NOAA
A Laboratory Simulation of Ocean Surface Currents
Stimulate interest in ocean currents with a simulation. The first installment of a five-part middle school series teaches future oceanographers about the forces that interact to cause ocean currents. A simulation shows how wind and...
Curated OER
Wildlife
The centerpiece of this lesson plan is a predator-prey simulation in which colored paperclips represent different species of animals camouflaged against a colored background. Relevant follow-up questions are provided. The activity is...
Curated OER
Quiz
In this quiz worksheet, students, after researching and discussing different types of world-wide animals, determine the answers to ten key true and false questions.
Curated OER
Coral Reefs: Gardens Under the Sea
Students discover the wonders of coral reefs while listening to a book about them. In a Reading Rainbow video activity, they simulate a dive, check equipment and explore a reef. Role-playing as marine biologists, students uncover...
Curated OER
Oddball Out: Animals
In this problem solving worksheet, young scholars analyze a row of pictures of various animals to determine which creature is different from the others pictured.
Curated OER
Early Earth History
In this earth history worksheet, students answer 12 questions about geological time, the eras of Earth, the changes taking place in early Earth and the life present during the eras. They also answer 2 questions about the Paleozoic Era.
Curated OER
The Wonderful World of Slugs
Examine a slug? Of course, what else would a 2nd grader do with it? Pupils use clues and go on a slug hunt, read a slug story, or make a cooperative group mural of a slug's habitat. While older learners catalog slugs, go on a slug hunt,...
Curated OER
Seashell Homes
Pupils listen to a story about seashells. They discuss shelled animals. Learners describe the function of seashell. Pupils relate the function of a seashell to their own dwelling. They differentiate between shelled animals that make...
Curated OER
The Key To Classifying Animals
Explorers of the environment construct a dichotomous key for a variety of organisms and design a key to classify Galapagos animals based on descriptions and images. The activity includes a link to an animal gallery and the worksheet for...
Curated OER
Bioluminescence
Students differentiate chemiluminescence from bioluminescence. For this biology lesson, students explain how fireflies and other animals emit light. They discuss the applications of engineered bioluminescence.
Curated OER
Mud in the Water
Students build a soil erosion model to study the importance of soil conservation. They investigate how land forms from both constructive and destructive forces.
Curated OER
Animal Hide and Seek
Students read about animal camouflage. For this animal adaptation lesson, students read short texts about ways in which animals hide or transform to escape their prey. Students explore animal classifications and determine ways to hide in...
Curated OER
In Arctic Waters
For this reading comprehension and following directions worksheet, students read facts about Arctic waters, the Inuit, Arctic animal adaptations, polar bears, walruses, seals, narwhal, Beluga whales and create a mix-and-match animal...
Curated OER
Plankton
Students research phytoplankton and zooplankton. In this food chain lesson, students read This is the Sea That Feeds Us and discuss plankton, food chains, and webs. Students define phytoplankton and compare them to land plants....
Curated OER
Starfish Project
Students discuss ocean waters, tides, tide pools and the animals which live in the tide pools. They practice the push and pull method with a chink of clay to create a starfish from clay. They apply texture and decorate the starfish...
Curated OER
Bringing Illinois into the Curriculum
Students of all ages are introduced to the geography of Illinois. Depending on the grade level, they participate in different activities which allow them to discover Illinois in the past and present. They examine the animals and...
Curated OER
Oil Spill Cleanup
Students participate in an oil spill simulation and how to clean it up. In this oil spill lesson plan, students also calculate the cost of the clean up of an oil spill.
Curated OER
Dino Detectives
As students examine maps of Utah, 4th graders search for clues about what prehistoric life was like in Utah.
Curated OER
Tree Top Canopy Field Trip
Students visit the Greenheart Canopy Walkway. In this environmental instructional activity, students experience a coastal rain forest ecosystem. Students interact and explore the different layers of the rain forest.
Curated OER
Ecosystems and Remote Sensing
Young scholars obtain remote sensing data to compare and contrast global biomass data with global temperature data.
Curated OER
Gas exchange: Respiratory Systems
The need for a respiratory system in humans versus being reliant on gas exchange structures is demonstrated. There are many details about the advantages and disadvantages of each mechanism. Students are able to learn about the...
University of Southern California
What Lives In The Ocean?
One of the most diverse environments on Earth is the ocean. Young scientists explore the living things found in the ocean during an exciting seven-lesson unit. Their study includes organisms from plankton to invertebrates...
Curated OER
Phytoplankton in the Gulf of Maine
Students use satellite data to see the correlation between sea temperature and sunlight in the Gulf of Maine. For this phytoplankton lesson students use Excel to analyze data.
National Energy Education Development Project
Exploring Oil and Gas
The United States consumes more oil than any other country, about 1.85 billion barrels (or 77 billion gallons) a day. Viewers learn about the history of fossil fuel exploration and how they are formed in an informative presentation. They...