Curated OER
My Colorful Food Chain
Students explore biology by participating in a dietary habit activity. In this food chain instructional activity, students discuss their own diets and the animals we feed upon daily. Students create a poster demonstrating the animals...
Roald Dahl
Matilda - The Weekly Test
Readers take the main characters in Matilda and individually describe them through a mnemonic. To get there, group members create an acrostic poem describing the character they were given, and choose one of the words from the acrostic...
PBS
Blow the Roof Off!
Blow the minds of young scientists with this collection of inquiry-based investigations. Based on a series of eight videos, these "hands-on, minds-on" science lessons engage young learners in exploring a wide range of topics from making...
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
Understanding How Diseases Spread
To boost disease prevention, high schoolers arm themselves with information about infectious diseases and how they spread. Scholars research the causes, prevention techniques, and identify high-risk groups especially vulnerable to a...
Curated OER
Digging Into Science Lesson Plans
In this biology worksheet, students identify and write the various species that are still present today. Then they define evolution using three words. Students also describe what a fossil is and give some examples related to a particular...
American Physiological Society
An Inquiry into Alcoholic Fermentation
Introduce life science students to their new "best buds" yeast! Using a wide variety of materials, lab groups design an experiment that illustrates how yeast acquires the resources it needs to undergo cellular respiration. The teacher's...
Curated OER
Water Molds (Oomycetes)
Pupils research a group of fungus-like organisms; the Oomycetes, by baiting them from natural sources (water and soil) and observing them.
Virginia Department of Education
Organisms in Symbiosis
Searching for an activity that allows emerging biologists to explore symbiosis up close and personal? Pupils collect samples and view lichens through a microscope and conclude with a discussion about the relationship they have with other...
Virginia Department of Education
Classification of Organisms
Searching for the perfect indoor/outdoor activity that allows class members the opportunity to learn about organism classification? Here, pupils research organisms and categorize them according to domain and kingdom over the course of...
Curated OER
Hand Washing
Mostly discussion, this lesson explores the importance and methods of hand washing. A few true stories of community illnesses spread by the neglect of washing hands serve as an anticipatory set. The activity is most memorable if you are...
Curated OER
Species and Specimens: Exploring Local Biodiversity
Learners practice skills essential to all scientific investigation: carefully observing and collecting data. They become field biologists in a series of hands-on activities to collect and identify specimens, and survey and calculate the...
Cornell University
Renewable Resins and Composites
Merge chemistry with environmental science to study biodegradable materials. An engaging activity allows learners to experiment with different resin concentrations and composites. Through experimental tests, scholars test their creations...
American Museum of Natural History
The Tree of Life
Groups of species can have more in common than meets the eye. An interactive cladogram shows some of the connections between important groups of species. Learners click on sections of the diagram to learn more about the connections or on...
American Museum of Natural History
Anatomy Adventure
Sometimes science is puzzling. Using an online animation, individuals manipulate skeletal bones of an ancient species to recreate its skeleton. Learners complete the skeletal puzzle and learn about the process of paleontology in person...
Curated OER
Fungal Viewing
Students recognize slides of different fungi. They work in lab groups. Students view slides under the microscope, then draw and label the parts, magnification, and the organism. Students discuss similarities between some fungi and...
Curated OER
Fungal History
Students identify different types of fungi. They discuss how mushrooms are used in American culture and research an issue about a type of fungi. They share their information with the class.
Curated OER
Cavern Life: The Food Web
Young scholars explain the importance of elements on a food web. They realize that without light there can be no life. They perform various activities based on grade level.
Curated OER
Microorganism Multiplication
Sixth graders explore biology by viewing video clips in class. For this microorganism identification lesson, 6th graders identify the types of organisms that can feed small animals such as algae and protozoans. Students view video clips...
Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Viral Lysis and Budding
How do some viruses spread so quickly, and why do they make us feel terrible? Answer these (and many more) questions through a simple yet impactful lessons. Pupils observe demonstrations that show the two methods viruses use to escape...
University of Kentucky
Beneficial Bug Scavenger Hunt
Many people think of bugs as annoying pests to be squashed, but most insects and spiders are beneficial, eating the actual pests or pollinating plants. After reviewing some of the common bugs in your area (they may differ from those...
Curated OER
Scavenger Hunt Worksheet
Exactly how environmentally friendly is your school? From the air fresheners in the bathrooms to the cleaning solvents used in the classrooms, young conservationists search the school grounds for sources of air pollution in...
Curated OER
Red Worms Rock!
Second graders measure red worms. In this lesson plan, 2nd graders observe and collect data on red worms. Students measure the red worms and create a graph with the data they collect.
Curated OER
Building Soil Nature's Way: Exploring decomposition and soil health
Young scholars explore decomposition and soil health by creating their own garden. In this agriculture lesson, students build a "lasagna garden" with organic matter found in the area and plant perennials native to their region. Young...
Scholastic
Study Jams! The Kingdoms of Life
Life science learners discuss the characteristics of five kingdoms of life: animals, plants, fungi, protists, and bacteria in this video. Viewers find out from the dialogue that scientists group organisms according to similarities. This...