In this outdoor game, learners play the roles of gray or red squirrels gathering and storing a supply of food in "fall" and recovering enough of them to survive the "winter." Learners carry bags representing their cheek pouches for carrying food. Learners investigate the advantages and disadvantages of how these two kinds of squirrels store food differently.

In this upper-division, week-long, residential field geobotany course for K-12 in-service and pre-service teachers, participants make observations and interpretations in both the field and lab every day. At the end of each day, participants write about their experiences, self-confidence, and perceived competence as an amateur scientist during a reflective writing exercise, for which instructors provide feedback each evening.

In this two-day activity (on pages 16-22), learners use a process like that of the Yoruba people of Nigeria to create an African symbol on cloth. Learners first make cassava gel, then paint decorative symbols on cloth, and finally dye it. Learners examine the significance of symbols in African culture and communication, and the use of natural plant products for human projects.

Investigate a flower's power of marketing by making an imitation flower that successfully signals a bee (or other pollinator of your choice) to visit. Try to determine what characteristics will attract a pollinator to your flower. Also available as an online game.

In this outdoor activity, learners find, count and compare as many different kinds of animals as they can find in two different areas: a managed lawn and a weedy area. Learners compare their animal finds, and also examine which plants in the different areas attracted the most animals. Learners consider how people have affected the diversity of animals in the lawn.

In this activity, learners make slides of onion cells and their own cheek cells. Use this lab to teach learners how to prepare microscope slides and use a microscope. Learners will also identify differences between plant and animal cells. Note: a microscope is required for this activity, but is not included in the cost of materials.

In this outdoor, warm weather activity, learners use sweepnets to search a grassy area such as a large lawn or field, collecting small animals to find as many different kinds of animals as possible. Learners observe and try to identify the animals they catch and observe how different animals interact with each other. Because some animals can't be caught easily with sweepnets, the Branching Out part of the activity involves making very small "pitfall traps" in the ground. At the end of the activity, learners release all the animals back into the grassy area.

As Many Exceptions as Rules is a STEM science teaching blog resource that focuses on biology core concepts. To increase student engagement in this field, it reinforces core concepts in biology using fascinating examples of organisms that do not follow established biological rules. Through these exceptions, knowledge of core concepts are redefined and strengthened without focusing exclusively on the overused examples and mundane teaching patterns. A more detailed rationale for the form of the blog is given in the initial post. Each story is explained in plain English, with definitions and etymology of important terms. Teaching resources, including classroom activities and laboratories are included in each post.

In this outdoor, ocean-side activity, learners investigate the distribution of organisms in the upper region of the intertidal zone. Many coastal animals survive long exposures to air, high temperatures, and wave shocks as the tides rise and fall. Working in teams, learners observe animals and plants at low tide to discover the many ways organisms have adapted for survival at the collision of earth and sea.

In this outdoor activity, learners become beachcombers as they walk on a sandy beach in search of evidence of life. Learners gather examples and consider how the collected artifacts reached the beach. Learners then match their artifacts with the living organism that created each, while also telling stories about how the artifact might have been used. This activity can be done with learners of various ages, but the level of details in identifying and describing what its found can be varied according to age.

In this outdoor biology and math activity, learners estimate the size of a population of organisms too numerous to count. In a process similar to that used by real field biologists, learners count all the "organisms" (beans) scattered in a small, measured area known as a quadrat, then use that count as the basis for estimating the total population in the whole study site. Learners also examine sources of error while using this estimation technique.

In this activity (on page 2 of the PDF), learners will pair up and take a notebook outdoors to a selected location to observe and record a list of living things that they see, writing descriptions of unknown species for identification later. After all teams have had a chance to explore the BioBlitz zone, they gather to go over everybodyäóťs findings and make a master list. The duration of this activity can be lengthened to suit the needs of learners. Relates to the linked video, DragonflyTV GPS: Biodiversity.

This Exploration Station highlights the role of biodiversity in sustainable bioenergy cropping systems. “Exploration Stations” are educational activities at public events that invite learners to interact with materials in a hands-on manner, and at their own pace. Learners can spend as much time with the activity as they choose. Exploration stations require one or more facilitators to guide learners through the activity. The facilitators’ role is to take cues from the learner to encourage inquiry-based scientific reasoning and experimentation. This can also serve as a simple engaging classroom activity for elementary and middle school students.

In this activity, learners build penetrometers to test leaf toughness. Biologists measure leaf toughness to study the feeding preferences of insects and bugs.

In this creative outdoor activity, learners invent populations of make-believe organisms and then investigate real populations living in the activity site. Learners explore the concepts of variation (small difference within a population), habitat and natural history, including predator/prey relationships and protective adaptations.

This activity (page 2 of the PDF) is a full inquiry investigation into decomposition. Groups of learners will carefully observe and record the appearance of items, such as an apple, that can decompose, taking weights, measurements, and noting other physical markings. The items are then buried in buckets of various earth materials for at least two weeks. Learners will then dig up the objects to inspect, record observations to compare with their previous notes, and graph changes over time. Relates to linked video, DragonflyTV GPS: Bogs.

In this activity, learners plant seeds and watch them sprout and grow inside a CD case. This is a creative way to introduce learners to the process of germination as well as plant anatomy and elements of habitat. Learners will be surprised that they can construct a functioning greenhouse inside a simple CD case.

In this outdoor activity/field trip, learners explore the concept of population density. Using a simple hunt-and-walk technique, learners will count several kinds of desert plants and compare their population densities. This activity is designed for desert areas but can be adapted to other ecosystems. Also, check your local botanical gardens, they may have a desert plant section.

In this outdoor activity, learners go "can fishing" and discover the kinds of aquatic organisms that live in and on submerged cans. Discarded bottles and cans surprisingly provide protection for young aquatic organisms, because the young are small enough to fit inside while larger predators stay out. Learners consider how human activities improve or harm the quality of animal and plant habitats. This activity can be combined with a cleanup day and/or with the Litter Critters activity from the same source. The animal observation part of this activity can be expanded to younger ages, if can retrieval from the natural water bodies is handled by an older learner or adult. (Preparation time will vary depending on how many can grabbers are needed).

In this activity, groups of learners work together to create edible models of chemicals involved in autotrophic nutrition. Learners use candy to represent elements involved in the chemical equations for chemosynthesis and photosynthesis. Learners complete a Lab Report based on their findings and understanding of chemosynthesis and photosynthesis. This detailed lesson guide includes background information, additional information for teachers of deaf students, and extensions.