Curated OER
Monumental Disappearance
Fourth graders compare the emissions listed on the EPA isopleths over the past five-year period for ten key states. They use this information to rank each region according to the degree of acid rain problem in those parts of the United...
Curated OER
Food For Thought
Learners create an individual menu for one of their peers. They must examine their peer's activity level and family history.
Curated OER
Exploring Ecology
Students explore the basics of ecology through numerous hands-on and relevant activities. They participate in an online food chain demonstration, which explores food web dynamics. They dissect owl pellets, examine the prey's bones, and...
Curated OER
Some Similarities Between the Spread of an Infectious Disease and Population Growth
Learners compare and contrast the spread of infectious diseases and population growth. In this biology lesson plan, students identify the exponential growth pattern of spreading diseases. They relate this to HIV infection and AIDS.
Curated OER
Predator/Prey Relationship
Students study and analyze data collected on the relationship between the snowshoe hare and lynx in Canada over a 28 year period and create a graph. Students also write a response to a proposal to reduce the lynx population.
Curated OER
Genetic Disorders with Cultural Roots: International Insects
Students recognize that certain populations have specific genetic disorders that could benefit or harm them in their environment, work out punnett square problems and infer offspring probabilities from results, and provide advantages and...
Curated OER
Connect the Species
Fourth graders, in pairs, explore energy transfer and species interrelationships by viewing slides on a microscope. hey explore phytoplankton (producers) and zooplankton (consumers)
Curated OER
Saving the Bay
Learners investigate water pollution prevention. In this ecology wastewater lesson, students activate prior knowledge about sewage, then view a video explaining the waste water sewage system used in the San Francisco Bay area. Learners...
Curated OER
Energy: The US in Crisis?
Students research and assess past, present, and future decisions related to energy shortages by focusing on the California energy crisis as a case study. Students develop their own news articles about decisions that need to be made...
Curated OER
Ecology
Students research ecology terms, define the terms, given examples of the term, and present the term to the class. In this ecology terms lesson plan, students use PowerPoint to present their term.
Curated OER
Interrelationships Within the Marine Community
Fourth graders create an electronic story showing the interrelationship of species within the marine environment. They utilize the educational software, 'Destination Ocean' during this engaging lesson.
Curated OER
Farming in a Fishbowl: How Ethnic Groups in
Seventh graders research Chinese agricultural needs and practices. They conduct an experiment with aquaculture and germinated rice as they take measurements and apply the scientific method.
Curated OER
Trappers Then and Now
Students study how trapping in the Illinois Territory in the 1800's effected the beaver population in the state. They compare methods, rules and regulations of the 1800s to those of today. In groups, they research a variety of...
Curated OER
The Acid Rain Test
Fourth graders engage in a research project to increase their ability to conduct experiments, interpret data and discuss results in a scientific paper. After doing a lab which simulates effects of acid rain, pairs of students write a...
Science Struck
Science Struck: Limiting Factors in the Desert Ecosystem
Describes conditions in a desert that limit how large populations of species can grow.
Oswego City School District
Regents Exam Prep Center: Biotic vs. Abiotic
This NY Regents prep site provides a nice overview of what abiotic and biotic factors of an ecosystem are, as well as a brief description of carrying capacity.
Climate Literacy
Clean: Temperature and Precipitation as Limiting Factors in Ecosystems
Students correlate graphs of vegetation vigor with those of temperature and precipitation data for four diverse ecosystems, ranging from those near the equator to the poles, to determine which climatic factor is limiting growth.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Life Science: 12.5 Population Growth Limits
Discover how ecosystems respond to population growth limits.
Oswego City School District
Regents Prep: Ecosystems/communities
Abiotic factors vary in the environment and determining the types and numbers of organisms that exist in that environment. Factors which determine the types and numbers of organisms of a species in an ecosystem are called limiting...
American Geosciences Institute
American Geosciences Institute: Earth Science Week: Sea Level and the Terrapin
Students build a model ecosystem to simulate the life and limiting factors of the Terrapin turtle.
CPALMS
Florida State University Cpalms: Florida Students: Limits to Population Growth
Explore biotic and abiotic factors that can influence the growth of populations of organisms in this interactive tutorial.
CPALMS
Florida State University Cpalms: Florida Students: Where Have All the Scrub Jays Gone?
Learn how organisms rely on one another but also compete with one another within the same ecosystem.
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Designing a Sustainable Guest Village
This lesson introduces students to their task of designing a permanent guest village within the Saguaro National Park. The design must provide a true desert experience to visitors while also emphasizing sustainable design, protection of...
Other
Explore Learning: Food Chain Gizmo
In this ecosystem consisting of hawks, snakes, rabbits and grass, the population of each species can be studied as part of a food chain. Disease can be introduced for any species, and the number of animals can be increased or decreased...