Browse lesson plans

African animals in habitats

This is an inquiry-based animal study for early childhood students centered around a visit to the African Continent of the North Carolina Zoo.

Format: lesson plan (grade K–1 Science)

By Sue McCullah.

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 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 Science)

By Margie Bartolomucci.

Animals, animals, animals

In this lesson students will learn to observe special characteristics and senses which influence the life of an animal and become aware of threats to animals and their habitats and how this affects everyone.

Format: lesson plan (grade K–1 Science)

By Joyce Poplin.

Arctic animals

This is a whole language lesson for Speech Language Pathologists incorporating listening comprehension, categorizing, following verbal directions, and basic vocabulary and language concepts for First grade students.

Format: lesson plan (grade 1 English Language Arts and Science)

By Susan Ayers.

At home in the tropical rainforest

Students will choose one rainforest animal to research using print and electronic resources. They will work cooperatively with a partner to create a PowerPoint slide with the following information: photograph of the animal, the layer of the rainforest it inhabits, the sound the animal makes, and an interesting fact about the animal.

Format: lesson plan (grade 1–2 English Language Arts and Science)

By Sally Eller.

Bats

The students will learn that bats are nocturnal and use echolocation.

Format: lesson plan (grade K Science)

By Debbie Lanier.

Bugs, bugs, bugs

This lesson integrates writing and the study of insects by having the students create a book following the pattern of How Many Bugs in a Box? by David A. Carter.

Format: lesson plan (grade K–1 Computer/Technology Skills, English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science)

By Vicki Rivenbark.

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 1–2 and 4 Science)

By Ann White.

Feathers, fins, fur, scales, and skin

Using observation, students will identify animal groups by their appearance. The students will move through animal centers looking for similarities and differences of birds, fish, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians.

Format: lesson plan (grade K–1 Science)

Habitat — what's that?

This lesson helps students define the word habitat and understand the basic elements that make up an animal's habitat.

Format: lesson plan (grade K–1 Science)

By Kelly Stewart.

Habitat happenings

During this lesson students will demonstrate their understanding of what a habitat is through a creative writing assignment. The students will choose an animal to be and will describe themselves and their living environment.

Format: lesson plan (grade 1 English Language Arts)

By Kelly Stewart.

Habitat photo album

Students will use digital cameras and explore the outdoors searching ecosystems for opportunities to take pictures of different habitats and the components that go into them.

Format: lesson plan (grade 4–5 Information Skills and Science)

By Colleen Buchauer and Lesley Brooks.

An integrated lesson comparing the butterfly and frog life cycles

Students will build on their prior knowledge about the butterfly life cycle to compare and contrast the life cycles of butterflies and frogs. Students will locate butterflies on the school grounds and create pictographs and models of fractions to explain their findings mathematically. Students will also use a variety of resources to read about and study the food, space and air needed by butterflies and frogs to grow. They will create visual and written products to demonstrate their findings.

Format: lesson plan (grade 2 English Language Development, Mathematics, and Science)

By Martha Dobson and Margaret Monds.

Nature's checks and balances

This unit introduces students to several essential understandings. They will learn that plants and animals depend on one another for survival and organisms interact within nature to create a balance. They will also learn that humans can influence and manipulate nature.

Format: lesson plan (grade 5 English Language Arts and Science)

By Nicolette Heise.

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 3–4 English Language Development, Science, and Social Studies)

By Ana Sanders and Heather Ennis.

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.

Resources on the web

Hinterland Who's Who

This Canadian site is the online companion to a popular television program of the same name. Its main focus is to educate viewers in their role in preserving nature.The Species Fact Sheets section of the site provides in-depth information on the... (Learn more)

Format: website/lesson plan

Provided by: Canadian Wildlife Service and the Canadian Wildlife Federation

John Muir Study Guide

This is an extensive resource for the study of sciences. Complete with lesson plans and resources for grades Kindergarten through Twelfth Grade. (Learn more)

Format: website/lesson plan

Provided by: Sierra Club

Kids' Planet

An introduction to endangered species and environmental conservation. (Learn more)

Format: website/lesson plan

Provided by: Defenders of Wildlife