National Library of Medicine
Your Environment, Your Health: Air Quality
Some scientists argue that air pollution now causes more deaths than smoking. The second unit in a six-part series focuses on air quality. Scholars learn what's in the air, how clean the air around their school is, and what they can do...
National Library of Medicine
Your Environment, Your Health: Runoff, Impervious Surfaces, and Smart Development
Can a sidewalk increase the amount of pollution in local streams? Scholars learn the answer to this question though research and experimentation in the fifth unit in the six-part series. Pupils study runoff, impervious surfaces, and the...
Baylor College
Can Nutrients in Water Cause Harm?
Ecology candidates culture pond water organisms over a few days time, then they experiment to find out how increasing nutrients affects the population. As part of a unit on water, this exploration gives your class an understanding of how...
Curated OER
Smogasbord
When your environmental or earth science class is studying air pollution, you will want to take the time to go over this resource. Pupils peruse the history of air pollution regulations and examine outstanding diagrams of what...
Curated OER
Indoor Environment: A Magazine Publication Project
Students demonstrate knowledge of Indoor Air Quality by creating a class magazine. A link to order a free Action Kit from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is provided so teachers can build background knowledge. Performance...
Curated OER
TE Activity: Pollution Politics
Students examine how a bill becomes a law in the US Congress. They investigate legislation about global warming. They determine the role of engineers as they educate Congress, the public and other government institutions about global...
National Library of Medicine
Your Environment, Your Health: Chemicals in Your Home
Many people know about chemical pollution, but are all chemicals bad? The third unit in a series of six addresses chemicals common in everyday life. Scholars learn about the chemicals found in their own homes, chemical safety, and...
Curated OER
The Romans: Public Health and Water
In this Ancient Rome worksheet, students read about the public health system of Ancient Rome: aqueducts, public baths and sewers.
Curated OER
Environmental Action
Middle schoolers debate one another. In this pollution lesson plan, 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.
National Library of Medicine
Your Environment, Your Health: Water Quality
How important is water quality where you live? The first module in a six-unit series includes four lessons on water quality. By applying the concept directly to the lives of pupils, they engage in meaningful learning. They read about...
Curated OER
Air Pollution Word Search Activity
Students examine the issues surrounding air pollution. They discover how it affects peoples health and the government's regulations. They complete a word search activity to practice the vocabulary.
Curated OER
Turning the Tide on Trash: Marine Debris Curriculum
Seven pages of fascinating reading on marine debris preface the activities in this lesson plan. Four different activities are employed to simulate how the debris is distributed in the ocean and along beaches. Early ecology learners...
Curated OER
Is That Legal? A Case of Acid Rain
Develop an environmental case study! Elementary learners discover how a case study is used as an analysis tool. The goal of this activity is to show pupils how techniques of persuasion (including background, supporting evidence,...
Baylor College
Dust Catchers
In class, your emerging environmentalists construct dust catchers. They take them home for a week or two, and then bring them back into class to examine under a magnifier. From this activity, they learn what makes up dust and that...
Curated OER
Creating Public Awareness - Indoor Air Quality
Students design a poster about indoor air quality. In this indoor air quality lesson plan, students make a billboard that tells the occupants of a building about at least one air quality problem.
Curated OER
Air Matters
Middle schoolers research the affects that particulate matter has on the quality of our air and our health. Students analyze a streaming video on air pollution and complete an internet research assignment to find ways to reduce...
Curated OER
Webquest: Eradicating Guinea Worm Disease in Ghana
Learners examine the impact of Guinea Worm Disease. In this world issues instructional activity, students take on the roles of Peace Corps Volunteers. Learners will apply their knowledge of the Guinea worm life cycle to create a plan for...
Baylor College
Fungus Among Us
In order to learn that mold spores can be found in the air, observers grow bread mold and make observations for a few days. Afterward, they participate in a class discussion to arrive at the knowledge that bread spores are present in the...
Curated OER
The Awful 8: A Play
Students perform a play that presents the causes and effects on people and the environment of the eight major air pollutants.
Curated OER
Report of Shop, Factory, Mill or Industrial Establishment
Students examine the pollution survey created in response to the Public Health Laws of 1903, and compare/contrast polluting factory discharges in 1903 to those allowed today. They analyze the report survey, complete a worksheet, and...
Curated OER
Dust Busters to the Rescue
Students examine the importance of cleaning up and preventing indoor air pollution. They investigate how cleaning can reduce the harmful health effects of indoor air pollution.
Amnesty International
Human Rights and Service Learning (Part 1)
What better way is there to teach about human rights than by seeing them firsthand? Introduce your class or club to the spirit of service through a myriad of service project ideas. First in a series of human rights instructional...
Curated OER
Sample Activity From The Water Sourcebook
Students explore septic system failures and contamination of groundwater. The complete a worksheet to explore the basic parts of a septic system. In a lab situation, students simulate a septic system failure. They explore coliform...
Curated OER
Air Quality Trivia Time
Young scholars identify and analyze what the Air Quality Index (AQI) is and how it works. They review ways that "unhealthy" or "hazardous" days could be prevented and draw and color something that they can do to help reduce air...