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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Biodiversity in Illinois-Pond Habitats

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders construct a pond habitat in the classroom using a small swimming pool partially filled with water, real cattails, a tree log adjoining, and plastic animal life appropriate to a pond setting. They examine the frog in detail...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Why Are Bees Important?

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students identify and analyze pollination and how bees play an important part in the life cycle of flowering plants. They also identify the process of plant pollination and how bees play an important part in the life cycle of flowering...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Mechanisms of Decay and Decomposition

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders study how all living things die. They are introduced tot he life cycle and the concept of an ecosystem. Students have a introductory exposure to trophic levels (producer-consumer-decomposer) in the environment.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Butterflies

For Teachers 1st - 4th
Students will explore the life cycle of the Painted Lady butterfly by raising their own. They will incorporate math, science, and language arts as they graph, pattern, journal, observe, and artistically create.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Amazing Ant

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Students explain that ants are an important element of nature's balance. Ants eat many insects and are food to other animals. They watch a video and conduct hands-on activities that give them an excellent overview of the ants role in...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How a Seed Grows and Who Grows It

For Teachers 1st
First graders explore biology by viewing PowerPoint presentations in class. In this plant life lesson, 1st graders identify the life cycle of a plant and how to properly plant a seed outside. Students view a movie about plant life and...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Unknown Secrets of the Rain Forest

For Teachers K - 3rd
Students explore the rain forest and where they are located. Students examine why the rain forests are important and what is happening to them. They investigate the water cycle and life cycle of a frog. Students build a rain forest in...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Birds of a Feather

For Teachers K
Students investigate birds and complete a variety of bird-themed activities. They read books and observe birds noting their physical characteristics, development and life cycle stages.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Flutterings and Flowers

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders investigate the significance of natural resources and the habitats of butterflies. They create a list of their own favorite foods, then watch a video about habitats. Students identify things in the video that animals and...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Maintaining Strong Fisheries

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Learners play a game about the life cycle of a blue crab in order to witness the causes of changes in the crab population and discuss what a resource manager could do to keep a stable crab population. Students then create a game titled...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Magnificent Marsupials

For Teachers K - 1st
Students have the opportunity to explore the life cycle of a kangaroo, and the differences and similarities between mother and baby as growth occurs from birth to adulthood. They draw pictures of the mother and the joey and compare them.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Reptile and Amphibian Defense Strategies

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Students study the stages of the Eastern newt either by collecting a live specimen or from pictures. They note the colors of the eft stage before reading the "Eastern Newt Species Account" that shows the newt's life stages, migration,...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

More Lizard Snacks

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students listen to Chapter I, Chapter II, Chapter III, and Chapter IV of "The Forgetful Pony". They observe different stages of development of mealworms. The student sequences pictures to show the life cycle and draws the developmental...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What Beautiful Caterpillars!

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders investigate the life cycle of the caterpillar. They create a caterpillar habitat and care for it. Students make daily observations that are recorded in a writing journal. During the process of observation the students...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Florida Panther Fun Facts

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students study facts about Florida panthers. In this Florida panther instructional activity, students read a page of fun facts about the panther's life cycle, habitats, predators, and families. They complete three worksheets with...
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Lesson Plan
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Chicago Botanic Garden

Plant Phenology Data Analysis

For Teachers 7th - 9th Standards
Scientists monitor seasonal changes in plants to better understand their responses to climate change, in turn allowing them to make predictions regarding the future. The last activity in the series of six has scholars analyze BudBurst...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Animal Coverings

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students compare and contrast the types of coverings found on animals. They identify a wide variety of animals in a museum room. They classify animals based on their coverings as well.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Etosha: Poppin' Out at You

For Teachers 10th
Tenth graders research an African animal of their choice and relate the concepts of population, climate and biodiversity to their animal. They examine how population interacts in an ecosystem.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Gametogenesis and Fertilization

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers explore how this module focuses on part of the cycle of alternation of generations: meiosis to produce haploid spores and fertilization to produce a diploid zygote which grows into the adult plant.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What is An Insect?

For Teachers K
Students investigate the concept of an insect. They conduct research about six different insects and identify the different body parts. Students look at the life cycle of the developing monarch butterfly. They also use the library to...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Changing State

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Learners identify the changing states of water, water vapor and ice in the water cycle They investigate how each of these stages can be reversible. Students complete a worksheet describing the water cycle.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Teeth and Eating

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Students explore animal diets and teeth. In this animal science lesson, students view photos of animals and their teeth. Students identify the type of diet the animal has based on the teeth. Students are introduced to the terms...
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Lesson Plan
Virginia Department of Education

Weather Patterns and Seasonal Changes

For Teachers K - 2nd Standards
Get your class outside to observe their surroundings with a lesson plan highlighting weather patterns and seasonal changes. First, learners take a weather walk to survey how the weather affects animals, people, plants, and trees during...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Earth: Our Big Blue Marble

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students investigate Earth and its resources. In this Earth, space, and nature lesson plan, students collaborate to design presentations on the Earth, its cycles, and how humans have impacted the planet. Images, diagrams, and background...