Teach Engineering
You've Got to See it to Believe It!
Youngsters develop an understanding of how smog is produced, and how exhaust from automobiles is one of the major sources of smog. They explore the roles that engineers play in developing technologies that reduce smog, then work in teams...
Chicago Botanic Garden
Micro-GEEBITT Climate Activity
A truly hands-on and inquiry based learning activity bridges all the lessons in the series together. Beginning with a discussion on average global temperatures, young meteorologists use real-world data to analyze climate trends in order...
Curated OER
How Does the Air Get Polluted?
Learners listen to or read a story that introduces awareness of environmental issues and in particular pollution.
Curated OER
Understanding Climate Change
Explore the causes and effects of a warming planet with your students.
Curated OER
Acid Rain
Simulated acid rain, a dilute sulfuric acid solution, needs to be prepared for this demonstration. After a condensed lecture on acid rain, you will apply the solution to a sample of granite and a sample of limestone. Your young...
Teach Engineering
Photosynthesis—Life's Primary Energy Source
Wouldn't it be great if you could produce your own food? Scholars learn about the processes of photosynthesis and cellular respiration in plants. They consider how to use photosynthesis as a model of an efficient system and how to apply...
Curated OER
Climate Change
Rising sea levels, strong storms, melting ice ... who or what is to blame? Scholars browse the website in preparation for a class discussion or debate about whether human activity is causing climate change. They gain a balanced...
Curated OER
The Awful 8: The Play
Students perform a play based on pollution. In this pollution science lesson plan, students perform a play about different pollutants and how it effects our daily lives.
Curated OER
America's Energy Future
Students write a proposal to save energy resources. In this energy lesson, students research nuclear energy, coal power, petroleum, natural gas, hydroelectric power, and renewable energy. Students then debate energy issues and share...
Curated OER
National Biodiesel Day
In this National Biodiesel Day worksheet, students complete activities such as reading a passage, phrase matching, fill in the blanks, correct words, multiple choice, spelling, sequencing, scrambled sentences, writing questions,...
Curated OER
Coal Science Fair Ideas
Learners select one of the ideas for a science project reflecting their knowledge about coal. They then choose a catchy title to spark interest that describes their project. They use the scientific method to explain the process.
National Energy Education Development Project
Exploring Transportation
Did you know horsepower is actually based on the power of a horse? 60 horse power is the equivalent of being pulled by a team of 60 horses! Viewers will learn other interesting facts like this from a presentation that begins with the...
Chicago Botanic Garden
GEEBITT (Global Equilibrium Energy Balance Interactive TinkerToy)
Learners use the GEEBITT excel model to explore how global average temperatures are affected by changes in our atmosphere in part two of this series of seven lessons. Working in groups, they discuss, analyze graphs, and enter data to...
Curated OER
The Kyoto Protocol: What Should We Do?
Students examine why the United States did not ratify the Kyoto Protocol. They develop their own opinion on the Protocol and share them with the class. They also discover how scientific data may be organized to use in a debate.
WK Kellogg Biological Station
N2O: It’s No Laughing Matter!
While the layout of the lesson is not very detailed and the link to the PowerPoint is no longer valid, there are some great exercises to examine the role of nitrous oxide in the environment. For middle level learners, the resource listed...
National Energy Education Development Project
Exploring Hybrid School Bus Technology
The color School Bus Yellow was created in 1939 because science had proven peripheral vision detects yellow 1.24 times faster than other colors. Young scientists explore modern school bus transportation options and then discuss the types...
Curated OER
The Awful 8: A Play
Students perform a play that presents the causes and effects on people and the environment of the eight major air pollutants.
Curated OER
The Awful Eight
Middle schoolers investigate the concept of a carpool and its contributions to either reducing or increasing air pollution. They conduct research using a variety of resources for background information. The information is used to write a...
Curated OER
Green House Effect
Learners read about the green house effect and how our environment is deteriorating and what we can do to help it. In this green house effect lesson plan, students conduct a home and school energy audit, and create a rap.
Curated OER
Thinking About Science and the Environment with the Natural Inquirer
In this thinking about science and the environment with the Natural Inquirer worksheet, students use the template to complete the chart after reading each magazine article.
Curated OER
All, Half, Most, and None Exercise
In this all, half, most, and none worksheet, learners fill in the blanks to sentences with either the word all, half, most, or none. Students fill in the blanks for 14 sentences and write 4 on their own.
Curated OER
Power Generation
High schoolers examine energy issues. In this environmental stewardship lesson, students discuss nuclear power options. High schoolers also discuss energy consumption and create energy reduction guides for students their own age. Many...
Curated OER
Make Acid Rain
Students create models of the earth's atmosphere to explore how gases that are dissolved in water can eventually create acid rain. After conducting a series of experiments within their models of the earth's atmosphere, students analyze...
Curated OER
Know Your Energy Costs
Students calculate energy costs using a formula and complete a cost chart. For this energy costs lesson, students analyze the cost of electrical energy and find ways to conserve it.