Pollution Prevention Lesson Plans

Students recognize the causes of pollution and how they can help prevent them. In this pollution/conservation lesson, students listen to the story of The Lorax and read a booklet on pollution. Students research and create a multimedia project on pollution.

Learners examine pollution and how it affects the environment. They discuss how human activities lead to more pollution. They talk about the importance of recycling. There is a skit, resource links, and activities provided to make this a complete experience.

Students investigate water pollution prevention. In this ecology wastewater lesson plan, students activate prior knowledge about sewage, then view a video explaining the waste water sewage system used in the San Francisco Bay area. Students discuss water quality and the impact it has on one's health.

Students research water pollution and create a class guide to raise the public's awareness about this issue. They write papers analyzing the effectiveness of the guide after it is read by members of the community.

Students complete internet research in small groups to identify types of water pollution, spotlight water pollution hot-spots, and design a plan for water prevention.

Students conduct experiments to learn about the properties of air. In this air properties lesson, students learn about air pollution, air quality, and the composition of air. They graph their findings and use the air quality index to observe the quality of their local air.

Students identify the types of pollution, the sources of the pollution, and how they can protect the environment from further pollutants.

Pupils discuss the availability of clean, plentiful water and the causes of water pollution. In groups, students discuss problem solving methods for keeping water clean. They explore the function of water treatment plants and perform experiments to predict pollutants that can be stopped by filtration.

Learners examine the different non-point source pollutants in the local lake or water source by reading handouts and discuss the most serious concerns. They conduct a neighborhood reconnaissance as a field study and look for signs of the pollutants and record their data. After their field study, the students generate a list of potential projects the class can do to help educate the public about protecting and improving the water quality in their watershed.

Sixth graders use storytelling as method to teach younger students about watersheds and non-point source pollution. They lead younger students in a neighborhood reconnaissance using pictograph tally sheets to collect data on the pollution. After the reconnaissance, 6th graders co-author a story with a younger student.