Life Science & Ecology

Explore resources related to flora, fauna, and the relationship of species to their natural environment.

Lesson Plans

Oh Deer: Students will become different components of an ecosystem and learn about habitat interactions in this kinesthetic learning activity. By graphing the results of this game, students can discuss topics in population dynamics, limiting factors, and carrying capacity. Download lesson plan PDF.

Bugs - Clues to the Environment: Students participate in a biomonitoring project in a local pond or stream. By studying and identifying macroinvertebrates that live in that particular habitat, students can determine the health of the ecosystem. This interactive activity is fun for everyone. Download lesson plan PDF.

Vocabulary: Download Ecology Terms

Online Resources

NOVA’s classroom resources on animals, botany, classification, ecology, entomology, evolution, genetics, and microbiology.

Discover the Forest’s site on forest ecology, including a map of a forest near you!

National Environmental Education Week’s Recommended Reading

Recommended Reading

Marine science

Audubon Society Nature Guide to the Pacific Coast, by Bayard H. & Evelyn McConnaughey.
Comprehensive field guide with color plates to the birds, plants, seashore creatures, fishes, and whales of the Pacific Coast from Alaska to southern California.

The Intertidal Wilderness, by Anne Wertheim.
An authoritative photographic journey through tide pools, including a section on tidepool etiquette.

Sea Life at the Ocean's Edge, by Julia Corbett.
A young person's guide to Pacific Northwest beaches.

Pacific Intertidal Life, by Ron Russo and Pam Olhausen.
A pocket guide to organisms of rocky reefs and tide pools of the Pacific coast.

Seashore Life of Pacific Northwest, by Eugene Kozloff. 
Illustrated guide to the coastal natural history.

Plants and Animals

Northwest Trees, by Stephen Arno.
A guide for discovering and identifying the remarkable trees of the northwest. Outstanding illustrations.

Plants and Animals of the Pacific Northwest, by Eugene Kozloff.
Illustrated guide to natural history of Western Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia. Colored photos.

Timberline, by Stephen Arno & Ramona Hammerly.
Describes timberlines and why they exist; human uses of timberline environment; surveys tree species, mountain, and arctic.

Pacific Coast Tree Finder, by Tom Watts. 
A pocket manual for identifying coastal trees.

The New Wild & Savory Mushroom, by Margaret McKinney, David Stuntz, and Joseph Ammirati.
A general introduction to common fungi of the area accompanied by beautiful photographs.

Trees: Earth's Lungs, by Barbara L. Webb.
Young readers will discover why trees are so important to a healthy Earth.