Curated OER
Keys and Webs
Students explore and classify organisms found in a Rocky Mountain Ecosystem. Through discussions, students examine the effects upon an ecosystem if a component was removed or a new component was added. As a class, they survey reasons...
Curated OER
Natural Resources Product Booklet
Students conduct a research activity and create a base product booklet that helps them recognize the resources that are available to them from the natural resources in the area that they live in.
Curated OER
In the Company of Wild Butterflies
Learners discover the life cycle of a butterfly and explain the different stages. For this exploratory lesson students watch a video and create insect art and they will get an opportunity to view live specimens of butterflies.
Curated OER
Recycling-Taking it Easy on the Environment
Students review the garbage/landfill graphs included with the instructional activity. They discuss the information on the graphs and discuss which garbage products come from their homes. Students collect examples of over packaging to...
Curated OER
Seed Dispersal
Students explore seed dispersal by designing their own wind dispersed seed structure. Using one piece of paper and a box fan, they construct a seed dispersal structure, record the distance their seed travels, and answer discussion...
Curated OER
Photosynthesis
Learners are introduced to the process of photosynthesis. In groups, they test the effects of the lack of sunlight on plant leaves and compare the results with their hypothesis. They note the characteristics that plants and animals share...
Curated OER
Farming 1: Farming Machines
Second graders explore different farm machines. In this farm lesson, 2nd graders discover the importance of farmers, and crops. Students discuss healthy eating and how crops are packaged. Students read books about farms and how bread is...
Curated OER
Where's the Beef - Beef Facts or Hype, Is it Bad for You?
Analyze a Happy Meal™ for nutrient content and calories. Blend the contents into "McMush" and use Biuret's solution to test for protein content. There are a few problems with the lesson plan: the resource links are no longer valid, the...
Curated OER
Toward a Sustainable Agriculture
Your class considers a case study of a sustainable agro-ecosystem and view a PowerPoint presentation about a sustainable farm. They complete a case study worksheet. Extension activities are included.
Explore Learning
Student Exploration: Forest Ecosystem
In this ecosystem exploration activity, students complete 2 prior knowledge questions, then use "Forest Ecosystem Gizmo" to conduct several activities, completing short answer questions when finished.
Curated OER
Empty Oceans
In groups of four, pupils brainstorm about seafood. They view the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch website to examine the problems caused by the seafood industry. Learners are then brought back together to discuss what they...
Curated OER
Prosperity and Challenges
High schoolers watch a slideshow about the technological advances in agriculture. After viewing, they complete an index card about one aspect of the slideshow. In groups, they create a cause and effect timeline in which they identify...
Curated OER
What Should I Know about Biosphere?
If your class is learning about the biosphere, you may find a study guide or reading guide helpful. Focusing on vocabulary, processes, and interactions, the Word document is easy to edit as needed to fit your needs. Another great option...
Curated OER
Water Wars
High schoolers investigate the water wars taking place in East Africa. In this global issues lesson plan, students watch video clips and read selected articles about the water shortages in East Africa. High schoolers estimate their own...
Curated OER
Illinois Biodiversity
Students examine the amount of biodiversity in the state of Illinois. They practice using new vocabulary and listening to stories about animals. After given time to reflect, they write their own haiku. They work together to create a...
Curated OER
Species Interactions
Students research desert species to find where it lives, what it eats, and what species it interacts with directly. Upon completion of research, students construct a web of all the species as a class. This emphasizes the role each...
Curated OER
Agriculture Defined
Open your Agriculture 101 course with a lesson on defining agriculture. Guide your class with thought-provoking questions and discussion. Give them time to play the card game, "Pit" in order to experience commodity exchange. This is a...
Curated OER
Agroforestry Challenge
Students explore agroforestry. In this Peace Corps lesson, students examine the role the trees play in deforestation efforts. Students then participate in an agroforestry game.
Purdue University
Healthy Body Image: A Lesson Plan for Middle School Students
This is a very valuable lesson for middle schoolers on the importance of maintaining a healthy body image through diet, exercise, and positive mentality. The resource includes four lesson plans. The first two plans outline the physical...
Curated OER
March Market
Students role play a living wetland food web. They trace the food web associated with the items in their lunch.
Curated OER
The Portion is the Poison
Middle schoolers calculate the amount of everyday food products or liquids that would need to be consumed in order to become toxic. By using unit analysis, they calculate the amount of certain common food items that would need to be...
Curated OER
Worm Composting: Vermiculture
Pupils compost in a limited space and describe the decomposing process. Students convert unwanted, organic matter, particularly food scraps and paper into fertile soil.
Curated OER
WHY WE AREN'T FILTER FEEDERS
Students describe three methods of obtaining food: scavenging, filter feeding, and hunting. They describe three methods of obtaining food: scavenging, filter feeding, hunting, and list at least two reasons why humans are not considered...
Curated OER
Ecological Citizen
Students examine the interconnectedness of living and non-living things that constitute an ecosystem. They examine fallen trees,insects, living trees, leaves, food webs, and forests. They conduct various activities and write poems about...