This tutorial explores animal adaptations by investigating the examples of animals commonly found in the natural environments of British Columbia. The discussion covers various ways in which plants and animals develop special features (adaptations) that allow them to survive in their environments, such as flight, echolocation, thermreceptors, thick fur, antlers, and others. A quiz and glossary are ... Full description.

This tutorial explores the adaptation of plants in their local environments by investigating examples of species native to British Columbia. Examples include adaptations such as large size (Sequoia trees), long life (bristlecone pines), fast growth (aspens), and thick bark (Ponderosa pines). There is an explanation of how plants absorb carbon dioxide give off oxygen, and draw nutrients and water from ... Full description.

In the three-dimensional ocean, some creatures live on the sea floor, but many live and move about in the water column. Having a body form that is hard to see or detect helps many ocean dwellers avoid being eaten by hungry predators. However, many predators have evolved some of the same adaptations which help them approach their prey without being seen. During this activity students will learn that ... Full description.

During this activity students will learn that the tiny animals and plants of the ocean's plankton are the basis of ocean food chains and that planktonic plants are called phytoplankton while planktonic animals are known as zooplankton. They will also discover that these plants, like plants on land, use chlorophyll to capture the energy of the sun to make food and release oxygen in the process known ... Full description.

This lesson plan is part of the Center for Educational Resources (CERES), a series of web-based astronomy lessons created by a team of master teachers, university faculty, and NASA researchers. The activities in this lesson are designed to give students solid experiences of observing, organizing, comparing, and describing the movement of objects they see in the sky. Students will also learn how early ... Full description.

In this activity students use simple materials to make model sailboats which must stay upright and sail straight in a testing tank. The activity introduces the terms sail, stability, leeway, resistance, floating, displacement, propulsion, steering, and keel. Sailboat hulls are designed to pursue a straight-ahead course with as little disturbance of the water as possible. At the same time the boat ... Full description.

This lesson plan is part of the Center for Educational Resources (CERES), a series of web-based astronomy lessons created by a team of master teachers, university faculty, and NASA researchers. This lesson familiarizes students with lunar phases by locating them and then graphing the Moon phase of their own birthdays. Students then discuss lunar myths and legends while creating their own Moon stories. ... Full description.

Younger students can learn about plant biology. Topics include characteristics of living things, germination and growth, the basic parts of plants, photosynthesis, reproduction, and ecological adaptations of plants. The information presented can also be ordered as a video. Full description.

In this activity student groups, after being given the proper background information, will work together to determine the likely food source and overall body shape for each animal from a single dinosaur tooth. Class discussion will then be initiated by naming the animal whose tooth was described, then showing color pictures of reconstructions of the dinosaur and its environment. Additional discussion ... Full description.

This site describes the skeleton of Tyrannosaurus rex at the University of California Museum of Paleontology and includes active links for more information. The first, Meet T. rex gives general information about the animal. The second link, Building T. rex, includes pictures of the actual construction of the skeleton. The third link contains children's art depicting various dinosaurs. The final link ... Full description.