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Lesson Plan
Channel Islands Film

Restoration Channel Islands Debate

For Teachers 4th - 12th
Introduce learners to the debate format with an activity that uses the National Park Service's controversial Channel Islands restoration program as a topic. Class members learn how to generate provocative debate questions, how to prepare...
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Lesson Plan
Cornell University

Fibers, Dyes, and the Environment

For Students 6th - 12th Standards
Nanofibers can be made through electrospinning or force spinning in order to reduce the negative impact on the environment. Pupils study the role of fibers and dye on the environment through a series of five hands-on activities. Then,...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Environmental Action

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers debate one another. In this pollution lesson, pupils work in teams to debate which is more serious, air or water pollution. They research their topic to come up with valid points to justify their side of the debate.
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Unit Plan
National Library of Medicine

Your Environment, Your Health: The Great Debate—Bottled Water vs. Tap Water in Our School

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Should bottled water be sold in schools, or should they only provide tap water? The summative unit in the six-part series encourages scholars debating this topic. The lessons teach how to build an argument, how to gain background...
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Unit Plan
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Curated OER

Hedgerows

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Hedgerows prevent soil erosion, capture pollutants running off fields, store carbon to help combat climate change, and provide homes for predators of many pest species. The biodiversity lesson begins with an activity that discusses why...
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Lesson Plan
National Energy Education Development Project

Great Energy Debate

For Students 6th - 12th Standards
If someone yelled for eight years and eight months, they could produce enough energy to heat one cup of coffee. A instructional activity on energy encourages scholars to research 10 different energy sources in groups before playing a...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Environmental Law-Making

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Learners go through the process of creating and passing a federal law. They select an environmental issue, research related policies for the issue, draft the bill, discuss it among committee members, bring it before the class and bring...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Climate Chaos Week

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Pupils research the pros and cons of wind farm technology as an alternative source of energy. The class is divided into two groups that should formulate a debate on each side of the argument. Groups use a debate guide to help develop...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Price of Power

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Explore the current political debate over regulating power plant emissions. Critical thinkers research, formulate, and present arguments regarding selective catalytic reduction systems for coal-burning plants.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Extinction and Rediscovery of the Ivory-Billed Woodpecker

For Teachers 5th - 8th
An incredibly thorough, and well-designed lesson teaches youngsters about the presumed extinction and rediscovery of the ivory-billed woodpecker in Arkansas. Learners discuss the environmental factors that led to the birds disappearance....
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Duck's Bill on Capitol Hill?

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Use a list of environmentally related words to engage learners in a discussion about ecosystem conservation legislation. As a class, read "Aware of Political Ecosystem, Property Rights Advocate Embraces Conservation Plan." Then, present...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Soils

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students apply knowledge of soil, environmental impacts, economics, multiple human demands, and use given data for a proposed scenario in making land use decisions. They debate land use issues and/or scenarios and discuss a case study.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Swamps, Shrimp, and Tsunamis: A Simulation of Sustainable Development Issues in Coastal Ecuador

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers examine the economic benefits, environmental losses and dangers of the shrimp farming industry on the coast of Ecuador. They read a script, role-play people involved in the shrimp business, and write an essay of the pros...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Fact of Global Warming

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Students investigate the harmful impact of global warming by reading news articles.  In this environmental care instructional activity, students analyze an article about the Kyoto Protocol and its goal of saving our environment....
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Grocery Store Bans Plastic Bags

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students participate in the paper vs. plastic bag debate, then read a news article about one grocery store that is banning plastic bags. In this current events lesson plan, the teacher introduces the news article with a debate and a...
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Lesson Plan
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Curated OER

Sustainable Development

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
Young environmentalists use a conference format to reach consensus on ways to slow deforestation and promote sustainable development. Class members are assigned roles to play during the conference, and work on posters and a public...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Class Eco-war

For Teachers 5th - 11th
Students debate environmental issues. In this global issues instructional activity, students listen to lectures and conduct research on global climate change and discuss methods to sustain the global environment.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Cycling Through Controversy

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Students research different perspectives and debate environmental issues. They consider different viewpoints when proposing solutions.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mars

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners debate the ethical considerations involved in colonizing and terra-forming Mars. They have a preliminary discussion and view a video clip about Mars, then break into support and oppose groups to research and prepare their...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

To Culture or Not to Culture

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students study the pros and cons of the aquaculture industry after reading hypothetical case study. They simulate a town meeting debate about aquaculture.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Reaching New Heights

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students consider the impact of genetics on a person's intelligence and appearance. After reading an article, they examine the controversy over using human growth hormones. They debate the approval of using the hormone to increase the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Will to Drill?

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students read a New York Times article about plans for oil drilling in the Arctic. They examine and debate both sides of the plan to explore for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Beaver, or not?

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students study the role of the beaver in Illinois during the 1800's and how overtrapping cause the near extinction of the beaver colonies in Illinois by 1900. Students role play various people in 1945 who have an opinion about the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

And Your Point Is . . .? Part I

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Young scholars, in groups, complete a WebQuest titled "Love Canal Debate". They follow the WebQuest to research and write papers on different points of view regarding the Love Canal environmental disaster.