The Three Levels of Biodiversity

This interactive adapted from Kentucky's Natural Heritage: An Illustrated Guide to Biodiversity, introduces learners to the three levels of biodiversity: genetic, species, and ecosystem.

Think Garden: Cool Crops

This video explores the possibilities of gardening in the cooler temperatures of spring and fall. Learn about which vegetables like cool weather, and techniques to help plants grow in these conditions like raised beds and hoop houses. Also find out why cool crops are ideal for school gardens.

American Chestnut Tree

This annotated slideshow adapted from KET's Electronic Field Trip to the Forest illustrates how blight decimated the American chestnut tree and the methods scientists use to identify and pollinate the remaining trees to create blight-resistant trees.

Ancient Farmers of the Amazon

This video segment from Evolution: "Evolutionary Arms Race" tells the story of the leafcutter ant and the fungus it farms -- an example of mutually beneficial symbiosis.

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Animal Defenses

In nature, survival is the name of the game. This video segment explores the world of animal defense and shows that predators don't always have the upper hand.

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Animal Intel

In this lesson, using video segments from Nature episode “A Murder of Crows,” students will explore different aspects of animal intelligence, with a focus on crows.

The Birds and the Beaks

This Nature lesson explores different adaptations and variations in birds. It focuses on bird beaks, migratory patterns, and the ability of birds to co-exist with humans.

Build-a-Fish

In this interactive activity from Shedd Aquarium, build a fish and then release it into the reef to search for food and evade predators. Try different combinations and observe how each kind of fish has unique adaptations that help it survive in its habitat.

Carnivorous Plants of Cartwheel Bay

In this video segment from NatureScene, explore Cartwheel Bay, a wetland in South Carolina, and learn about the variety of carnivorous plants native to this unique landform.

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Coral Reef Connections

Dive in and explore what makes this beautiful world so fragile. In this Evolution Web feature, discover how coevolution has shaped the ecological relationships among reef creatures.

Endangered Relationships

This lesson uses videos from Nature’s "Crash: A Tale of Two Species" to explore the interrelationship between the horseshoe crab and a small migratory bird called the red knot.

Evolutionary Arms Race

Students examine the interactions among different types of organisms and the importance of these relationships to the evolution of species.

Evolution of Camouflage

This video segment from Evolution: "Darwin's Dangerous Idea" illustrates the remarkable camouflage of a praying mantis against its leafy backdrop.

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Floral Arrangements

Explore a few of the ways plants pollinate each other in this video segment from Sexual Encounters of a Floral Kind.

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Geneticist Pardis Sabeti

In this video profile adapted from NOVA scienceNOW, learn about geneticist and rock musician Pardis Sabeti, whose innovative insights into natural selection demonstrated how beneficial mutations spread quickly through a population.

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Homo Sapiens Versus Neanderthals

This video segment, adapted from NOVA, explores reasons why Homo sapiens had an advantage over Neanderthals in the pursuit of territory and natural resources.

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How Evolution Works

Students learn about natural selection, the mechanism that drives evolution.

If It Ain't Broke

Archaeologist John Shea explains the context and construction of one of the early humans' first tools--the stone hand ax.

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Introduction to Evolution: How Did We Get Here?

In this lesson, students will use videos from The Human Spark to learn about Darwin’s theory of evolution and how it applies to human development throughout earth’s history.

Investigating Neanderthals

This video excerpt from NOVA scienceNOW looks at how head shapes of Neanderthals and modern humans differ.

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