Curated OER
Sustainability
Here is an in-depth, and incredibly thorough lesson plan on sustainable agricultural practices; specifically, regarding the growth of coffee. After completing and discussing a worksheet called "Thinking About Tomorrow," groups of...
Kenan Fellows
Sustainability: Learning for a Lifetime – Soil
Do great gardeners really have green thumbs—or just really great soil? Environmental scholars discover what makes Earth's soil and soil quality so important through research and experimentation. Learners also develop an understanding of...
Curated OER
Sustainable Livestock
Students investigate healthy eating habits by researching livestock. In this food sustainability lesson, students research the negative impact factory farming has on our environment due to pollution. Students define agricultural...
Curated OER
Soil Type and Management
Students study the basics of soil science. They research and gather data through readings, videos, and performance of laboratory investigations. As a team they generate oral and written recommendations for the amendment of soil.
South Penquite Farms
Measuring Soil Temperatures
Using an auger, start-up soil scientists bore a core of soil. They examine the sample and record the temperature at three depths in the borehole. This is an attractive activity sheet that succinctly guides your earth science class...
Kenan Fellows
Sustainability: Learning for a Lifetime – The Importance of Water
Water is essential for life—and understanding the importance of clean drinking water is essential in understanding sustainability! Show your environmental science class the basics of water testing and treatment through a week-long...
Curated OER
Soil, Designer Soil: From Rainforests to the Prairie
Students explore the role and importance of soil in the ecosystem. In this Science and Social Studies lesson, students complete an experiment using various kinds of soil and clay and then examine how soil has a direct impact on our...
Curated OER
MATERIALS, Using What’s Local: Native Materials, Local Sources
Learners consider the development of different societies. In this environmental building instructional activity, students consider local resources and how societies choose to use them. Learners use their findings to design a 'green'...
Curated OER
AP Environmental Science-Food Fight
The content in this instructional activity is of a controversial nature. Please review to make sure it is suitable for your class. A video, The Meatrix is shown to the class, and then they discuss the emotionally-charged language that it...
Food Project
Introduction to Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems
A series of hands-on, outdoor activities increase understanding of agricultural terms, soil management, pest control, and more. Plan ahead for this one as it requires a number of supplies and could be messy. Activities include...
Curated OER
Oyster Gardens - No Soil Required!
Explore the practice of oyster gardening. Because oysters play a vital role in marine ecosystems and their populations have declined, biologists are transplanting oyster seed to repopulate reefs. After learning about this practice,...
Curated OER
Sustainable Agriculture
Students perform an experiment to find out if plants grow best when grown in soil with no fertilizer, with chemical fertilizers, or with compost that they have made themselves. Students discover how agriculture practices can benefit the...
Curated OER
What Is Sustainability?
Middle schoolers discuss environmental preservation and sustainability and their role in consumption and preservation. After a brief demonstration of how limited our resources are, students determine which natural resources they use most...
Curated OER
4.5: Exploring Uses of Rocks & Minerals
Students, in pairs, use observation skills to identify objects from the past and present in our environment made of rocks and minerals of Illinois.
Curated OER
Water Retention and Soil Variation in Local Ecosystems
Students identify the differences in local soil types and the relationship between soil size and water retention. They are introduced to microenvironmental conditions in ecosystem sustainability.
Curated OER
Soil, Designing the Small Farm of the Future
Middle schoolers examine the history of farming. In this environmental farming lesson plan, students explore the web and complete a variety of activities in order to understand the necessity of local, sustainable, and small farms for the...
Curated OER
Amazing Grazing: Keeping Our Ecosystem Running
Young scholars discover the value of sustainability within our ecosystem. In this ecological lesson plan, students discuss the importance of a food cycle in our society, and how humans can improve the conservation of a healthy ecosystem....
Curated OER
Vermicomposting
First graders investigate composting. For this biology lesson, 1st graders identify ways to use garbage as fertilizer. Students examine soil and compost matter as well as the role of worms in the dirt.
Curated OER
They're Tilling that Field Behind the Mall
Unfortunately, the article for which this resource was written is not available. You can, however, find another current document on agriculture and urban development for your class to read together, and then still follow the suggested...
Moanalua Gardens Foundation
The Mystery of Rapa Nui
What caused the collapse of the environment on Rapa Nui (Easter Island)? Who constructed the Moai? What was their purpose? Class members assume the role of investigators and use evidence drawn from field studies, ships' logs, and...
Curated OER
Save Our Soil
Students gain an understanding of the small amount of soil available to sustain humans on earth and complete an appropriate graph or chart from their collected data. They locate some of the countries they have heard about where people do...
Curated OER
With Liberty and Top Soil for All
Students describe the need of plants to have water, soil and sunlight to grow. They use the scientific method when completing experiments. They identify the core democratic values that are needed for a democracy to grow and compare them...
Forest Foundation
Forest Watersheds
Where does the water we use come from? To understand the concept of a watershed, class members study the water cycle and then engage in an activity that simulates a watershed.
KOG Ranger Program
Fantastic Forests
The forest is a wonderland of plants, animals, and flourishing life within the ecosystem. Use a crossword puzzle and an unscrambling activity to teach future rangers about the beauty and characteristics of the forest and its inhabitants.