Students will learn about magnification and how a magnifying lens works. They will examine a variety of different objects, first without a magnifier and then with a magnifier, and compare what they observe. They will practice observing details of these objects with magnifying lens. The purpose of this activity is for students to learn about observation skills and how tools can help people make observations, ... Full description.

Discover marine creatures from the tiny zooxanthellae that make the coral reefs home to the giant mammals of the vast seas. This resource provides very clear explanations and pictures to teach about the marine ecosystems of shorelines, temperate oceans, tropical oceans. Full description.

This site provides excellent background information on deserts. Large print and superb pictures make this site very appealing to younger students. Topics include: What is a Desert Like?, Types of Deserts, What causes Deserts?, Deserts of the World, Desert Plants, Desert Animals, and links to other desert sites. Full description.

Students will be introduced to different species of macroinvertebrates. They will hypothesize why each insect looks the way it does. Then students will make observations of macroinvertebrates in an aquarium in their classroom. For an optional extension, teachers can take students to a local stream or pond to conduct field observations. The purpose of this activity is to introduce students to hydrology ... Full description.

In this activity, students will record a list of things they already know about hummingbirds and a list of things they would like to learn about hummingbirds. Then they will conduct research to find answers to their questions. Using their new knowledge, each student will make a hummingbird out of art supplies. Finally, using their hummingbirds as props, the students will play charades to test each ... Full description.

This site offers facts and information, photographs, classroom activities, games, and other materials related to marine biology and geared towards elementary schol students and teachers. Topics include fish, mollusks, crustaceans, echinoderms, mammals, endangered species, and others. Full description.

This is the site of a not for profit educational initiative. The site strives to promote competency in literacy and mathematics using lessons that focus on an aquaculture themes. These lessons include Understanding Percents (through the management of classroom fish), Equivalent Fractions (use food-coloring, sugar, and a dissolved oxygen tests to determine concentrations), and Japanese Garden (where ... Full description.

The purpose of this resource is to develop an understanding of the relationship between budburst and the environment and to help students recognize actual budburst when they are doing the Green-Up protocol. Students will do simple explorations to observe the relationship between budburst and temperature. This is a winter or dry season activity to be done prior to green-up observations. Full description.

This web site contains illustrated information and classroom-ready activities for teachers, students, and anyone who want to learn about aquatic environments. The site is divided into seven topical sites, either by habitat or species. "Space Available" focuses on using satellite imagery to study the oceans and includes sections on the human impact on oceans, weather, remote sensing, and how satellites ... Full description.

The Stream Study provides a method to determine the water quality of a stream based on the collection and identification of stream-bottom macroinvertebrates. This is a multi-chapter activity designed for teachers, parents, and students. Specific sections of this site include the following: why it is important to study stream-bottom macroinvertebrates, identification of stream-bottom macroinvertebrates, ... Full description.