Science — Kindergarten

A home for Lars

Our lesson plan is based on the book, Ahoy There, Little Polar Bear, by Hans de Beer. We will use the book to introduce the polar bear's habitat and will elaborate on the necessary things a polar bear needs to survive in this habitat.

Format: lesson plan (grade K–1 Information Skills, Visual Arts Education, and Science)

By Teacher Academy.

Lesson plans on the web

Animal diversity

This lesson exposes children to a wide range of animals and guides them through observation of animal similarities, differences, and environmental adaptations. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade K–2 Science)

Provider: American Association for the Advancement of Science

The Antarctic food chain

In this Xpeditions lesson, students are introduced to the animals of Antarctica and to the Antarctic food chain. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade K–1 Science)

Provider: National Geographic

Butterfly 2: A butterfly's home

Students should explore how various organisms satisfy their needs in the environments in which they are typically found. Students will design their own butterfly gardens to demonstrate which environmental characteristics make up a favorable butterfly habitat. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade K–2 Science and )

Provider: American Association for the Advancement of Science

Crane cam!

Students learn about cranes and their migratory patterns, including the ways in which they use the land area in and around a sanctuary. Students discuss the importance of preserving habitats like these for a variety of animals. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade K–2 Science)

Provider: National Geographic

Dinosaur bodies

This lesson, from Xpeditions, asks students to think about the ways in which living animals use their bodies and the ways in which dinosaurs might have used their bodies, based on fossil evidence and our best educated guesses. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade K Science)

Provider: National Geographic

Elementary ecosystems

Students are introduced to the basics of species interdependency within an ecosystem. They perform a simple simulation to see how one species can affect many others. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade K–1 Science)

Provider: National Geographic

Fish Aren't Afraid of the Dark!

Students are introduced to the concept of bioluminescence and consider how animals benefit from having their own light sources. They look at pictures of bioluminescent marine animals and make collages or write stories. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade K–2 Science)

Provider: National Geographic

Frog alert! Frog alert!

In this Xpeditions lesson, students learn about the ways National Geographic Emerging Explorer Tyrone Hayes uses a combination of laboratory and field study to learn about changes in frogs' appearances as they relate to chemical contamination of water habitats. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade K and 2 Science)

Provider: National Geographic

Hatching chickens

This lesson is intended to help students realize that they can learn a lot about animals through close observation. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade K–2 Science)

Provider: American Association for the Advancement of Science

The incredible prairie picture show

Students will use their prior and newly found knowledge to create their own vision of the prairie by creating a prairie ecosystem mural. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade K–1 Science)

Provider: National Geographic

Insects we love and hate

Teaches students about some insect parasites (e.g. mosquitoes and lice) as well as about insects in general. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade K–2 Science, Mathematics, and English Language Arts)

Provider: National Geographic

Investigating local ecosystems

Students use the Internet to investigate the habitats of local plants and animals. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade K–2 Information Skills and Science)

Provider: American Association for the Advancement of Science

Magicicada: A life cycle

Students learn about the appearance, life cycle, and behavior of cicadas. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade K–2 Visual Arts Education and Science)

Provider: The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

Sharks: Should they be afraid of us?

Students learn some interesting facts about different kinds of sharks and discuss the reasons why people are both afraid of and interested in sharks. They consider sharks' importance in nature and create brochures to educate beach visitors about sharks. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade K–1 and 4 Science)

Provider: National Geographic

Take off on the MegaFlyover Project!

In this Xpeditions lesson, after an introduction to the MegaFlyover project, students imagine that they are going to travel along with National Geographic conservation fellow Michael Fay. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade K Science and English Language Arts)

Provider: National Geographic

Taking care of our oceans

Students consider why so many people live near the coast and learn about the impacts of this trend on ocean animals. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade K–2 Social Studies and Science)

Provider: National Geographic

Those fussy dinosaurs!

Students discuss the idea that animals prefer certain types of habitats over others and, in fact, cannot live in places that are too different from what they prefer. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade K–2 Science and English Language Arts)

Provider: National Geographic

What are manatees?

Students learn about manatees' behavioral characteristics and how manatees in captivity interact with people. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade K–2 Science and Social Studies)

Provider: National Geographic

What Were Dinosaurs Like?

Activities and discussions in this lesson revolve around comparing and contrasting dinosaurs to existing animals. Students consider likenesses and differences through researching various questions and documenting their findings. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade K–2 Science)

Provider: American Association for the Advancement of Science