LESSON PLANS / CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES

Activities-To-Go in the Life Sciences ('E' 'M' 'H') (Standards) "Activities-To-Go is a place for all science teachers to share innovative, successful teaching strategies and activities to help students learn the concepts and processes of the life sciences." You can locate excellent activities in multiple ways and they are correlated to National Science Standards.
Teacher resources: www.accessexcellence.org/AE/ATG/

Ask A Scientist ('E' 'M' 'H')
This site fields about 3,500 questions each year, mostly from American high school students, on such perplexing topics as the molecular bases for zebras' stripes and why flu season occurs during winter. Project coordinator Katherine Wood says the best inquiries -- such as why no mammals have green fur -- come from the youngest children. By the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.
Teacher resources: askascientist.org/

Biology Lesson Plans ('E' 'M' 'H')
Covers different grade levels and Neuroscience activities, General Anatomy and Physiology Activities, Environmental Sciences and Animal Biology.
Teacher resources: student.biology.arizona.edu/sciconn/biology.html

Bird Observation Projects for Classrooms ('E' 'M')
A grand listing of observation and data gathering projects that will enrich and foster scientific inquiry. Look through the entire list as there is sure to be something of interest, such as 'The Great Backyard Bird Count' or the 'Urban Bird Studies Projects.' Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
Teacher resources: www.birds.cornell.edu/programs/AllAboutBirds/Birding123/ReportObservations.html

Bird Resources from the Smithsonian for Teachers ('E' 'M')
Very good printed and online materials from the Migratory Bird Center. Includes fun stuff you can do with your class.
Teacher resources: nationalzoo.si.edu/ConservationAndScience/MigratoryBirds/Education/Teacher_Resources/ Teacher resources (En Español): nationalzoo.si.edu/ConservationAndScience/Aves_Migratorias/Educacion/default.cfm

Community Science Action Guides: Life Science ('E' 'M' 'H') (Standards) As the Franklin Institute site explains, ""Community Science Action Guides" are content packages that support student investigation of local science issues. Developed and tested by teachers, ... the "Guides" include planning resources, activities, and ready-to-use materials." Each guide is correlated to Nation Science Education Standards.
Teacher resources: sln.fi.edu/guide/index.html

Educator's Guide to Bird Study ('E' 'M')
Activity ideas and support materials for learning about birds and conducting inquiry-based research. Includes citizen science projects to join, 'classroom feeder watch' and specific ideas for student research. By the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
Teacher Resource: www.birds.cornell.edu/schoolyard/ and www.birds.cornell.edu/schoolyard/CitSci_Projects/index.html and www.birds.cornell.edu/cfw/

Flinn Scientific Biology Activities ('H')
Includes activities on predator/prey relationships, bacteria, respiration and photosynthesis. By Flinn Scientific, Inc.
Teacher resources: www.flinnsci.com/Sections/Biology/bioActivities.asp

Howard Hughes Medical Institute Holiday Lecture Series ('H')
Includes a variety of topics related to medicine and cell research. Topics include Human Genetics, Neurobiology, Immunology, RNA, Genes and Gender, and Biological Structure. Movies of lectures from esteemed members of the scientific community are included; they require RealPlayer, which is downloadable from the site. Lecture summaries in text are also included.
Teacher resources: www.holidaylectures.org/

Insects in Elementary Classrooms ('E')
Twenty detailed lesson plans from "a program dedicated to introducing health topics to children in kindergarten through third grade." Easy to find what you need by grade level and topic. From the U. of Arizona's Center for Insect Science Education Outreach.
Teacher resources: insected.arizona.edu/lessons.htm
Versión en Español: insected.arizona.edu/espanol/uiv.htm

Journey North ('E' 'M' 'H') (Standards)
"Journey North engages students in a global study of wildlife migration and seasonal change. K-12 students share their own field observations with classmates across North America." Find lesson plans, activities and information to help students make local observations and fit them into a global context. Widely considered a best-practices model for education, Journey North is the nation's premiere "citizen science" project for children." Solid teacher resources with hundreds of lessons available, correlation to standards. Site by Annenberg/CPB.
www.learner.org/jnorth/
Teacher resources: www.learner.org/jnorth/tm/

Microscopes: Teacher Resources ('E' 'M' 'H')
A part of the Museum of Science site, instructions for  building your own microscope, prepare slides, and make collections. From the Museum of Science.
Teacher resources: www.mos.org/sln/SEM/resources/labs/myomicro.html
More Teacher resources: www.mos.org/sln/SEM/resources.html

Ocean Environment: Elementary Classroom Activities ('E')
Teacher's guide to hands-on activities by the folks at Sea World.
Teacher resources: www.seaworld.org/teacherguides/

Raptor Center Lesson Plans ('E' 'M')
As the site says, "The Teacher Lesson Plans are a compilation of 16 lesson plans for grades four through eight. The lesson plans are multi-disciplinary and center around learning about ospreys (Pandion haliaetus). There are many things to learn about the osprey and its habitats. The lesson plans may be used sequentially or individually."  From the University of Minnesota's Raptor Center.
Teacher resources: www.ahc.umn.edu/ahc_content/colleges/vetmed/Depts_and_Centers/
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Science and Technology Lesson Plans ('E' 'M' 'H')
The Smithsonian has an extensive lesson plan database for teachers. Search by subject, grade level and/or keyword(s). You will sometimes be directed to other web sites for the plans.
Teacher resources: smithsonianeducation.org/educators/lesson_plans/science_technology.html

Urban Bird Studies ('E' 'M')
Help scientists answer questions about birds who live in cities. Students participate in one(or more) of nearly a half-dozen different bird study projects. Incorporates scientific method into activites that are geared to students. Provides educator guides/activities. By the Cornell University Lab of Ornithology.
Teacher Resource: www.birds.cornell.edu/programs/urbanbirds/

Zoo-Related Educational Packets for Teachers K-12 ('E' 'M' 'H)
Downloadable, printable. and well organized. By Utah's Hogle Zoo.
www.hoglezoo.org/education/teacher.resources.php