Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Color Variation over Time in Rock Pocket Mouse Populations
A species-specific look at natural selection, the resource herein examines how adaptations have helped the population of rock pocket mice survive in a changing landscape. To begin, middle or high schoolers watch a 10.5 minute video,...
Curated OER
Exploring Learned and Innate Behavior
Students explore the differences between learned and innate behavior among humans and monkeys. They complete an assignment and read articles about two studies, which used similar test methods to show that infants and monkeys share an...
Berkeley Engineering and Mentors
Darwin's Finches
Try a twist on the old finch beak and chopsticks activity by using M&Ms on a Twister mat. Spoons, knives, forks, and chopsticks represent beaks and are randomly assigned to your little birds, who must collect as much food as possible...
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Reptile Adaptations
Learners research animal adaptations. In this adaptations lesson plan, students research the physical and behavioral adaptations of animals. Learners create a diagram of their animal labeling it's adaptations.
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Pets: Oh Behave
They say that a dog is a man's best friend. Why is that? Discuss with your class why people like pets and the responsibilities with owning one. They read an article about pet behavior and write a short essay comparing one of their...
Curated OER
Evolution Number Two
Are you looking for evidence that your high schoolers are adapting to the concepts of natural selection and evolution? Assess their knowledge with a pretest and posttest. Naturally, you can select and adapt the worksheet to be the...
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Where are the Dinosaurs?
Students construct their own diorama based on the life of a dinosaur. In this dinosaur lesson, students create models of dinosaurs and dinosaurs' eggs to explore the life cycle of this extinct species.
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Bird Buffet
Fifth graders investigate how birds use their beaks. In this agriculture instructional activity, 5th graders use tools to simulate how birds gather food with their beaks. They then draw conclusions about certain types of beaks and what...
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Blending Butterflies
Students create camouflage butterflies. For this camouflage lesson plan, students read about the different types of camouflage. Each student in the class chooses a spot in the classroom and creates a camouflaged butterfly. They hang up...
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Create a New Animal
Students understand what physical adaptations are and how they help an animal to survive. In this adaptations lesson, students research four animals and then make an original animal that has adaptations to make them survive.
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Who Am I Like?
Students examine family structures. In this family structure lesson, students discover things about their own families and those of their classmates. They make a chart as they discuss nature versus nurture, complete a worksheet about who...
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Preying on Beans
Students act as predators searching for prey (beans) in two different settings to demonstrate the processes of adaptation and selection.
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Cold and Warm Blooded Animals
Students research facts about a cold or warm-blooded animal in order to designa report either as PowerPoint or word processed document. They use online resources and insert images in to the report. They include the specified criteria and...
Curated OER
Sibling Relationships in the Animal World
Students research sibling relationships in the animal world. In this animal science lesson, students read the book, Sisters and Brothers: Sibling Relationships in the Animal World and discuss the sibling relationships. Students choose an...
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Tadpoles
Students examine tadpoles at various stages of development. Questions in observation category assess students' ability to use a variety of senses to observe data in a certain way-scientific way.
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Panther Trivia Pursuit
Sixth graders design trivia game about panthers. In this panther trivia game instructional activity, 6th graders use the Internet to research interesting information about panthers, write the facts on note cards, and create a game based...
Curated OER
Exploring Learned and Innate Behavior
Compare and contrast learned and innate behaviors between humans and primates. Your biology class members read articles and participate in discussions about the use of tools and communication methods. That's about it, you'll probably...
Curated OER
Natural Selection and Evidence Worksheet
Matching and fill-in-the-blank exercises give biology whizzes a chance to practice vocabulary associated with evolution. Terms to be reviewed focus on evidence for evolution, natural selection concepts, and some genetics words. You could...
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Natural Selection And Evolution
Seventh graders investigate the concept of natural selection and its relationship to the theory of evolution. They conduct research using a variety of resources and use the information to create a class presentation and open up the...
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Peanut Butter Broccoli
Fifth graders explore food production by viewing DNA presentations. In this genetic engineering lesson, 5th graders discuss the foods they typically eat at home and how many common foods are engineered in a way that can produce a bigger...
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Dinosaurs 1: Where Are the Dinosaurs?
Students explore dinosaurs. In this dinosaur identification lesson, students watch video clips for different dinosaurs from the Discovery Kids website. Students discuss the clips with their teacher. Students may then role play the...
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Classification of Animals
Sixth graders examine two-way classification systems using four mutually exclusive groups and two dimensions simultaneously. They then are given a set of plastic animals, asked to create a two-way classification system, then asked to...
Curated OER
Tadpoles
Students examine tadpoles at various stages of development. They make careful scientific observations and compare the changes that occur at five different phases of a frog's life.
Curated OER
Animal Games
Students explore a variety of games on the Internet that will teach them about animals; they focus on the Florida panther. Students choose the activity that is of interest to them, and then rotate between the games online and the...