• Classifying plants and animals according to physical traits

• Examples:   animals—six legs on insects,
  plants—green leaves on evergreen trees

• Identifying developmental stages of plants and animals

• Examples:   plants—seed developing into seedling, seedling developing into     tree;
  animals—piglet developing into pig, kid developing into goat

• Describing a variety of habitats and natural homes of animals

Plant or Animal
The teacher  will present plant and animal models in order to have students describe the differences between plants and animals. Following these presentations, students will sort prepared animals and plant pictures into the appropriate categories.

Ant Architecture
Students will understand how ants create different kinds of shelters, depending on their environment; how ants have different behaviors that allow them to survive in different environments.

Animals
Through this lesson students will understand the basic needs of all animals

Pollination Parties
Students will understand the interdependence between plants, animals, and humans; understand that insects sometimes have a negative impact on their ecosystem.

Animal Categorization
Students will categorize pictures of animals. They will come up with groupings by color, size, shape, extinct or not, eating habits, living habits, size of ears and tails, etc.

Characteristics of Snakes and Turtles
Students will explore the characteristics of snakes and turtle.

Caterpillar to Butterfly
Students will study the characteristics of the caterpillar, including habitat, that are important for survival and growth into the adult butterfly.

Inside a Seed
Students will look inside seeds to discover the beginning of a plant, and will discuss elements that plants need to grow.

Elementary Ecosystems
This lesson teaches students the basics of species interdependency within an ecosystem or habitat. Students will describe the things animals need to survive and the ways in which animals depend on other animals and plants

Animal Diversity
This lesson exposes children to a wide range of animals and guides them through observation of animal similarities, differences, and environmental adaptations.

What Parts Are There to a Plant?
In this lesson, students will identify and sort plant parts through hands-on activities and group discussions and then work with magnifying lenses and tape measures to document their observations on a student sheet.

Hide In Plain Sight
Students will view video clips and use the Internet to look for hidden animals. They will then use the Internet to print out animal shapes and color them.
 

Cyber Tiger A fun interactive activity which allows you to be the zookeeper and create the perfect habitat for a Siberian tiger

eNature A site which gives information and great photographs and information on all sorts of plants, animals, and habitats

Seeing Through Camouflage Drag each animal over the label that best describes its camouflage strategy.

Animal Communities:  Find out how animals live in communities just as we do.

Actual Factual’s Fabulous Factoids Actual Factual Bear specializes in Fabulous Factoids. Click on the topics to find out more about the amazing world of science and nature.

Classifying Critters Students will classify four groups of vertebrates.

Plant-Parts Salad Students will match labels to plant parts

Plants and Our Environment You will learn about how plants grow and the different parts of a plant.

Animal Facts The National Zoo is a beautiful urban park offered online to provide stimulating education programs, and a peaceful site to enjoy nature. There is something new to discover on every visit.

Exploring Hide & Seek Here you can explore nature's game of hide and seek -- how predator and prey camouflage themselves and try to hide from each other.

Science Online A must see! Great site for links to Blueprint Skills, Lesson Plans, Topical Sites, Interactive Websites for Students and Worksheets

Science Clips You will find an alphabetical list of science interactive movie clips.

Where Do Butterflies Come From? This site gives directions for an art project that turns a caterpillar into a butterfly.

Classifying Critters This interactive games has students classify and give characteristics of animals.

Suggestions for English Language Learners (ELLs):
(E/B=Entering/Beginning, D=Developing, E=Expanding) 

(E/B): Label pictures of plants found near the school.
(E/B): Cut out and label pictures of plants in various environments.
(E/B): Use a Venn diagram to show similarities and differences between two plants growing in different environments.
(E/B): Complete simple cloze sentences about plants.
(E/B): Illustrate an animal in its habitat and label.
(E/B): Tell about an animal being described and its habitat.
(E/B): Match a picture of an animal with a picture of its habitat.
(E/B): Describe a food web using a pattern sentence, such as The _____ eats _______ .
(E/B): Students plan, plant, care for and observe a closed terrarium. Students will keep a learning log recording changes with pictures and labels; (D): Students will write a narrative describing changes which occur within the terrarium; (E): ...and will apply their understanding of the water cycle to what is going on in the terrarium.
(D): Match a sentence with the animal being described.
(D): Provide two similar plants with different amounts of light over one week and describe how the plants are affected.
(D): Compare and contrast plants found in habitats in countries represented by students in the class.
(E): Research and report on plants common to students' communities and regions.
(E): Share personal experience and knowledge about plants through illustrations and explanations.
 

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