LEARN NC

K–12 teaching and learning · from the UNC School of Education

Additional related resources

We’re in the process of aligning our content for students to the Standard Course of Study. As we do, you’ll find it here.

Drawing sea turtles
This lesson plan takes students step by step through drawing a sea turtle, using the process to discuss the animal's anatomy.
Format: lesson plan (multiple pages)

General resources

Aligned lesson plans

The zoo is coming, the zoo is coming
The zoo is coming is a lesson that will give students an opportunity to write a letter to a fictional governor about the pros and cons of having a zoo come to their town.
Format: lesson plan (grade 4 English Language Arts, Information Skills, and Science)
By steven sather.
Slipsliding poetry
Students will work with a partner to write an original piece of poetry to express information learned about the rain forest and an animal that lives in that habitat. Students will share their poems by creating a multimedia slide show.
Format: lesson plan (grade 4 English Language Arts and Science)
By Angela Hodges.
Researching the North Carolina coastal plain
This lesson plan will provide students with a more in-depth knowledge of the animals, industry, and land geography of the coastal plain. Students will conduct research on the internet and in other resources to find information on the vital parts of the coastal plain. The lesson culminates with group presentations of their research and a Venn diagram developed individually comparing the outer and inner parts of the coastal plain.
Format: lesson plan (grade 4 English Language Development, Science, and Social Studies)
By Ana Sanders and Heather Ennis.
Polar bears: Keeping warm at the Arctic
Students will learn about the polar bear's body coverings and how they help it to survive in the Arctic climate. The activities include a trip to the North Carolina Zoological park and a hands-on experiment to facilitate this goal, followed by reflection on and communication of what they have learned using a variety of media including art and literature.
Format: lesson plan (grade 4 Science)
By Sandy Hardin.
Polar bears and their adaptations
In this introductory activity, students will be introduced to the concept of adaptation by exploring how a polar bear's body adapts to survive in the harsh environment in which it lives.
Format: lesson plan (grade 4 Science)
By Heather Spradling.
Operation beach teach
This lesson is the introduction to an integrated marine science unit which culminates in an early fall trip to Hammocks Beach State Park. (See attachment: Pre-Activity). The unit is designed to hook students into science and provide joyful learning experiences across the curriculum.
Format: lesson plan (grade 4 Visual Arts Education, English Language Arts, Science, and Social Studies)
By Melissa Tukey.
Incredible insect mouths
This lesson shows children that insects have different kinds of mouths. It also notes the kinds of foods that different insects eat. It is a hands-on experiment type of lesson in which the children act as insects and use different tools for their “mouths.”
Format: lesson plan (grade 4 Science)
By Kelly Stewart.
Green Wilma is missing!
This lesson is designed to be used after students have been exposed to animal classification, especially the characteristics of amphibians. Reading Green Wilma by Tedd Arnold and inviting students to respond through art and written expression is a good use of integration.
Format: lesson plan (grade 4 Science)
By Emily Rothrock.
Embryology: Hatching baby chicks
This lesson integrates science, math, communication skills, arts, and social studies through hands-on activities. Students are directly involved in hatching baby chicks.
Format: lesson plan (grade 4 Science)
By Ann White.
Animal slide shows!
This project is a culmination of a science unit on animals which integrates computer skills, language arts and art. After a study of animals which includes classification, basic needs of animals, animal adaptations, and animal behaviors, the students will use the computer to complete a slide show of one animal they have studied at length.
Format: lesson plan (grade 4 Computer/Technology Skills and Science)
By Margie Bartolomucci.
Animal report
After studying the various animal groups, students write a report about an animal of their choosing using well-formed paragraphs.
Format: lesson plan (grade 4 English Language Arts, Information Skills, and Science)
By Kay Sims.
Animal environments: Day one
Students will group animals using common characteristics. Students will develop an understanding of animal adaptations. This lesson was designed to be used with the lesson "Diamante Poetry Using Environments: Day two."
Format: lesson plan (grade 4 Science)
By Cheri Cole.
Animal adaptation
This lesson focuses on the adaptations, body structures, and behavior of animals. The students will explore animal growth and adaptations of animals. This lesson is designed to be taught during the reading of Stone Fox.
Format: lesson plan (grade 4 English Language Development and Science)
By Jennifer Fessler and Karen Wright.
American black bear
The students will examine the structural characteristics, behavior, and habitat of the American Black Bear necessary for survival.
Format: lesson plan (grade 4 Science)
By Shanda Myers.

Resources on the web

Why study nurse shark mating?
In this Xpeditions lesson, students explore basic information about nurse sharks and read articles describing recent studies in the Florida Keys. They also read about shark conservation programs and discuss how nurse shark mating studies might assist shark... (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 4 Science)
Provided by: Xpeditions
Which turtle for the tiger shark?
In this Xpeditions lesson, students consider the reasons for the significant difference in vulnerability between the turtle species in Western Australia's Shark Bay. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 4 Science)
Provided by: National Geographic
What's so key about a keystone species?
In this lesson, from Xpeditions, students learn about tiger sharks through Web sites such as National Geographic's "Filming Tiger Sharks" site. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 4–5 Science)
Provided by: National Geographic
What's happening to the emperor penguins?
In this lesson, from Xpeditions, students learn about emperor penguins' habitat and behaviors through Web sites such as National Geographic's "Creature Feature." (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 4–5 Science)
Provided by: National Geographic
What do we know about nurse shark mating?
In this lesson, from Xpeditions, students use National Geographic articles to learn some basic information about nurse sharks and see photographs of scientists conducting nurse shark studies. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 4–5 Science)
Provided by: National Geographic
Webcams in the classroom: Animal inquiry and observation
In this lesson from ReadWriteThink, students observe animal habits and habitats using one of the many webcams broadcasting from zoos and aquariums around the United States and the world. Based on the observation of webcams, this lesson plan engages students... (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 3–5 English Language Arts and Science)
Provided by: ReadWriteThink