Teaching Biodiversity

The Harris Loan Center For the Year of Biodiversity and Conservation, the Harris Center has more than 40 Experience Boxes and 100 Exhibit Cases that you can borrow to help teach your students about ecological themes addressed during the year.
	Experience Boxes Our Experience Boxes can help you meet state goals for learning in math, biological and physical sciences, language arts, fine arts, and social sciences. These interactive, hands-on kits combine artifacts, replicas, specimens, audiovisuals, activities, and resource books to provide a variety of learning experiences. Each Experience Box contains ready-made lesson plans explaining how to use the items in your classroom.
	Exhibit Cases Our Exhibit-Case dioramas (24" high, 22" wide, and 7" deep) show plants and animals in natural settings. A pullout label on the side of each case has basic information about each specimen that will help you incorporate them into your biodiversity and conservation lesson plans.

To view the Experience Boxes and Exhibit Cases that complement our monthly topics during the Year of Biodiversity and Conservation, please select from the categories below:

	SEPTEMBER—Climate Change Discover the effects that climate change and global warming have on the world’s biodiversity. more information >>
	OCTOBER—African Biodiversity Learn about conservation plans to preserve Africa’s ethnic and biological diversity. more information >>
	NOVEMBER—Genetic Biodiversity Investigate efforts to map, analyze, and preserve the DNA and genetic diversity of life on Earth. more information >>
	DECEMBER—Island Biodiversity Check out oceanic islands that host some of the most diverse plant and animal populations in the world. more information >>
	JANUARY—Biodiversity in the Neotropics Find out more about the amazing diversity of Neotropical plants, animals, and habitats. more information >>
	FEBRUARY—Living Waters Take a look at the world’s freshwater and ocean ecosystems—some of the most species rich and unique communities on Earth. more information >>
	MARCH—Asian Biodiversity Examine the incredible diversity of Asia’s plants, fungi, and animals. more information >>
	APRIL—Biodiversity in Your Backyard Investigate Chicago’s rare woodlands, prairies, wetlands, and waters. more information >>
	MAY—Tree of Life Learn about the family tree of Earth’s astounding variety of plant and animal species. more information >>

continue to September—Climate Change >> >>