Curated OER
Get to Know Trees
Young scholars recognize the characteristics of trees by using their five senses. In this trees instructional activity, students observe and record the characteristics of trees on a field trip. Young scholars then are blindfolded and...
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Spying on Spiders
Young scholars investigate spiders. In this spiders lesson, students create a habitat for a spider with a jar, twigs, and dirt. Young scholars observe the behavior of the spider and record how they spend their days.
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Bats and Boas Abound
Students investigate Puerto Rican boa constrictors and bats. For this animal science lesson, students read an article about the bats and snakes found in Puerto Rico. Students use various art supplies to create a diorama of the habitat of...
Curated OER
Biology In Elementary Schools
Students classify animals into six major animal groups and describe the characteristics of the animals found within each group. In this living and non-living animals lesson, students observe a variety of animals, both living and...
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Amphibians
For this amphibian worksheet, students read about the frog life cycle to complete the Venn diagram. They also answer 16 fill in the blank questions about frogs.
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Worm Watching
Students examine the role earthworms play in building soils. They discuss worms and what they do with soil, make predictions and draw pictures, and observe their worms in soil over a two week period.
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Gardening in Containers
Learners plant a garden. In this gardening lesson, students use containers to plant a garden. This lesson provides a good source of information for teachers who wish to begin their class's own container garden.
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Worms and Spiders: "Critters That Crawl"
Students complete a unit of lessons on spiders and worms. They discuss worm and spider characteristics, create a garbage garden, observe worms, create gummy worm prints, read the book, 'The Very Busy Spider,' and construct a spider and...
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The Schoolyard Safari
Students engage in a lesson to find out more information about insects. They collect and observe different insects found on school property. They research the insects once they have been classified. Also a video is used to create a...
DePaul University
Breaking the Food Chain
Throughout history, the growth of big cities has resulted in the destruction of ecosystems. In the case of Chicago, IL, a grassland that was once home to bison, deer, wolves, and foxes quickly became a booming city of over three million...
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Predators and Prey
Students explain how the food chain works. They contrast predators with prey and describe their function in nature. Students discuss how the food chain aids in keeping nature balanced. In small groups, they play a game that simulates the...
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Arthropod Key
Students identify the types of pests and categorize them. They identify their food chain and create a poster showing the food chain for the pests.
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The Ant Attack
Third graders observe the daily activity of an ant farm. Through observations and journal writing, they gather data concerning the daily activities of the ants. Students use their observations to predict the effect of environmental...
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Macroinvertebrate Sampling
Students identify macroinvertebrate species to investigate ecological systems and the relationship between humans and the environment.
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Spiders
Students read books and make art projects dealing with spiders. In this spiders lesson plan, students learn about the different characteristics of spiders through listening, answering questions, and making spiders.
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Aquatic Food Webs
Students discuss producers, herbivores, omnivores, carnivores, and decomposers and analyze the difference between food chains and food webs. They participate in a food web yarn game, examining what can effect the breakdown of the web.
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Home Sweet Home
Students examine the animals that live in trees. They identify their sounds, footprints and droppings. They draw pictures of the animals as well.
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Watchable Wildlife Checklist
In this wildlife worksheet, students will read over a list of 28 native animal species, their needs, and interesting characteristics. This list can be used as a checklist when out on a hike or in the school yard to identify common wildlife.
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Plant Reproduction
In this plant reproduction worksheet, students complete a crossword puzzle with 36 questions. They identify the different plant reproductive features.
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Comparing Three Animal Brains
In this animal brain worksheet, students view images of a human brain, toad brain, and shark brain along with descriptions of each. They answer 3 short answer questions.
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Spiders are Special
First graders recognize that spiders are important natural predators. They work in small groups with simple field guides to identify as many of their spiders as they can.
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Pollination Station
Pupils investigate why and how bees pollinate flowers and other plants. They define pollination, and read and sing along with the song "Yo, i'm a Flower." Students examine a diagram of a flower, simulate bees pollinating flowers, and...
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Spiders! Scary or Nice?
Students participate in a variety of cross-curriculur activities in order to explore spiders.
Curated OER
Jewel of the Earth
Pupils investigate several organisms, set sticky traps to collect them, and attempt to identify and classify them using a variety of sources. The origins of the organisms are traced and their adaptive features examined.