Related: Life Science

LESSON PLANS AND ACTIVITIES

Click on a lesson plan or activity name to learn more about it

  • Coral Reef Symbiosis

    / Moorea Coral Reef LTER Education

    This lesson introduces the idea of interrelationships among organisms and how these could help them persist in a coral reef ecosystem. Students will learn about symbiotic relationships, with mutualism among coral and zooxanthellae as the model organisms in this first lesson. Topics include the transfer of energy and matter through the processes of photosynthesis and respiration. These concepts are approached through the marine environment, rather than the terrestrial environment, which allows most students to take a step out of their comfort zone.

    Grades: 6-8

  • Jelly Critters: Gelatinous zooplankton

    / NOAA

    In this activity, students will be able to compare and contrast at least three different groups of organisms that are included in ‘gelatinous zooplankton’, describe how gelatinous zooplankton fit into marine food webs, and explain how inadequate information about an organism may lead to that organism being perceived as insignificant.

    For more information:
    http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov

    Grades: 3-5, 6-8

  • Field Investigations: Using Outdoor Environments to Foster Student Learning of Scientific Processes

    / Texas Parks and Wildlife

    This extensive guide has everything you need to know for conducting field studies with your students, especially the methods used for scientific field research. Included: why field study is important; preparing students for field investigations; and using data to help identify patterns and relationships.
    For more information: http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/

    Grades: 6-8, 9-12

  • Be a Scientist

    / Monterey Bay Aquarium

    Learn how scientists collect field data by being a scientist yourself! By studying a specific ecosystem, students learn how different scientists work together, what kinds of data scientists record, and experience the scientific process through observation and data collection.
    For more information: http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/

    Grades: 6-8, 9-12

  • BioBlitz Organizational Guide

    / Connecticut State Museum of Natural History at UCONN

    Learn all about BioBlitz and how to organize one for your school. Includes a checklist and schedule.

    For more information: http://www.cac.uconn.edu/mnhhome.html
    http://web2.uconn.edu/mnh/bioblitz/

    Grades: 3-5, 6-8, 9-12

  • Is Climate Change Good For Us?

    / Wild BC

    In this activity students are encouraged to consider how climate change could impact them personally and how changes may affect their regions. Students will analyze the roles of organisms as part of interconnected food webs, populations, communities, and ecosystems, assess survival needs and interactions between organisms and the environment, assess the requirements for sustaining healthy local ecosystems evaluate human impacts on local ecosystems. For more information: http://wildbc.org/index.php/programs/climate-change-education/

    Grades: 6-8

  • Climate Change Metaphors

    / Wild BC

    Students will use and describe how a variety of objects provide metaphors for why climate change is occurring and the impacts resulting from it. Students will demonstrate the ability to interpret metaphors, describe the factors contributing to climate change and make connections between human behavior and environmental changes. For more information: http://wildbc.org/index.php/programs/climate-change-education/

    Grades: 3-5, 6-8

  • The Global Climate Game

    /

    This group game is designed to help students explore the various aspects of global climate and to learn how human activity may affect climate. Student groups will be responsible for making decisions about activities that may impact global climate. Students will be able to identify the various human impacts on the environment. Students will be able to explain how lifestyles may be altered to become more favorable to the environment. Students will examine the role of individual decisions and their impact on the natural environment.

    Grades: 6-8

  • Global Warming Wheel Card Activity

    EPA / Environmental Protection Agency

    Students will be introduced to the concept of climate change and the greenhouse effect. Students will learn the common sources of greenhouse gas emissions that humans generate. Students will create a Global Warming Wheel Card which will enable them to see how their own actions generate greenhouse gas emissions and contribute to global warming. Students will learn ways that they might reduce their individual, family, school and community’s production of these gases. For more information:

    Grades: 6-8

  • Polar Regions: Arctic Adaptations and Global Impacts

    /

    This lesson uses the habitat of the Beaufort Sea and other Arctic communities as examples of Ocean Literacy Principles #5 and #6. Students will learn about the adaptive capabilities of animals and people living in these environments. Students will look at recent climate changes, study the effects of global warming on polar regions such as the Beaufort Sea area, and ultimately understand the interconnectedness of life in these regions with life around the world.

    Grades: 6-8

  • Where Does it Live, and What Does it Eat?

    Susan Leach-Snyder / Currents, National Marine Educators Association

    Students research the habitat and food of organisms living in a mangrove estuary, illustrate where mangrove organisms live and diagram a mangrove estuary food web.

    Grades: 3-5, 6-8

  • Benthic Drug Store

    / NOAA Ocean Explorer

    Students identify three chemicals that are pharmacologically active and are derived from marine invertebrates. Students describe disease-fighting action of these chemicals. Students infer why sessile marine invertebrates appear to be promising sources of new drugs.

    For more information:
    http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov.

    Grades: 3-5

  • Frozen Out

    / NOAA Ocean Explorer

    Students explain the concepts of indicator species and microhabitats. Students compare and contrast “average regional conditions” with “site-specific conditions.” Students explain at least three examples of the impacts of climate change on top predators in the Arctic.

    For more information:
    http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov.

    Grades: 6-8

  • Animals of the Fire Ice

    / NOAA Ocean Explorer

    Students define and describe methane hydrate ice worms and hydrate shrimp. Students infer how methane hydrate ice worms and hydrate shrimp obtain their food. Students infer how methane hydrate ice worms and hydrate shrimp may interact with other species in the biological communities of which they are part. Students build a methane hydrate molecule.

    For more information:
    http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov.

    Grades: 6-8

  • How Diverse is That?

    / NOAA Ocean Explorer

    Students discuss the meaning of biological diversity. Students will compare and contrast the concepts of “variety” and “relative abundance” as they relate to biological diversity. Students calculate the appropriate numeric indicator that describes biological diversity of communities given the abundance and distribution data of species in two communities.

    For more information: http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov.

    Grades: 9-12