California Academy of Science
Coral and Chemistry
Using cabbage juice as a pH indicator, future scientists explore the effect of increasing carbon dioxide on the pH of the ocean and relate it to the health of coral reefs. Ideal for an earth or environmental sciences course, this lesson...
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A Rat's Life
Here is a two-page instructional activity on rats and mice. Learners answer nine true/false questions about rats and mice, then compose answers to seven short-answer questions about these two rodents. Finally, they must compose a...
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The Chemistry of Life
After studying the different aspects of atoms and their reactivity, pupils will find this summary PowerPoint useful for review. Some of the slides are informative with labeled diagrams; others give important vocabulary. Teachers may want...
Forest Foundation
The Web of Life
Producers, herbivores, carnivores, omnivores, decomposers. To begin a study of the forest ecosystem, learners examine the connections among the members of ecological communities.
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My Ocean Life Coloring Book
In this ocean life coloring book worksheet, students assemble a personal ocean life book and then color each page with a type of fish on it with appropriate colors.
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Ocean Animals
In these ocean life worksheets, students color the animals, cut each one out, and glue each one onto the ocean. Students then draw a color other animals to fill their ocean scene.
Michigan Sea Grant
Great Lakes, Great Careers
Pupils play a question-asking game to investigate careers relating to marine and aquatic science, then conduct research to further investigate the career of their choice—examples range from marine veterinarian to underwater...
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Puberty/Adolescence Overview
Students inquire about life science by completing a worksheet in class. In this human sexuality lesson plan, students define the physical and emotional changes which occur to male and female students during adolescence and puberty....
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Classification and Identification
Young scholars, after exploring and analyzing diagrammatic and taxonomic keys and their association to marine sciences, identify and classify objects and organisms based on visual attributes/characteristics. They research and create...
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Cooking Up the Scientific Method
First graders identify the different steps of the scientific method. In this life science lesson, 1st graders apply this method when conducting a series of hands-on activities. They collect data and write observations in their journals.
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Global Warming
First graders discover the effects of global warming on polar bears. In this life science lesson, 1st graders model the polar bear's habitat and observe what happens as they raise the temperature. They record their observation in the...
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What on Earth?
Second graders investigate the different living and nonliving things they can find on Earth. In this life science lesson, 2nd graders record their observations as they dig into the soil. They examine them under the magnifying glass and...
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What a Fungi
Seventh graders perform an experiment to determine the best growing conditions for molds. In this life science lesson, 7th graders explain where molds are commonly found. They collect data and draw diagrams of their observations.
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What About Cantaloupes?
Second graders investigate the physical properties of cantaloupe using their senses. In this life science activity, 2nd graders estimate the weight of their sample. They get it's actual weight and compare it with their estimate.
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Do You Need What I Need?
Student identify the basic human needs. In this life science instructional activity, 3rd graders compare the needs of plants, animals and humans. They apply what they have learned by playing a survival team game.
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Look Alikes
Third graders compare and contrast the physical features of parents and offspring. For this life science lesson, 3rd graders classify a set of animal pictures according to their similarities. They share and explain their work in class.
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Body Battles!
Seventh graders explain the role of white blood cells in fighting infections. In this life science instructional activity, 7th graders create flow charts showing the immune response process. They act out and play a game to simulate...
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Treatment Through Time
Seventh graders explore how disease prevention and treatment changed throughout history. In this life science lesson, 7th graders create a classroom exhibit about this topic. They present their project to visitors.
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Parental Genes
Eighth graders explore how different organisms pass their traits to their offspring. In this life science lesson, 8th graders differentiate recessive and dominant alleles. They predict the phenotype based on the genotype of an organism.
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Life Science: Human Body Skit
Students create skits based on the human body systems. Working in groups, they role-play as organs in the various systems. They make costumes or wear signs identifying themselves as the organs in their skits.
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Teaching Science to English Language Learners
Use these hands on lesson plans to make science more accessible for English Language Learners in your classroom.
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3-D Ocean Animals
Fifth graders research an animal from the ocean, using the internet and encyclopedias, with at least 5 out of 5 topics covered. They also construct a 3-dimensional model of their animal and give an oral presentation about their animal...
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Chesapeake Bay
The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States. Explore its origins, organisms, and contributing rivers with this PowerPoint. It opens with several slides of general information on the formation of estuaries, then it...
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A Zoo Book for All
A visit to the local zoo launches an integrated life science/ language arts research project into the habitat, feeding habits, offspring, lifespan, and other interesting facts about animals. Each group selects two animals to photograph...