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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ecosystems: What Are They and How Do They Work?

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students explore the characteristics of major ecosystems, the interactions of the organisms within the systems, and the effects of humans on the system. Both living and non-living components are examined in this five lesson unit.
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Organisms and Their Environment

For Students 5th - 12th
In this organisms and their environment worksheet, students will review concepts relating to ecological studies, levels of organization in ecology, and relationships between organisms in ecosystems. This worksheet has 10 fill in the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Breaking the Food Chain

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students investigate the food chain. They brainstorm questions about the human food chain and explain what would happen to living things in the food chain if organisms or resources were removed. They role-play situations in which the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Environmental Conditions: Friend or Foe

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students research and answer questions on how organisms are classified and how their needs are met through their environment. They work in small groups and create a poster, chart, rap, PowerPoint, or brochure demonstrating how organisms...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Species Interactions

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders explore seven terrestrial biomes. They compare relationships between children, parents and friends to interactions among species. After observing pictures of types of interaction, 8th graders describe the predator-prey...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Hot is Too Hot?

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders use the scientific method to conduct experiments on the temperature effects on organisms. In this temperature effects on organisms lesson plan, 5th graders observe and record the hatching or the developing of organisms into...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Changing Coral Reef Community Game

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students examine organisms that inhabit the coral reefs and their living requirements.  In this coral reef lesson students chart population changes and play a game.
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Human Body Quest

For Students 6th - 8th
In this biology worksheet, students describe and name their organ system selected and its major functions. Then they create a diagram of their body system with the major parts and organs labeled. Students also write facts about their...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Life is Weird

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Young scholars describe features of cold seep communities and investigate five organisms that live there.  In this biological organisms lesson students research a given species and give an oral presentation on their results. 
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Human Body Systems - Lesson Plan

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students identify the following organ systems in the human body and state their functions: muscular, skeletal, circulatory, respiratory, digestive.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Environment

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students examine how connected they are to the environment and how organisms are affected by other organisms. They also discover that the environment is affected by human interactions.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Evolution: Natural Selection

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Learners analyze and discuss the evolutionary history of dinosaurs.  In this investigative lesson students monitor different organisms in the environment and analyze the pressures that affect the chances of survival. 
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Entering the Twilight Zone

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students describe major features of cold seep communities  and list organisms that are found in these communities.  In this water habitat instructional activity students examine trophic levels, describe the process of chemosynthesis and...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Organci Molecules

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore organic molecules in an unusual way. This allows students to incorporate this difficult knowledge into ways of thinking and exploring that they value. Students are placed in groups of four, with the attempt to include...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sheltering and Caring for Animals

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students learn about animal shelters and adoption agencies. In this animal care lesson, students watch a video about the ASPCA and discuss what an animal shelter is, how it operates and what services it provides animals and the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

I Am Unique

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Students study traits of organisms including genetics and inheritance. In this genetic traits activity, students complete a shared reading and discuss the 6 traits of uniqueness. Students sort themselves by specific traits and chart...
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Lesson Plan
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National Endowment for the Humanities

Chronicling America: Uncovering a World at War

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
As part of a study of World War I, class members read newspaper articles from the time that urge American involvement, non-involvement, or neutrality. Using the provided worksheet, groups analyze the articles noting the central argument...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

HABITAT for the other 90%

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners examine the connection between the habitat needs of endemic species to the habitat needs of humans.  In this habitat lesson learners research the habitat requirements of a given family then develop an idea to improve the habitat...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Micro-organisms

For Teachers K - 3rd
Students learn what a micro-organism is. In this micro-organism lesson plan, students understand that micro-organisms may be too small to see. Students learn microorganisms could be bacteria, fungi, something beneficial or a harmful...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ecosystem Interactions Web

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Pupils pick an ecosystem (forest, desert, coral reef, open ocean, grassland, mountain, savanna, etc.) and design an interaction web for their chosen ecosystem. Each group shares their ecosystem's web of life with the class.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ecosystem Organization

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders engage in a lesson about ecosystems with the intention of looking at how it is organized. They cover the biotic and abiotic factors of an ecosystem while looking at the seven types of terrestrial biomes. Students write...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Understanding Interactions Among Local Species and the Local Environment

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Students examine the differences between biotic and abiotic factors, explain the difference between habitat and niche and compare how organisms get their nutritional needs.  In this local environment activity students trace the path of...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Model Organisms: The Genes We Share

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Young scholars gather information about gene banks. In this biology lesson, students work in groups to complete an activity sheet about genetic databases and organism genomes. Lesson includes extension ideas.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Terraqua Columns

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students participate in a discussion about their personal ecosystem and the organisms they interact with on a daily basis. After a discussion, they work in groups to build TerrAqua columns, which they work with for a two to three week...