Unit: Animal
Lesson: Cells as basic building block of life
Lesson: Vertebrates
Lesson: Biomes/ecosystems
Lesson: How do decomposers work? Experiment
Lesson: Animal Adaptation
Lesson: Biodiversity-blanaced ecosystems
Lesson: Conservation and protecting plants, animals and the environment
Lesson: Animal Research

Students toss coins to determine what traits a set of mouse parents possess, such as fur color, body size, heat tolerance, and running speed. Then they use coin tossing to determine the traits a mouse pup born to these parents possesses. Then they compare these physical features to features that would be most adaptive in several different environmental conditions. Finally, students consider what would happen to the mouse offspring if those environmental conditions were to change: which mice would be most likely to survive and produce the next generation?

Through the activities within this toolkit, students will gain an understanding of the importance of nature and how all living things are connected. These resources are geared towards students in grades 6-8.

British Columbia is home to an incredible abundance of biodiversity. Beneath the waves of the coastline, boarding the land of the Coast Salish peoples, we can find a vast variety of the unsung heroes of the ocean - the invertebrates. That biodiversity, however, has been under threat for a number of years. Explore this interactive story map to learn about the biodiversity of Howe Sound in British Columbia, how humans are intrinsically connected to the ocean and our actions have both a positive and negative impact on the life under the waves. No matter where you are from, we are all connected to the ocean.

Explore the innovative ways countries are revolutionizing farming to ensure we can feed humanity in a way that works with the environment. About 10,000 years ago, humans began to farm. This agricultural revolution was a turning point in our history and enabled the existence of civilization. Today, nearly 40% of our planet is farmland. Spread all over the world, these lands are the pieces to a global puzzle we’re all facing: in the future, how can we feed every member of a growing population a healthy diet? Brent Loken investigates.

iNaturalist is an identification key for plants, protist, fungi and animal species. It has online features as well as an app for Apple or Android, and is a joint initiative between California Academy of Sciences and the National Geographic Society.

Corals are beautiful, diverse and complex structures. Nearly everyone knows about Coral Reefs, but do you know what they actually are...? Coral Reefs are vital animals that provide the foundation for the richest diversity in the ocean. Explore the important role that corals have for the oceans worldwide, and understand how our small choices can have a powerful impact on life in the ocean.

In this activity, student teams identify the locations of coral reefs around the world, examine infrared satellite images of the Earth, and research the impacts that are threatening the survival of coral reefs. Each team creates a short oral presentation describing the coral reef they have researched. Students then plot on a composite map the locations where coral bleaching is occurring. Student worksheets, a teacher guide, and assessment rubric are included. This activity is part of Coastal Areas: Coral Reefs in Hot Water, part of the lesson series, The Potential Consequences of Climate Variability and Change.

This 10-minute video lesson continues to discuss the beginnings of life on Earth. It looks at the Cambrian explosion and biodiversity in the Phanerozoic Eon. [Cosmology and Astronomy playlist: Lesson 41 of 85]

The students will discover the characteristic of local forested areas, which may include woodlands, urban forests, school yards, and/or tree farms, and compare these characteristics to the forested areas of another region.

Exploring Environmental Issues: Biodiversity was developed by Project Learning Tree in partnership with the World Wildlife Fund. In this sixty-page module, students learn that decisions about growth and development, energy use and water quality, and even human health, all rest to some extent on perspectives about biodiversity. Educators and students step back from biodiversity issues and specific species to examine broader concepts and larger connections—not just biological, but political, cultural, ethical, and economic as well. Educators can download the complete Exploring Environmental Issues: Biodiversity module at no cost.

When you think of fresh produce and fields of grain, the Arctic may not spring to mind. But just 800 miles from the North Pole, the Global Seed Vault holds emergency stockpiles of most of the world's crops. It provides scientists with the tools they need to breed plants able to cope with a changing world.
This video explores the Global Seed Vault and its uses, especially with the threat of climate change for crops.

The University of Saskatchewan offers this tremendous resource that promotes the richness and diversity of the sciences, nurture curiosity and innovation, and inspire students to consider a career in science, and support teachers to provide exciting educational experiences.

Check out the great collection of video and activity resources for teachers and parents to supplement and enhance Grade 6 science learning.

This multi-disciplinary resource features ten engaging lessons that focus on biodiversity and invasive species. An ecosystem approach provides an authentic context to help students understand what invasive species are and how these plants and animals can significantly impact the vital interdependence of organisms within habitats. Although developed to support the Grade 6 Life Sciences curriculum (Ontario), the strong English Language Arts, Math and Social Studies links make this resource applicable across a broad range of subject areas and grade levels.

In a combination of in-class and outdoor activities students will:

- Define and explore types of invasive species.
- Identify how organisms interact within ecosystems.
- Respond to media information about invasive species.
- Explore a local habitat to find and catalogue native and non-native species.
- Initiate action to inform the community about the prevention of the spread of invasive species.

Students explore the relationships between genetics, biodiversity, and evolution through a simple activity involving hypothetical wild mouse populations. First, students toss coins to determine what traits a set of mouse parents possesses, such as fur color, body size, heat tolerance, and running speed. Next they use coin tossing to determine the traits a mouse pup born to these parents possesses. These physical features are then compared to features that would be most adaptive in several different environmental conditions. Finally, students consider what would happen to the mouse offspring if those environmental conditions were to change: which mice would be most likely to survive and produce the next generation?

This module focuses on the population of mountain gorillas living in the central highland area of Africa. The module looks at human activity around the gorilla habitat and how that activity is threatening the survival of the remaining gorillas.

One of the many things that make Ocean School's content library so special is how our content spans across a wide range of subjects. In the same learning resource, students can learn different concepts related to science and technology, English language arts, social studies, mathematics, and more.

Discover lesson activities, PowerPoints, videos, mp4 clips and much more!

For grades 5-6, 7-8, 9+.

The following file contains the assets (or resources) to accompany the Sask DLC Environmental 20 course. Please note that this is not the content of the course, but the assets used to support and deliver it. The files are organized in a zipped folder. You can download it and extract the files. Links are provided to other resources that may also be useful. 

The following resource contains the assets (or resources) to accompany the Sask DLC Science 8 course. Please note that this is not the content of the course, but the assets used to support and deliver it. The files are organized in a zip folder and a collection.