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Ecosystems and Climate
Learners examine climatic effects on ecosystems. They plant tomatoes and observe the differences in plant growth with differences in light. They create picture collages of plants, animals, and insects found in each climate of the U.S.
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If It Smells Good, Is Edible, and Attracts Wildlife, Then It's a Practical Garden
Students explore landscape design. In this practical gardening lesson, students design landscape plans that call for shrubs, trees, and plants that can be used for aesthetics, cooking, and wildlife.
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Defining Drought
Students examine the hydrologic impacts of drought. They look at drought from a variety of prespectives. Students first focus on the scientific definition of drought, including weather patterns, water cycles, water requirements by plants...
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Ecosystem Interactions Web
Students pick an ecosystem (forest, desert, coral reef, open ocean, grassland, mountain, savanna, etc.) and design an interaction web for their chosen ecosystem. Each group shares their ecosystem's web of life with the class.
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Charting Diversity
Students organize different species of plans and animals according to various characteristics. Students then determine what characteristics enable them to survive in their habitat. Game ideas and activities are included.
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Animals in Danger
In this animals in danger worksheet, students read about animals in danger, choose the correct environment, answer multiple choice questions, match what the animals do, and more. Students complete 6 activities total.
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Habitats of the World
Students complete a unit of eighteen lessons that cover climate, geography, location, plants, and animals of each of the five habitats. They are also introduced to habitat destruction and discuss ways to protect the environment. They do...
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Soil Erosion
Second graders complete activities to observe the effects of erosion. In this erosion lesson, 2nd graders define erosion and learn the process. Students complete an erosion experiment.
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Diversity Ecosystems
Learners work in teams to characterize their biomes and compare them to the biomes of the rest of the class. In this biomes lesson plan, students complete a bean activity, relate it to the diversity in biomes, and then research and...
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Message in a Bottle
Sixth graders write a short story about being stranded on a deserted island. After a brief geography review of locations at various latitudes and longitudes, 6th graders draft their story about being stranded. They use sensory and...
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Rainforests: What Are They?
Second graders investigate rain forests by reading a habitat checklist. In this environment lesson, 2nd graders read the book The Great Kapok Tree, and discuss what characteristics make up a rain forest. Students explore a...
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Science: Putting Down Roots
Fourth graders, in small groups, observe plants and note their characteristics. After drawing pictures of the plants, including their roots systems, they hypothesize in which environments the plants would best thrive. Finally, 4th...
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Mother Nature's Laboratory
Students research how various plants and animals adapt over time to specific habitats and for specific purposes. Students produce a pictorial report on an example of an animal or plant's adaptation.
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Landforms All Around
Students create a "Landform Dictionary". They develop an overlay map and participate in hands-on activities to identify the key characteristics of landforms. They discuss the plant and animal life of these areas. Handouts for the lessons...
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Native Americans
Students are introduced to the culture of a variety of Native American tribes through literature and related activities.
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Cavern Life
Students describe elements and conditions that effect cavern life. They explain the three cavern zones and the differences of each zone. They perform various activities based on grade level.
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Prepositions and Prepositional Phrases
In these prepositional phrases worksheets, students review the definitions and examples for prepositional phrases, prepositions, and object of prepositions. Students then complete three pages of activities for prepositions.
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Visual Vocabulary
Learners interpret and name the vocabulary termed acted out by the mime. In this science/language arts/physical education lesson, students are given a set of vocabulary terms to discuss within their group. Next, learners place all...
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Caterpillar Camouflage
Students list animals, plant parts, and reasons for caterpillars to camouflage themselves. In this animal and plant adaptations lesson plan, students also play a game where they use colors as camouflage.
Desert Museum
Daisy Ecology
Here's a fine lesson that combines poetry with life sciences. Learners carefully listen to a poem that's all about a food chain. As the poem is read, learners name the producer, the herbivore, the carnivore, and the omnivore. Lots of...
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Rock Cycle: The Story of a Rock
Students examine the rock cycle by watching videos and then use creative storytelling techniques to tell the story of a rock as it undergoes geologic changes.
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Winter Survival
Students examine what animals need in order to survive. In this investigative lesson students play a "role" of an animal in winter.
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Specialized for the Sea
Learners use pictures and make a mural to investigate how ocean animals are adapted to certain parts of their environment.
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Ecosystems and Remote Sensing
Students obtain remote sensing data to compare and contrast global biomass data with global temperature data.