Curated OER
Making a Human Tree
Students explore botany by defining the anatomy of a tree. In this environmental exploration instructional activity, students research plant vocabulary terms and discuss the uses of each word. Students create a "human" tree by...
Curated OER
Learning About Animals' Bodies
Students research different animals (mammals, reptiles, amphibians, insects, birds, fish) and create books, murals, dioramas, puppets, and sculptures to illustrate the necessity of various body parts for overall survival. In this animal...
Curated OER
Science: Spider Models
First graders create spider models to discover its anatomy. They use construction paper and sequins to make their spiders and use pictures as examples for their models. As an alternative, 1st graders make posters of the spider's parts....
Curated OER
Water and Ice
Students study the water cycle and states of matter. For this water cycle lesson, students observe ice for a period of time and record their observations. Students create a Venn Diagram comparing water in solid form and liquid form....
Curated OER
The Listening Walk
Students play instruments that reflect sounds in the story: hoots, toots, creaking, shrieks, clacking, crunching, whooshing, etc. They make vocal sounds from the story: whispered, sniffled, sigh, giggled, croaked, laughed. The...
Curated OER
Top 10 Summer Science Lesson Plans
Make this summer an exciting learning experience for your students with these engaging science activities!
Curated OER
Dream Stream
Investigate the parts of a healthy stream to build content-specific vocabulary and ecological awareness. The class builds vocabulary and determines why clean water is important for trout. They design a shoe box to show what a clean...
Curated OER
Life Cycle
Third graders examine and compare the life cycles of a variety of different animals. They analyze photos of animals and discuss any unique body parts and why those parts function they way they do. Next, they observe mealworms and...
Curated OER
Termitology
Students engage in an inquiry-based study of the ecology of termites. Through hands-on investigations, they explore the life cycle of termites, the termite's role in the food web, and the unique social structure of termite colonies.
PBS
The Caterpillar or Larva
The larval stage of the butterfly life cycle is quite exciting. Start a discussion about the specially designed body parts unique to caterpillars. After examining images of caterpillars, learners use plastic soda bottles, string, and...
Curated OER
Mutualism and Co-evolution A study of Flowering Plants and their Pollinators: Biology, Plants
These lessons use a variety of methods and approaches to teach flowering plant biology which includes seed germination; plant growth and food production through photosynthesis; plant transpiration and respiration; sexual reproduction...
Curated OER
Araceli Solis Butterflies Unit
Third graders study the life cycle, eating habits, habitats, and migration patterns of butterflies in this series of lessons.
Curated OER
Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs
Fourth graders participate in a play to work on seeing events from a different perspective. Some of them are reporters, some cameramen and women, and others are interviewed. They put themselves in the shoes of the people in the book...
Curated OER
Into the Bat Cave
Students explore the lives of bats. In this bat lesson plan, students participate in up 6 activities that focus on bats and build their background knowledge about the nocturnal mammals.
Curated OER
Ants In Motion
Pupils brainstorm ants and their characteristics in a class discussion. They observe the ants and answer question pertaining to their behavior; then they apply the scientific method in creating and investigating a problem.
Curated OER
The Effects of Water Quality on the Growth Rate of Freshwater Mussels
Students participate in a field and laboratory study to determine if local freshwater mussels are environmentally stressed.
Curated OER
Classification of Animals
Third graders practice classiyfying items and identify three major characteristics scientists use to classify animals. They describe the differences between ectothermic and endothermic animals.
Curated OER
Plant Reproduction
Students identify the different parts and function of a flower's reproductive system. For this biology lesson, students explain how pollination works. They watch a video and practice labeling parts of both flower and leaf.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Biology: Insects
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Discusses characteristics of insects.
Ed Koday
Ivy Hall: Insect Facts and Information
General information about insects is available. Identify an insect's anatomy, understand metamorphosis and the identification system.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Life Science: Insect Food
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Insects have different types of appendages adapted for capturing and feeding on prey. They also have special senses that help them detect prey. Furthermore, insects...
Iowa State University
Iowa State University: Iowa Insect Information Dragonflies and Damselflies
Dragonflies and Damselflies are some of the most beneficial insects in the whole insect world. Read about the life cycle, history, and other anatomy of these insects.
Other
We're the Insects
Discover "Why the Insect Family is so Interesting" as well as how they grow, what they eat and about their senses.
TED Talks
Ted: Ted Ed: A Simple Way to Tell Insects Apart
Anika Hazra explains how the features of an insect's mouthparts can help identify which order it belongs to, while also providing clues about how it evolved and what it feeds on.