Pennsylvania Department of Education
Plant and Animal Adaptations
Fourth graders identify behavioral and structural adaptations to plant and animal life. In this unit overview, 4th graders discuss the importance of variation and adaptation in a species survival. This is a unit overview and does not...
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Brine Shrimp Life Cycle
Second graders investigate the life cycle of the brine shrimp. They use a variety of resources to find the details of each step. Students compare the life cycles of different organisms. They create diagrams of the different stages while...
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De"compost"ition Activity
High schoolers investigate the decomposition process and the parameters which influence the rate at which it occurs. They design a "controlled" experiment by comparing decomposition rates between two compost piles. Analysis questions...
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School Forest Lesson- Looking at Literature
Students compare what they learned though literature to the school forest. In this environment lesson, students visit the forest surrounding their school to listen to literature and identify objects in nature. Students create a...
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Molecular Approaches to Evolution
Students are introduced to working with molecular data. The first activity does both simulated and original data are used to compare amino acid, protein or DNA differences to construct phylogenetic trees or cladograms. These activities...
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Ourselves
Learners use a website to name and compare external body parts of humans and other animals.
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Learning About Bears And Dolphins
Seventh graders engage in a study that compares the body structures of bears and dolphins. They conduct research to find information and use questions to find the differences or similarities and then conduct a class discussion about the...
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Terrestrial Communities
Students watch a video about different terrestrial communities. They conduct an experiment with sponges conserving water. They research desert characteristics comparing them with other biomes.
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I Am An Animal: Where Do I Live?
Students make an alphabet booklet using the computer to find pictures and facts about farm animals, zoo animals and pets. They write facts about the animals: where they live, what they eat, their coloring, etc.
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Why Is An Apple Like A Suitcase?
Students examine a variety of fruit to discover that each has seeds. Through experimentation, they discover the role that fruit and seeds play in a plant's life cycle.
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But I Need This
Third graders place everything in their desk or back pack onto their desk top. They explain why each item is needed. They receive a set of pictures and write a list of things each person or animal needs to survive. They compare people,...
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Tall Grass Prairies of Arkansas
Students compare maps depicting the past and present range of tall grass prairie in Arkansas. They research to discover what has happened to the prairie, why it is unique, how it contributes to the biodiversity of Arkansas, and why...
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Depending On Each Other. Communities And Ecosystems
Seventh graders investigate how the ecosystems of the world has influence upon the immediate and nonimmediate environments. The interelationships of food webs is discussed. The class researches one type of ecosystem for a class project...
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Penguin Parents are Cool
Fourth graders explore the lives of penguins and the relationship between them and their parents. They compare and contrast penguin populations in various areas of the world as well as their nesting sites. After constructing a penguin...
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Whales
Students compare and contrast the two types of whales. In this biology lesson, students research the characteristics of their assigned whale. They compile their findings in a folder.
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Your Day as a Cycle
Fourth graders investigate several cycles such as life cycles, and the moon cycle. They examine the sequences and patterns that are associated with daily life by keeping a daily journal for three days, and comparing it with others....
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Using Science to Explore - Science Worksheets
In this science exploration worksheet, students will compare the differences between science and technology. Students will come up with a way to use technology to explore a deep well. This worksheet has 7 short answer questions.
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Observing Specialized Cells
In this plant and animal cell worksheet, students draw five examples of plant or animal cells that are specialized to perform a particular functions. They also complete 6 short answer questions based on their observations.
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Discovering the Oasis
Fourth graders investigate riverbanks and oxbox ecosystem at the Truckee River. They observe the plants, animals, insects and water organisms located there. Students document water samples, flow and then categorize them in class. This...
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Alternative Alphabet
Young scholars determine and compare hieroglyph content and frequency to an alternative alphabet based on symbols that mimic sounds of the alphabet.
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Mallard's Wet Olympics
Young scholars investigate some of the different characteristics of living things. They make observations from reading and interactive media. Students observe that animals move in different ways and have adaptations to aid in that action.
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Invasive Species
Pupils explore invasive species. In this species analysis lesson plan, students observe invasive species and review the impact the species have on the environment. Pupils work in groups to investigate the species in varying habitats....
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Alternative Alphabet
Students determine and compare hieroglyph content and frequency to sentences constructed in an alternative alphabet based on symbols that mimic sounds of the alphabet. They decide which images are hieroglyphs and which ones are not.
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Do You See What I See?
Second graders view a teacher-created terrarium, and complete a KWL chart. They discuss what they can see, Students go on a nature walk and compare the schoolyard to the terrarium, discussing the roles of rocks, plants, soil, and water...