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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Natural Selection And Evolution

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students investigate the concept of evolution and how natural selection is used as an indicator that evolution has happened. They recognize the three effects it has on diversity and how adaptations can develop. Diversity is explained as...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Natural Figures

For Teachers 1st
First graders look for geometrical shapes in nature to help them appreciate the diversity of the natural environment.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Natural History of Costa Rica

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Young scholars use outline maps to become acquainted with Costa Rica. They see how it was formed and how its origin has created very diverse environments. Students then use atlases and compare their physical maps with maps of climate and...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Dirt Life

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Students 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...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Eyes on the Estuaries

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students study estuaries and compare several ones in the U.S. In this estuary lesson students interpret data and compare the distribution of different species. 
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Dive and Discover the Ocean

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders investigate the three zones of the ocean and the plants and animals that live in each zone. Projects produced are shared with classmates in a share circle where the unique features of the animal and zone selected are...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Environmental Exchange Box

For Teachers K - 8th
Learners examine the characteristics of their own environment and compare them to another region. They prepare a box filled with items and stories about their own region, exchange the box with another class in another region, and...
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Lesson Plan
University of Southern California

Mastering Microbes

For Students 6th - 12th
Small but mighty! Learners explore the role of microbes in a healthy ecosystem. An engaging lesson asks pupils to design an aquaponics system that demonstrates that healthy microbes are necessary to maintain the ecosystem.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Cell Analogies!

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Liken a cell and its organelles to a tiny person and its organs. After gathering information on cell structures and their functions, small groups collaborate to come up with an analogy of their own. They produce a collage describing the...
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Activity
PBS

Season Seeking

For Teachers 3rd - 8th Standards
It's a time of change. A hands-on activity engages young scientists in a lesson highlighting the change of seasons. They brainstorm indicators of season changes in nature and then look for them. Next, they record observations in a field...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

What is Deforestation?

For Students 9th - 12th
An overview of deforestation is the focus of this resource, which present the reader with a list of facts. Ten comprehension questions follow; learners can write their answers on a separate piece of paper. Have your environmental...
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Lesson Plan
Outdoor Learning Center

Outdoor Survival

For Teachers 4th - 12th
Which of the following can you survive without for the longest time: water, food, or a positive mental attitude? The answer may surprise you. Guide learners of all ages through games, activities, and discussions about surviving in the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Soil Scrolls

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders examine soil samples and explore the what happens in each layer of the subsoil. They work in cooperative groups to create a scroll that shows what takes place in each layer, and discuss why much of the activity is in the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Tropical Forest Food Chain

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Learners explore the interdependence of the animals and plants in tropical rainforests. They explore the importance of conserving biodiversity and tropical food chains. They create a tropical forest food chain and identify species that...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rain Forests: A Disappearing Act?

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students examine and locate rainforests on maps, and research the patterns of their destruction. They develop a bar graph of rainfall and temperature data, write a journal entry, and research the people, animals, and plants/products of...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Exploring the Temperate Forest: Biodiversity and Interdependence

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students examine the consequences of cutting down large amounts of forests throughout the world. In groups, they use the internet to complete a module taking them on a tour through different temperate forests. To end the lesson, they...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Understanding Science Vocabulary and Categorization

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students analyze scientific vocabulary words. In this life science vocabulary lesson, students complete a worksheet using VisualThesaurus as they evaluate words related to plants and animals and how the words are used.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Exploring Forest Objects

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Students explore the forest. In this ecosystems instructional activity, students rotate through sensory activity centers, brainstorm, and read about temperate forests.
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Lesson Plan
Aiken County Public Schools

Claymation in the Classroom

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students design an appropriate and usable storyboard and then create a claymation video. They take digital photographs frame by frame, then assemble the stop-motion movie using video software.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Red Tail Ridge Wetland Study Project

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders use a real life scenario of the wetlands to gather information on creatures of the habitat.  In this wetlands activity, 5th graders research the interdependence of organisms in a healthy habitat. Students collected samples...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Where Oh Where Did the Rainwater Go?

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders conduct an experiment to determine how water moves through different soils found in the Apalachicola River watershed. They read a scenario, conduct the experiment, answer follow-up questions, and draw the water movement...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Energy Debate - Global Warming

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners describe what global warming is, what causes global warming and the impact to our world. They study the threat of global warming and its relationship to the use of fossil fuels.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Under Our Feet

For Teachers 1st - 2nd
Students investigate the forest ecosystem to learn of the living and non-living elements of the soil. In this ecosystem instructional activity, students examine soil for twigs, moss, fungi, leaves, roots and other matter.   Students...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Why Is My Bread Fuzzy?

For Teachers 4th - 12th
Students explore the organisms that live on counters or surfaces in the classroom. In this mold experiment, students observe mold in different conditons.  Students record their observations on a worksheet. Students understand how mold...