Curated OER
Our Changing Environment-- A Demonstration
Students observe and describe changes in an environment when some of the components are changed. They recognize the process of succession by
preparing a miniaturized environment in which a variety of plants and seeds are grown.
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Saving Habitat
Learners pick an animal native to Maryland and research how populations of that animal might be affected by land use changes over the past thirty years. They predict population trends for the next thirty years.
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Meadow Study
Middle schoolers examine insects they collect in a sweep nets. They identify as many of the insects as they can.
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Visit The Orchard
Students investigate the technology that is used to harvest apples as a crop. They look at examples of past and present machines. The information is used as inspiration for creating their own device to pick and harvest apples for mass...
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Land Use
Students examine ecosystems that covered Illinois 200 years ago, investigate some living and non-living components of ecosystems, identify components of prairie system, create food webs, and observe human effects on environment. Lessons...
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Terrestrial Communities
Students watch a video about different terrestrial communities. They conduct an experiment with sponges conserving water. They research desert characteristics comparing them with other biomes.
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Salinity Of Soil
Fourth graders investigate the contents of various types of soil to determine the differences in salinity levels. They conduct an experiment of observing the plants in the different soils. Students then determine survival rates by...
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Have Fun With Technical Report Writing
Students use Clarisworks Word Processing and Spreadsheet, Quick-Take Camera and Software, and produce a publishable technical paper.
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Endangered Species Scavenger Hunt
Seventh graders gain a better understanding of endangered species. This instructional activity requires a field trip to the North Carolina Zoological park. At the park, 7th graders use a worksheet imbedded in this plan to identify and...
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Christmas Tree Farming in Ontario
Young scholars realize that Christmas trees produced in Ontario are a field crop that is harvested annually. They find out that Christmas tree farming is important to the economy and the environment of our province.
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Sun and Shade
Students explore the ways that plants adapt to their environments. They examine plants that thrive in the shade, versus plants that thrive in direct sunlight. Special attention is devoted to the shape of leaves on respective sun and...
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Rainforest Deforestation and the Water Cycle
Young scholars create terrariums (mini rainforests). They observe and discuss the life processes that occur in their terrariums and how changes in these processes affect the plants and organisms inside. They collect and graph data and...
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Birds of Wisconsin
First graders explore the job done by ornithologists. They role play identifying the characteristics that make a bird a bird. They discuss what makes each bird species unique. Students are introduced to Wisconsin's most common and rare...
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Leaf Slides
Students, in groups, examine leaf slides in order to explore the detail in leaves.
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Exploring Alaska Foilage In Russian
Seventh graders investigate the concepts of how plants are part of daily culture in Russia. The skills of naming different plants is practiced. Students take a survey of the nature that is found in the area in which they live. This is...
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Drawing on Kenaf
Students explore kenaf, a tree-free paper. In this environmental issues lesson, students draw pictures following a presentation about the origin and "eco-friendly" nature of kenaf.
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History of a Cookie
Learners examine tree rings and then research an event for each growth ring. In this history lesson students design a timeline and research topics using books and the Internet.
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The Rainforest
Fourth graders create a brochure containing accurate information about plants, animals, weather, location, and transportation in the rainforest.
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Science Excursion: Cover Mapping Land
Young scholars study remotely sensed images and topographic maps to classify land cover types in their watershed area. They take samples in the watershed area to interpret the images.
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Deer Tracks
Students use satellite images to track to movement patterns of deer and examine deer behavior. They write stories about a day in the life of a field scientist.
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Contain Yourself: Changes Over Time in the Use of Containers by Native Americans
Students examine the types of containers used by Native Americans. They discover how their form and function has changed over time. They create their own container based on the Native American examples.
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The Rock Cycle
Third graders, in groups, examine soil samples with magnifying glasses. They discuss the living and non-living things they find in their soild samples.
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Using Natural Resources In Chinese And Japanese Art
Students discuss the uses and availability of natural resources in China and Japan and how those resources effected visual art from each country. This lesson includes two possible enrichment activities.