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 Visual Arts Education and Science)

Resources on the web

Who sees the seas as important?

In this Xpeditions lesson, students learn about some people who think the ocean is so important that they have devoted their lives to studying it and its inhabitants. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade K–1 Science)

Provided by: National Geographic

Where Are the Dinosaurs?

This lesson taps into student curiosity about dinosaurs in order to lead them to consider life forms that no longer exist. A variety of activities are suggested, including viewing online video clips, creating dinosaur puppets, and constructing dinosaur eggs.... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade K–2 Science)

Provided by: American Association for the Advancement of Science

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)

Provided by: American Association for the Advancement of Science

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)

Provided by: 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 Science and Social Studies)

Provided by: National Geographic

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)

Provided by: National Geographic

Right whales and people

In this lesson from Xpeditions, students will learn about the highly endangered northern right whale and think about how this species' geographical distribution places it in direct contact with human threats such as ships. Students will draw pictures of... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade K Science)

Provided by: Xpeditions

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)

Provided by: The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

Leatherback sea turtles and their special compasses

In this lesson from Xpeditions, students will learn some basic information about leatherback sea turtles and hypothesize why individual leatherbacks were able to find their way from Costa Rica to the Galapagos Islands without any obvious navigational aids.... (Learn more)

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

Provided by: Xpeditions

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)

Provided by: American Association for the Advancement of Science

Insects we love and hate

This lesson is about insects rather than parasites, but it teaches students about some insect parasites (e.g. mosquitoes and lice) as well as about insects in general. They'll see pictures of insects that bite and sting, and others of insects that don't... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade K Science)

Provided by: Xpeditions

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)

Provided by: 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)

Provided by: American Association for the Advancement of Science

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)

Provided by: 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)

Provided by: National Geographic

Elephant seals on the beach

In this Xpeditions lesson, students will consider the fact that northern elephant seals, like many animals, select very different locations for different activities. Adult seals spend most of their time swimming around the northeastern Pacific and feeding... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade K–2 Science)

Provided by: Xpeditions

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)

Provided by: 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)

Provided by: National Geographic

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)

Provided by: National Geographic