Lesson Plans
About IBL Institute Provided Lesson Plans:
What sets the IBL Institute's lesson plans apart from other educational providers? Our lesson plans mold inquiry into the traditional classroom setting, allowing for an easy transition and implementation of inquiry.
We are passionate about getting inquiry-based learning implemented in the classroom! See below for our list of lesson plans available for download:
Water Quality Assessments Using Ceriodaphnia dubia
About this inquiry-based lesson plan:
Students discover information about a species of water flea, Ceriodaphnia dubia, and their habitat. Students will be engaged in hands-on activities to culture Ceriodaphnia dubia and set up an experiment to answer a comparative question regarding reproduction under various environmental conditions. The project will link IBL with the biology involved in evolution and how species adapt. More questions will emerge to continue scientific investigations and further the learning process. The experiment contained within this lesson allows students to understand toxicity levels in their own water samples, using techniques that would be used in a real laboratory setting. Each student will have practice with the scientific process, including interpreting and documenting data.
To access a download of this lesson plan, click this link.
Estimating Biological Populations
About this inquiry-based lesson plan:
Students learn about the Petersen-Lincoln estimator formula. Students will be engaged in a hands-on activity and perform an experiment to answer a comparative question regarding the fish population of two different bodies of water. Finally, the project will link IBL with the application of the formula by biologists and ecologists and the factors they must take into account when implementing it. More questions will emerge to continue scientific investigations and further the learning process.
To access a download of this lesson plan, click this link.
Exploring Living Things in Ecosystems
About this inquiry-based lesson plan:
Students learn about how ecosystems support living organisms. Students will be engaged in hands-on activities to answer a comparative question regarding: will different living organisms be more likely to be located on a mountain or in a valley? They will analyze their findings and present to the class. The project will link IBL with traditional teaching by giving teachers options to best suit the needs of the class. More questions will emerge to continue scientific investigations and further the learning process.
To access a download of this lesson plan, click this link.
Exploring Correlations With Our Environment
About this inquiry-based lesson plan:
Students learn about precipitation, temperature, and humidity, as well as how a local animal species reacts to these types of weather. Students will be engaged in hands-on activities to collect data and set-up a scatter plot to answer a comparative question regarding the different types of weather. They will analyze their findings and present to the class. The project will link IBL with traditional teaching by giving teachers options to best suit the class needs. More questions will emerge to continue scientific investigations and further the learning process.
To access a download of this lesson plan, click this link.
Planting Seeds
About this inquiry-based lesson plan:
Students learn about plants and what they need to survive by engaging in hands-on activities that involve taking care of plants to answer a comparative question regarding what helps plants grow the best. They will analyze their findings and present to the class. The project will link IBL with traditional teaching by giving teachers options to best suit the class needs. More questions will emerge to continue scientific investigations and further the learning process.
To access a download of this lesson plan, click this link.
Melting Ice Balloons
About this inquiry-based lesson plan:
Students learn about changes in states of matter by engaging in hands-on activities that involve melting ice to answer a comparative question regarding what materials speed up the melting process of water. Students will analyze their findings and present to the class. The project will link IBL with traditional teaching by giving teachers options to best suit the needs of the class. More questions will emerge to continue scientific investigations and further the learning process.
To access a download of this lesson plan, click this link.
Exploring Bridge Formations
About this inquiry-based lesson plan:
Students learn about different bridge formations and build their own bridges to answer a comparative question regarding which bridge formations are able to support the most weight. They will analyze their findings and present to the class. The project will link IBL with traditional teaching by giving teachers options to best suit the class needs. More questions will emerge to continue scientific investigations and further the learning process.
To access a download of this lesson plan, click this link.
Rummaging Through Rocks
About this inquiry-based lesson plan:
Students learn about different types of rocks by engaging in hands-on activities that involve collecting and sorting rocks. They will analyze their findings and present to the class. The project will link IBL with traditional teaching by giving teachers options to best suit the needs of the class. More questions will emerge to continue scientific investigations and further the learning process.
To access a download of this lesson plan, click this link.
Simple Shadows
About this inquiry-based lesson plan:
Students learn about light and shadows by engaging in hands-on activities that involve investigating light and the way shadows are made. They will analyze their findings and present to the class. The project will link IBL with traditional teaching by giving teachers options to best suit the needs of the class. More questions will emerge to continue scientific investigations and further the learning process.
To access a download of this lesson plan, click this link.
Exploring the Aftermath of Oil Spills
About this inquiry-based lesson plan:
Students learn about the negative effects oil spills have on the ecosystem and discover some of the challenges that occur when cleaning up an oil spill. They will analyze their findings and present to the class. The project will link IBL with traditional teaching by giving teachers options to best suit the class needs. More questions will emerge to continue scientific investigations and further the learning process.
To access a download of this lesson plan, click this link.