Fourth graders explore the agents of erosion. They observe rocks that are rough and unweathered and record observations. They investigate rocks rubbed with sandpaper and ones that are not and the effects that the sandpaper has on the...

Students study different aspects of worms along with the process of vermicomposting by participating in a class experiment to study the time it takes for breakfast cereal to be eaten by worms.

Students bring to school five items they would normally throw away and five items they would normally recycle. Expert groups are formed to present information on the recycling of glass, metal, plastic, and organics such as paper and...

Students build a collage of an ecosystem. The goal is for them to understand interactions in a community, plant and animal adaptations, and how all life depends on plants. This activity is based on Wump World and students describe what...

Students examine the way habitats and human organ systems function. In groups, they role play the role of a government group assigned to determine if a settlement can make their home in a specific area. They must discover how humans and...

Students will be able to identify the characteristics of healthy soil and unhealthy soil.Take the class outside to an area of thick grass near trees, if available. Compare the clothes people wear to the thin cover. Discuss the reasons...

Students explore, analyze, study and demonstrate the procedures that municipal water plants may use to purify water for drinking. They cover the clean water processes of aeration, coagulation, sedimentation, filtration and disinfection.

In this reading comprehension learning exercise, students read a selection about dirt and soil characteristics. They answer 10 matching questions and 5 multiple choice questions based on the information given in the non-fiction article.

Students listen to the story "Clean Air, Dirty Air" by Lynne Patchett and discover the main types of pollution and how these affect their bodies. In this pollution lesson, students work in small groups to create a machine to prevent...

Students observe different insects and the different kinds of foods they like to eat. In this insects lesson plan, the teacher collects insects and different plants and roots. Then the students learn about those insects and have to be...

Students examine the Great Lakes Basin and water conservation. In this Great Lakes and water lesson, students study the location of the lakes before reading the book, The River Ran Wild. They discuss the associated vocabulary and in...

Students investigate the effects of litter on the environment. For this environmental lesson, students read the statistics on pollution and identify the effects it has on the Earth. Students develop a plan to clean up their local community.

Students measure the toxic levels of runoff and discuss the effects it would have on the aquatic system. In this runoff lesson plan, students answer questions to how runoff would affect the animals in an aquatic system.

Students record their observations about growing a cypress plant and putting salt in the plant. In this cypress plant lesson plan, students observe and record what is happening as the cypress plant grows. This gives directions for...

Students complete activities to study decomposition. In this decomposition instructional activity, students work in pairs to observe a decay buffet experiment. Students keep compost bag journals. Students define and discuss the process...

Young scholars explore the concept of the rock cycle.  In this geology lesson, students identify, classify, and observe three different types of rocks.  Young scholars then list and char the characteristics of their rocks. 

Students discover what an arthropod is and how they survive in our world.  In this insect lesson, students read the book, A House Is A House For Me, and compare a home for a person with the type of habitat an arthropod lives in....

Students take pictures and write a paragraph about a rock they have found. In this rock lesson plan, students also send their information to the Mars Space Flight Facility.

In this bluebirds learning exercise, students categorize bluebird species found in their state and define vocabulary related to it. Students complete 6 vocabulary words.

Students explore the life cycle of shrimp. In this life cycle lesson, students research the different stages of a shrimp's life cycle. Students examine threats to the species in each stage of life.

Students research the aurora. In this aurora lesson, students participate in a webquest about the aurora. Webquest worksheet is included.

Students report on the colors, calls, behaviors, and physical characteristics of different winter birds. In this winter birds lesson plan, students also make a bird feeder.

Students research and find information on air pollution. In this air pollution lesson plan, students answer short answer questions about air pollution. 

Students create a calendar of endangered species. In this preservation lesson, students research endangered species of plants and animals around the Lake Pontchartrain Basin. Students gather facts about the endangered species and create...