of survival under the conditions given. They then present to the class a new adaptation which will increase the animals chance of survival.
Curated OER
Aerobic and Anaerobic Conditioning
Young scholars view the A.D.A.M. computer simulation of aerobic and anaerobic exercise. They break into groups and members brainstorm and list as many aerobic and anaerobic exercises as possible in five minutes.
Pennsylvania Department of Education
Cycles, Systems, and Webs
Fourth graders review the parts of the plant and their functions. In this plant lesson, 4th graders recognize that plants must transfer energy to make food. Students understand the interdependence of organisms in an...
Curated OER
Inviting Butterflies to the Schoolyard
Learners create a butterfly garden. In this butterfly garden lesson, students plot a garden with plant species that will attract butterflies. Learners learn about the specific plants and items that will help butterflies use the garden.
Curated OER
Transpiration
Students explain the function of the hydrologic cycle and demonstrate how transpiration rates can be experimentally changed.
Curated OER
Two Beets Or Not Two Beets—What Is Your Question?
Students use the scientific method to test an idea regarding the structures of a plant as it supports the biological evidence for life. For this growing roots lesson, students use organizing sheets to record their findings. Students...
Curated OER
The Tiny Seed Lesson Plan Guide
Not only is this instructional activity about story retell, main events, and making predictions, it's also about plants. Youngsters will read the tale, The Tiny Seed as they explore the plant life cycle and early literacy skills. The...
Rainforest Alliance
Trees and Carbon
You'll find everything but the kitchen sink here ... or just a carbon sink. In the activity, pairs or groups of middle school learners go outside and measure a tree's circumference and height to estimate its carbon storage potential and...
Chicago Botanic Garden
Climate and Forest Ecosystem Services
Forests, through sequestration, capture excess carbon dioxide in our atmosphere and store it, aiding in climate change. The third installment in a four-part series on how climate impacts forests explores carbon sequestration....
Education Outside
Watering in the Garden
"When you are thirsty, does your mother pour water on your head?" Of course not! Nor do you pour water on the top of plants when watering them. Instruction like this are included in an activity that shows little learners how to water...
Techbridge Curriculum
Calculating Rainwater Runoff
Thirsty plants soak up every bit of a rainfall, but what happens to the rain that hits the roof? Calculate the amount of rainwater from your school's roof with an Earth science activity, which brings measurement skills, observation...
Curated OER
The Water Cycle and Sources of Pollution
Students make an island that has a construction site on it. They spill siulated pollution and trash on top of the island and then water it to simulate rain. They will observe how the rain washes dirt, sand, and pollution off the island...
Curated OER
Alfalfa Butterfly/Caterpillar Lifecycle Investigation
High schoolers collect and record data. They model specimens. Students identify sex of butterflies. They analyze data. High schoolers make conclusions based on collected data. They compare and contrast the different groups of insects...
Curated OER
Life Cycle of Trees
Turn your students into young tree-tectives with this fun science investigation into the life of trees. To begin, a class volunteer gets dressed up in a tree costume as the different parts of trees are introduced. Then, the class...
Education Outside
Grow an Art Garden: Plant a Rainbow
After a reading of Lois Ehlert's Planting a Rainbow, class members plan a rainbow garden, research growing cycles of the fruits and vegetables in their section, and then plant and maintain the garden.