Conservation Lesson Plans

Students examine biodiversity issues. For this European beaver lesson, students visit selected websites to discover information about the reintroduction of the species in Britain. Students complete the included biodiversity activities.

Students read and respond to a letter in the newspaper about conserving the rain-forest. In this letters lesson plan, students address 3 main points including reasons why deforestation will have a catastrophic effect on the planet.

Students design a heat and water conserving "green roof". In this urban environmental lesson plan, students will design a heat and water conserving "green roof" to improve a building's energy profile.

Students examine the consequences of cutting down large amounts of forests throughout the world. In groups, they use the internet to complete a module taking them on a tour through different temperate forests. To end the lesson plan, they research the problems animals face after their homelands are cut down.

Students classify seeds by attributes such as size, shape and color. They classify seeds using a dichotomous key. They identify human behaviors that have a positive impact on preserving seed and plant biodiversity.

Learners discover how plants and animal ecosystems are affected by the growth of a city. In this ecology lesson plan, students study and observe a plant over a period of time. They develop a creative presentation of their data and share them with the class.

Students study the life and botany work of Mark Olson. They discover how his life experiences influence his plant study. They look at information on conservation and agriculture to decide on how to resolve conflicts over plant preservation, and present their information to classmates.

Students research and assess programs that strive to preserve biodiversity, such as captive-breeding programs and species-survival plans adopted by zoos, aquariums, and other institutions.

Students discuss the importance of recycling and preventing pollution. In groups, they complete mini-studies on various environmental issues and evaluate different consumer products. They use global warming data to determine the importance of the problem and work together to solve problems related to water conservation. To end the lesson, they develop their own environmental responsibility statement.

Students read an online article to explore rainforests of the world starting with the Barro Colorado reserve in the Panama Canal. They participate in a mock international summit about rainforest conservation issues.