Educational Resources

Ontario-based lesson plans give you the knowledge to meet curriculum standards and make biodiversity relevant to your students.

Garlic Mustard Invasion

All plants need sun, water, nutrients, space, and to avoid being eaten to survive and reproduce. Any plant that can do any of these things better than the other plants around it has a huge advantage and may come to dominate the landscape. Since its introduction from Europe in the early 1800s, garlic mustard has become one of Ontario’s most
aggressive forest invaders. 
Grade: 4 Habitats and Communities, 6 Biodiversity, 7 Interactions in the Environment
Curriculum Links: Grade 4 (1.2, 3.3), Grade 6 (3.5, 3.7), Grade 7 (3.2, 3.3, 3.4)
​Key Words: garlic mustard, invasive species, sun, water, nutrients, exponential growth

Invasive Species Simulation Game

Invasive species disturb or degrade ecological functions, displace native species, and often their population explodes because there are few to no biological controls in place, and native species are not adapted to compete effectively with them. In the decades since zebra mussels were introduced to Ontario, they have caused widespread ecological destruction and municipalities have spent millions of dollars trying to control their spread. 
Grade: 4 Habitats and Communities, 6 Biodiversity, 7 Interactions in the Environment
Curriculum Links: Grade 4 (1.2, 3.3), Grade 6 (3.5, 3.7), Grade 7 (3.2, 3.3)
Key Words: native mussels, zebra mussels, invasive characteristics, biodiversity

Invasion of the Zebra Mussels

The harm caused by invasive species is now the second leading threat to global biodiversity. Students will examine and analyze a real data set of zebra mussel densities, calculate hypothetical growth and filtration rates, and research control methods.
Grade: 12 Biology, Population Dynamics
Curriculum Links: F2.2, F3.3, F3.5
Key Words: zebra mussels, exponential growth, carrying capacity, population models

Ontario's Backyard Birds

Birds are a logical starting point when introducing children to Ontario’s biodiversity. In this activity: students explore bird classification, use the free Cornell Lab Merlin Bird ID app, assess biodiversity in different habitats, design bird feeders to appeal to a specific species, and participate in a citizen science program.
Grades: 4 Habitats and Communities, 6 Biodiversity
Curriculum Links: Grade 4 (1.1, 3.7), Grade 6 (2.2, 3.1)
Key Words: bird, classification, habitats, biodiversity, citizen science, community science technology

What Size Footprint Are You Leaving on the Earth?

A typical Canadian’s resource consumption is far above what the Earth can sustain. In this activity: students calculate their ecological footprint, explore their data and compare it to the class average, examine the importance of metaphors, and hold a class debate on issues of responsibility and sustainability.
Grade: 9 Issues in Canadian Geography
Curriculum Links: Academic (C1.4), Applied (A1.4, E1.1)
Key Words: ecological footprint, sustainability, biocapacity, responsibility, debate

Let's ID That Tree!

Ontario is a province with approximately 85 billion individual trees representing over 140 species. In this activity: students explore tree anatomy and classification and use the free Pl@ntNet, assess native and non-native trees in their local community, and plant some native trees.
Grades: 3 Growth and Change in Plants, 4 Habitats and Communities  
Curriculum Links: Grade 3 (1.1, 2.2, 3.6), Grade 4 (1.1, 3.1)
Key Words: tree, diversity, classification, technology, native vs non-native species

Watersheds: We Are All Connected

Bounded by three oceans, Canada has the longest ocean coastline in the world. In this activity: students create a model watershed and discover how activities at one location impact areas downstream, experiment with cleaning up contaminated water, and explore local initiatives to reduce water pollution entering their watershed.
Grades: 6 Biodiversity, 7 Interactions in the Environment, 8 Water Systems
Curriculum Links: Grade 6 (1.1), Grade 7 (3.8), Grade 8 (2.2, 2.4, 3.2)
Keywords: Watershed, Ocean, Point source, Non-point source, Pollution, Contamination

Big Shark, Big Loss, Big Impact

Large predatory fish populations have plummeted over 90% in the last decade. In this activity: students simulate marine food webs and discover what happens when humans reduce the shark population. Through collecting, analyzing, and graphing the data, students will explore the role of sharks and humans in maintaining ocean food webs. 
Grades: 4 Habitats and Communities, 4 Data Literacy, 6 Biodiversity, 6 Data Literacy, 7 Interactions in the Environment, 7 Data Literacy
Curriculum Links: Grade 4 science (1.1, 1.2, 2.2, 3.6) Grade 4 math (D1.3), Grade 6 science (3.4, 3.5), Grade 6 math (D1.3), Grade 7 science (3.4, 3.5, 3.7), Grade 7 math (D1.3)
Keywords: food chain, simulation game, graphing, data analysis, sustainability