Teacher Resources

Biodiversity and Global Change – Lobster Die-off!

The massive lobster die-off in the Long Island Sound in 1999 was the inspiration for this 2007 draft event-based science lesson plan. Developed with funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Services and the Bay and Paul Foundations.

Grade Level: Middle & High School

PDF, 102 pages

Biodiversity and Human Health – Vector-Borne Disease

This lesson plan explores 2 vector-borne diseases in Connecticut—Lyme disease and the West Nile virus—and the ticks and mosquitoes, respectively, that spread them. It uses the event-based science instructional model: students become the scientists, their work is a solution to a real problem, and the teacher acts as coach, guide, and advisor. Designed to be taught in 4 weeks. Developed through a Science Education Partnership Award from the National Institutes of Health.

Grade Level: K-12

PDF, 100 pages, with supplementary materials, illustrated

Climate and Emerging Infections—Vector Borne Disease Investigations

This standards-based STEM lesson plan investigates the influence of climate change on the transmission of vector-borne diseases such as dengue fever, West Nile virus, chikungunya, and malaria. These 3 units can each stand alone and are designed to be taught in this order. If outside of sequence, teachers may need to add supplemental materials. Funded by a Science Education Partnership Award from the National Institutes of Health.

• Climate Change and Vector-Borne Disease Unit: Climate parameters such as rising temperatures and increased precipitation are affecting mosquitoes and disease transmission worldwide.
• Pathogens and Vectors Unit: Climate changes affect the life cycles of pathogens, causing faster replication that leads to increased transmission, and also affect the vectors for pathogens.
• Disease Transmission Unit: Social and economic factors, in addition to climate variables, are critical in efforts to reduce the spread of disease.

Grade Level: Middle & High School

PDF, illustrated

Collaborative on Global Change—Migration in the Balance

This lesson draft is only available as individual files. Accompanying kits of specimens and materials can be borrowed from the Museum. Contact us with requests and questions. Made possible by a generous grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Developed collaboratively with Connecticut teachers.

Grade Level: Elementary School, adaptable to other levels

MS Word files, illustrated

Earth Sciences—Connecticut Geology Guide

This lesson covers major geologic forces that shaped the land in Connecticut: tectonic processes, glaciation, weathering, and erosion. Designed to be taught in 3 weeks. Made possible by a grant from the National Science Foundation. Compiled and written collaboratively with Connecticut teachers.

Grade Level: Middle & High School

Slideshow and PDFs, illustrated

Earth Sciences—CT Rocks! The Geology of Connecticut

Expert geologists lead students through geologic sites throughout the state of Connecticut in this unique, interactive series of virtual field investigations. Students record observations to answer the question, “What happened in the past to cause the geologic features you see today?”

Grade Level: Middle & High School

Website with multimedia

Event-Based Teacher Collaborative—Science Units

Invaders! Impacts of Invasive Species on Food Webs and Ecosystems

Grade Level: K-12

Event-Based Science Basics

These lessons were designed by teachers and museum educators through the Yale Peabody Museum’s Event-Based Teacher Collaborative. Many units have accompanying kits of specimens and materials that can be borrowed from the Museum. Contact us with requests and questions. Made possible by a generous grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

MS Word files and PDFs

Indigenous Peoples of the Americas

Maya Cultures Across Time

American Histories: Native Peoples and Europeans in the Americas

The Indigenous Atlantic: Encounters, Exchanges, and Endurance

Developed with Connecticut teachers at Yale’s 2012–2014 summer institutes for high school teachers jointly sponsored by Programs in International Educational Resources at the MacMillan Center, the Council on Latin American and Iberian Studies, and the Yale Peabody Museum. Supported by a Title VI National Resource Center Grant from the U.S. Department of Education. Made possible by generous support from the Arthur Vining Davis Foundations.

Grade Level: K-12

Individual PDFs, slide shows, 000 pages, illustrated, some materials in Spanish

Plant Sciences—World of Plants

Activities about basic botany and plant ecology that are linked to Connecticut State science standards. Developed with Connecticut elementary school teachers. A teaching kit is available to borrow for classroom use. Made possible by a grant from the National Science Foundation.

Grade Level: Grades 2, 3, 4

PDF

Strength in Numbers—Measuring and Analyzing Variation in Asian Shore Crabs

Dimorphism in Asian Shore Crabs

Morphological Variation in Littorine Snails

These classroom laboratory exercises teach the basics of understanding morphological variation, a key way in which scientists evaluate the distinctiveness of populations. Teachers can prompt students to think about what ecological, environmental, or evolutionary controls may be influencing morphological variation in populations. Read through the directions and the slide presentations for an overview.

Grade Level: K-12

Slideshow, spreadsheet, JPGs, PDF

Las Artes de México

The 10 lesson units of this standalone curriculum, based on the 2008 special exhibition Las Artes de México at the Yale Peabody Museum, can be used as standalone teaching materials.

Grade Level: High School

PDF, 41 pages

Machu Picchu: Unveiling the Mystery of the Incas

Grade Level: Grade 4 through High School

Science Curriculum

PDF, 101 pages, illustrated

Social Studies Curriculum

These science and social studies curricula, designed to accompany the 2003 special exhibition Machu Picchu: Unveiling the Mystery of the Incas at the Yale Peabody Museum, can be used as standalone teaching materials. Include lesson plans, handouts, and student guides with teacher keys.

PDF, 86 pages, illustrated

The Yale Peabody Museum occasionally runs or hosts half-day to full-week programs for educators that cover a wide variety of subjects and research topics.

No programs are currently scheduled. Contact us for information.