Curated OER
Wacky Water Critters
Students visit a local creek or stream. They collect water samples from the creek and observe and sort the "water critters" they find in the sample, observing smaller organisms under a microscope if necessary. They identify each organism...
Curated OER
What's in Our Woods?
Students observe their local forest and document the change that occurs over the school year. For this forestry lesson, students utilize a GPS to mark a certain area of the woods as their study area for the remainder of the year....
Curated OER
Prairies
Students identify the basic characteristics of the prairie ecosystem, and several commonly known prairie species. They create a classroom mural of a prairie ecosystem; and create reports about what they have found out.
Curated OER
Dirt Life
Learners select and collect soil samples from a variety of locations (schoolyard, home, etc.). They do this lab after an interest-generating discussion about "dirt" and microbes. Students make a dilution in sterile water, plate it on a...
Curated OER
ESL Reading Comprehension: "Brown Widow" Spider
In this ESL reading comprehension worksheet, students read an article about the discovery of the "brown widow" spider and complete a set of 15 comprehension questions.
Curated OER
A Coastal Arctic Food Web
Students create a food web of the arctic ecosystem. In this biology lesson, students explain how global warming affects this ecosystem. They explain how losing a species affects the entire community.
Curated OER
Into the Pond
Seventh graders use a pond to explore macroinvertebrates and other organisms. They use a dichotomous key to classify the organisms and maintain a journal recording their findings.
Curated OER
Evolution: Adaptation
Tenth graders practice new skills and apply them. The skills of research should motivate them to want more knowledge. The concept of adaptation is used as a context for the lesson of practicing research skills.
Science Buddies
Science Buddies: Bug Vacuums: Sucking Up Biodiversity
In this science fair project you can take on the role of a wildlife biologist by examining the biodiversity of insects in your own backyard. To do this, you will follow the directions to create a homemade bug vacuum.
US Department of Agriculture
U.s. Department of Agriculture: Biodiversity Experiment
Try this experiment around your yard or school and see how biodiversity at the plant level affects biodiversity at the insect level.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Insect Investigations
In this lesson, students will explore the life cycles of insects, how they are classified by Entomologists and their role within an ecosystem. Students will also investigate different habitats to observe the biodiversity of insects found...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Simpson's Reciprocal Index: Identify and Compare Habitat Biodiversity
In this biology field lab, students will collect insects from two different habitats and use them to quantify the biodiversity of each habitat.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Using Benthic Marcoinvertebrates to Determine Biodiversity in a River
In this investigation of macroinvertebrates, students will build rock baskets and place them in various parts of a river to collect insects. Students will group insects according to their pollution tolerance and use the PTI to determine...
Australian Museum
Australian Museum: Animals
This online site for the Australian Museum introduces the nature and culture of this unique continent. This particular section focuses on the creatures of Australia including spiders, fish, birds, reptiles, mammals, insects, frogs,...
American Museum of Natural History
American Museum of Natural History: Ology: Life in the City
Explore a city park to learn what tiny species live there.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Life Science: 9.1 Invertebrate Diversity
Understand the biological diversity and classification of invertebrates.
PBS
Pbs Teachers: Scientific American: Expedition Panama: Bee Lines
Emulate the work of entomologists and explore biodiversity by collecting insects from different sites and keeping records of various populations. Develop a theory about insects and design a way to test it.
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Bees Are Master Pollinators
The study of biomimicry and sustainable design promises great benefits in design application. It affords means by which to promote cost-effective, resourceful, non-polluting avenues for new enterprise. These "blueprints" have existed...
Tree of Life Project
The Tree of Life Web Project: Animals
Extensive site that contains much information about the various animal phyla. Each phyla gives photos, common examples, scientific names and references. Collection of 1630 websites about bio-diversity.
American Academy of Achievement
Academy of Achievement: Edward O. Wilson, ph.d.
Biography, photos and interview on E.O. Wilson who is considered to be the father of sociobiology, has authored many books and had been active in conservation efforts.
Other
The Academy of Natural Sciences
This site describes the museum. It shows the viewer what is currently on exhibit, interesting facts, and many links to other exhibits.
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Habitat Network: Support Dragonflies: A Goal for Your Site?
Find out why dragonflies are beneficial to a backyard habitat.
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Habitat Network: Flower Beds
Learn how to provide appropriate flowering plants to increase diversity in an environment.