Exploring A Decomposition Community part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This activity allows elementary students to construct a decomposition column in order to observe the relationship between living systems and energy sources.

Bioinformatics part of Microbial Life:Teaching Methods:Teaching with Data:Examples
This exercise contains two interrelated modules that introduce students to modern biological techniques in the area of Bioinformatics, which is the application of computer technology to the management of biological information. The need for Bioinformatics has arisen from the recent explosion of publicly available genomic information, such as that resulting from the Human Genome Project.

Ecosystem Study part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
Students will explore and create a healthy ecosystem, once established they will then introduce additional variables which may harm the ecosystem and determine which hazards should be avoided.

Introduction to Dichotomous Keys part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This activity is a lab where students learn to classify objects that are similar into groups and technically describe their classifications. Introduction to dichotomous keys.

"Mystery and the Unknown": Teaching Inquiry Through Aquatic Exploration part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This activity is a longer project that involves using inquiry to find out what kinds of aquatic animals live in our school pond. Students use direct observation, journaling, outdoor classroom techniques, research skills, collaboration, and service learning to learn about their question.

Inquiry: How herbs change based on growing conditions part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
Students will create and investigate testable questions about how basil changes based on growing conditions.

Investigative Case - Living in an Alkaline Environment part of Starting Point-Teaching Entry Level Geoscience:Investigative Case Based Learning:Examples
Living in an Alkaline Environment is a three-part interactive activity that explores the ecology and diversity of life in alkaline environments.

Investigating Plant Life in Our Nature Center part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This activity is a field investigation where students use a dichotomous key to properly identify trees in our schools nature center.

Investigating What Living Things Need: Space part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
In this biology investigation, students will make observations of the growth of bean seeds to determine what plants need to live and grow in a healthy way.

Water Retention - No Problem With The Key (Vertebrates&Invertebrates) Investigation part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This lesson helps grade 3 students understand the difference between Vertebrates and Invertebrates.

Creation of Dichotomous Keys From a BioBlitz part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This activity is a field investigation of the biodiversity in a given area. The exercise will give students experience making scientific observations and creating a dichotomous key.