The National Science Digital Library has a wealth of high quality digital resources to teach almost any topic in K-12 math and science.  Following is a sample of the more than 300 resources specific to teaching invertebrates and 4400 resources specific to teaching plants at the K-12 level that you can find by conducting a simple search on nsdl.org.  You can also browse for resources in our interactive Living Environment AAAS Science Literacy Map to find resources for the whole K-12 spectrum. Specific for K-6 teachers, you can find professional development resources related to Life Science in our Science Refreshers page

INVERTEBRATES 

1. Soft-bottom Shores  Natural history information on some of the organisms found on soft-bottoms mainly in the coasts of Washington. Good pictures and highlights on common invertebrates and plants species, with scientific names provided. Special emphasis on evolutionary adaptations of feeding and other interesting physiological issues. Information on sampling devices also included.
2. Water Retention - No Problem With The Key (Vertebrates&Invertebrates) Investigation  This lesson helps grade 3 students understand the difference between Vertebrates and Invertebrates.
3. Investigating Macroinvertebrates: How Clean is Our Lake?  This 3-part lesson begins with a field activity beside a lake or stream where students collect and identify macro invertebrates. During the second and third portions of the lesson, students conduct research to answer questions that they have regarding the macro invertebrates that they have identified and then based on the types of macro invertebrates found make a general determination of the cleanliness of the lake.
4. Investigative Case - “Holy Starbucks Batman!”  Students will investigate caffeine as a potential new pollutant in a northwest river system. Effects of caffeine on invertebrates and salmon fry will be explored through field work and lab work.
5. Ecowatch: A Community-Based Project About Insects and Their Allies  Ecowatch is “a community-based project for the assessment of habitat quality in the riverland of South Australia.” The educational resources available on the Ecowatch are an excellent introduction to invertebrates, as well as more detailed information on major invertebrate groups (down to the class level, generally). An easy-to-use pictorial key makes invertebrate identification (again, to class level) fun and simple — and valid for any region. The For Teachers section “outlines activities that students can undertake to learn more about invertebrates and the environments they live in,” and includes instructions for building two types of invertebrate traps.
6. Hunting Invertebrate Fossils in the Classroom  This lesson plan is designed to provide a general knowledge about paleontology and its intimate relationship to sedimentary geology. It will introduce the student to fossils with an emphasis on the invertebrate phyla. As a result of this activity students will acquire a general knowledge of fossils and paleontology, be able to identify the major invertebrate groups commonly found in the fossil record, and learn how fossils tell us about the history of the earth.
7. The Science and Engineering of Composting  The Cornell University Center for the Environment provides this site as a one-stop source of composting information.  The content is divided into four categories: invertebrates, microbes, chemistry, and physics. Composting Experiments offers ideas for projects to investigate factors influencing the composting process, such as temperature, pH, and invertebrates.
8. University of California Museum of Paleontology: Invertebrate Collection thousands of specimens of invertebrates (including over 15,000 type specimens) of most groups of invertebrates from many geologic ages and geographic regions. The invertebrate catalog contains data on invertebrate localities and both type (published) and non-type specimens. It is searchable by specimen number, family, genus, and species, and by location and/or geologic age. Data available through type specimen searches includes both taxonomic (genus, species, and subspecies names) and publication (author, date, citation) information. Locality searches provide information on both location and age. Photos are available online for some specimens.

PLANTS

1. From Seeds to Plants  This activity is a classroom activity to investigate seeds and plants.
2. Plants-in-Motion  Watch plants move in time-lapse videos in this interactive activity adapted from Indiana University that shows that plants are not stationary, they are in constant, though very slow motion, as they respond to environmental factors.  Included are discussion questions and a background essay.  Also alignment to standards if signed up.
3. Light Plants and Dark Plants, Wet Plants and Dry Ones  Students plant sunflower seeds in plastic cups, and once germinated, these are exposed to different conditions of light levels and/or soil moisture contents. During exposure of the plants to these different conditions, students measure growth of the seedlings every few days using non-standard measurement (inch cubes).
4. Polar Plants: Virtual Bookshelf  This article features children’s literature about plants and the plants found in the polar regions.
5. Plants  Children will learn about spring and how to grow plants while incorporating core related material.  The children will also learn about different qualities of flowers while learning shapes, counting, and colors.  The children will learn how to plant and take care of a garden. The children will learn that gardens need rain to grow. Students will also learn about evaporation.  A Flower Story is also available.
6. Pollinating Fast Plants This webpage explains the steps for pollinating Fast Plants. This activity is aligned to National Science Education Standards
7. Plants  In this project, students will identify the relationship of the structure of plants. Students will also understand the cycle of plants and their role in the food chain. Why are plants important? How do they affect the cycle of life? This resource includes a video, handouts, and online quiz, and a link to planting a seed experience.
8. Growing Plants  In this activity, learners will be working with predictions with a time frame of one week, or longer. Start by planting seedlings. Once they begin to sprout, make predictions: How tall will the plants be in a week? in a month? Each week, children measure and record the height of their plants.
9. Carnivorous Plants  In this video adapted from Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, learn about carnivorous plants that act as both producers and consumers in an ecosystem. See sundews and blatterworts capture and digest insects. Included are discussion questions and a background essay.  Also alignment to standards if signed up.
10. Aquatic and Wetland Plants and Invasive Plants  Aquatic plant enthusiasts will enjoy this image-rich (videos) website from the Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants (APIRS) at the University of Florida. The site features images of nearly 400 native and non-native plant species found in Florida.

Selections for teaching other topics: 

Digital Resource Package for Teaching Evolution