Spreadsheets Across the Curriculum activity. In advance of an actual lab activity, students virtually simulate the calibration of a laboratory micropipettor. QL: Accuracy and precision.

In this video adapted from Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, learn about carnivorous plants that act as both producers and consumers in an ecosystem. See sundews and blatterworts capture and digest insects.

In the three-lesson module Cells and Models, students explore the use of models in science as they compare the benefits and limitations of various representations of an animal cell, including the Looking Inside: Cells app, and develop a cell model of their own. In this extension, students refine their cell model to illustrate cell specialization.

Estimated time required: 1-2 class periods.

Technology required for this lesson: Laptop/Desktop, VR Headset (Optional).

In the three-lesson module Cells and Models, students explore the use of models in science as they compare the benefits and limitations of various representations of an animal cell, including the Looking Inside: Cells app, and develop a cell model of their own. In this extension lesson, students use the example of nerve cell networks to explore modeling of multi-cell systems.

Estimated time required: 1-2 class periods.

Technology required for this lesson: Laptop/Desktop, VR Headset (Optional).

In the three-lesson module Cells and Models, students explore the use of models in science as they compare the benefits and limitations of various representations of an animal cell, including the Looking Inside: Cells app, and develop a cell model of their own. Optional extensions expand students’ learning as they refine a cell model to illustrate cell specialization or explore modeling cell systems through the example of nerve cells.

Estimated time required: 1-2 class periods.

Technology required for this lesson: Laptop/Desktop, VR Headset (Optional).

In the three-lesson module Cells and Models, students explore the use of models in science as they compare the benefits and limitations of various representations of an animal cell, including the Looking Inside: Cells app, and develop a cell model of their own. Optional extensions expand students’ learning as they refine a cell model to illustrate cell specialization, or explore modeling cell systems through the example of nerve cells.

Estimated time required: 1-2 class periods.

Technology required for this lesson: Laptop/Desktop, VR Headset (Optional).

In the three-lesson module Cells and Models, students explore the use of models in science as they compare the benefits and limitations of various representations of an animal cell, including the Looking Inside: Cells app, and develop a cell model of their own. Optional extensions expand students’ learning as they refine a cell model to illustrate cell specialization, or explore modeling cell systems through the example of nerve cells.

Estimated time required: 1-2 class periods.

Technology required for this lesson: Laptop/Desktop, VR Headset (Optional).

This activity will include the students observing the monarch life cycle inside the classroom, a field experience observing monarch life on a milkweed plant and drawing it, and back in the classroom students will make a pop-up book of the monarch's life cycle with a short description on each page.

Spreadsheets Across the Curriculum module. Students build spreadsheets to explore conditions that lead to chaotic behavior in logistic models of populations that grow discretely.

This activity is a field investigation where students gather leaves from various trees on school property, interpret findings, name tree and leaves, journal activity and develop a new "aha" for nature!

This activity is a classroom and schoolyard investigation where students collect daily temperature and precipitation readings, weather observations, and weekly phenology reports in a phenology binder and in nature journals. Students then analyze this data and compare to recorded values in the Weatherguide calendar.

Students investigate decomposers and the role of decomposers in maintaining the flow of nutrients in an environment. Students also learn how engineers use decomposers to help clean up wastes in a process known as bioremediation. This lesson concludes a series of six lessons in which students use their growing understanding of various environments and the engineering design process, to design and create their own model biodome ecosystems.

Welcome to the Zoo's Online Resource Library. Use the search box above to explore our growing collection of digital resources. Check the navigation bar at the top of the page and the categories below for more search options. If you’re an educator, click Lesson Plans.

This field study introduction to biology helps students answer the questions "What is biology" while looking at the biology that can be found in everyday surroundings.

In this video segment from Nature, scientists work to discover why bees are disappearing.

In this video segment from Nature, scientists work to discover why bees are disappearing. [2:39]

How can you use art to share an experience with someone who was not present at the Vet Bag program? This activity is designed to start your students in recognizing themselves as scientists and thinking critically about problem-solving. The goal is to teach concepts through arts integration and to encourage creativity. As with all lessons provided, please feel free to adapt them according to your students’ abilities. You may find it more successful to lead activities and discussions as a whole group as opposed to having your students work in small groups. Certain scientific vocabulary may or may not be appropriate for your students’ level of understanding. Take these ideas, make them your own and your students will have a greater chance at success.

This activity is designed to compare and contrast the anatomy of the leg bones of a bird vs. a human.

This activity consists of classroom lessons where children observe tree leaves and compare and contrast those leaves leading to an understanding of the terms deciduous and evergreen (and also coniferous). They then use that learning to help them identify the kind of tree based on samples on a chart.

This is an inquiry where students will be comparing and contrasting two different types of leaves with a partner.