Lesson Plans and Activities
The Biodiversity Monitoring Project is designed to be used as a tool for teaching science and math concepts found in state curriculum requirements. Teachers can use the monitoring plots and student projects as ways to engage students in hands-on learning that engages students in the scientific process. Not only can the BMP be used to teach science and math, but teacher partners are also using the project to teach art, English, history, geology, physics, chemistry, and other courses as well.
Teacher partners now have the opportunity to share lesson plans related to the Biodiversity Monitoring Project with other school partners. Sharing lesson plans is another way for teachers to obtain resources and information that will make teaching the concepts of biodiversity monitoring easier. Also check out student projects to get ideas of ways to integrate the BMP into your curriculum.
Grade |
Lesson Plan |
State Standard |
| Kindergarten | Plant Investigation through Young Eyes | VA Science SOL: K.1, K.2, K.4, K.8; |
| Second | Tadpole to Frog | VA Science SOL: 2.4a |
| Third | Catch Me if You Can | VA Science SOL: 3.4, 3.1 |
| Fourth | Life Cycle of a Fern | VA Science SOL: 4.5d, 4.4b, 4.1a, b, h |
| Fifth | Tree Search | VA Science SOL: 5.1, 5.5; VA Language and Math SOLs as well |
| Sixth | A Walk in the Woods | VA Science SOL: 6.7a; VA English SOL: 6.7 |
| Seventh | Survivor | VA Language Skills SOL: 11, 7, 8, 9, 10 |
| Sixth-12th |
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Swiss Cheese Game Lesson Plan
Scientists from the Conservation and Research Center's GIS lab have developed a fun, interactive, student-friendly game that looks at changes over time, land use, and the effects of forest fragmentation. The game comes with a complete lesson plan that can be used to teach not only science and ecology, but also math. Students will have the opportunity to calculate relative abundance and species richness as they track the number of individuals of species that live in the Olympic National Forest.
Read the background information for this activity to learn more about this fun, hands-on game.
You may purchase the Swiss Cheese Game for $200, which includes a classroom set of five large, laminated maps of the Olympic National Forest, the lesson plan, and information on ordering beads. Or, maps may be purchased for $50 each.
If you wish to purchase this unique game, contact the Education Office at 
540.635.6540 or
Email
.
We are looking
for more lesson plans to share with our teacher partners.
If you would like to share your lesson plan, please
send it in an
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.
You and your school will receive recognition for each of your lesson plans and activity ideas.
