Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Does Temperature Vary Over Time?

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students examine the temperature flucuations on the Earth. After defining new vocabulary, they identify the flucuations of the Earth on a map. As a class, they develop a hypotheis on the temperature variation by examining the data.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water: The Liquid of Life

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders complete a lesson on the properties, types and amounts of water on Earth. In groups, they travel between stations to identify water resources in Illinois and pollution sources. They complete the lesson with a field trip...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Recycled Water?

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Young scholars participate in a hands-on activity to investigate how water is recycled in a small environment, and determine how water is cycled on earth.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Plant a Seed

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students complete a seed and plant growth activity. In this plant growth lesson, students read about Lady Bird Johnson and then answer questions about her role in the beautification and the environment. Students participate in a seed...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Effects of Solar Energy

For Teachers Pre-K - 6th
Students examine how solar energy is absorbed and used.  In this solar energy lesson plan students complete several activities that allow them to better understand solar energy. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Good Guys or Bad Guys

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders complete a variety of activities to explore both positive and negative effects of microorganisms. They, in groups, engage in a series of experiments which illustrate the effects of certain molds.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Think Green

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students experience and practice compositing and recycling through hands-on-activities. They distinguish between which items from their trash can be recycled, composted and reused. The process for making recycled paper is also covered in...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Do Things Fall?

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Students study forces by examining the force of gravitational attraction. They observe how objects fall and measure the force of gravitational attraction upon objects. Students discover that, since gravitational constants are different...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Temperature High and Lows

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students gather high and low temperature readings through email. In this temperature graphing lesson, students use a spreadsheet to input data for a graph. students interpret the graphs to compare and contrast the data from different...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Microbes Help Ecosystems

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders observe different microorganisms under the microscope. In this biology lesson, 6th graders draw and describe the samples they see. They study the root nodules of plants and explain how the plants benefit from those bacteria.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Destructive Impact of Environment on Artifacts

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers recognize that artifacts are destroyed over time.  In this environmental factors on artifacts lesson, students experiment and observe through the microscope to find the environmental impact on artifacts. ...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Capillary Action and Adhesion

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students perform classroom experiments to observe adhesion. They perform a second experiment using sand, salt, water, and a heat lamp to observe the principle of capillary action. They also experiment with adhesion in plants.
Interactive
Curated OER

Alternative Energy and Energy Saving Game

For Students 6th - 8th
For this alternative energy and energy saving game worksheet, students create a multimedia game to present facts and influence people's behaviors about alternative energy sources, with links to helpful web resources.
Worksheet
National External Diploma Program Council

Capitalization Review

For Students 2nd - 7th Standards
Using correct grammar is a capital idea! Elementary readers review the rules of capitalization, including proper nouns, abbreviations of organizations, and holidays, before correcting the errors in two sets of sentences.  
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

For Your Eyes Only

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students identify two major types of visible pollutants, smog, and particulate matter, They explain that air pollutants are generated during incomplete combustion. They measure and rank collectors from the most pollutants to the least...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Climate and Temperature

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students explore what the soil temperature would be on the north and south sides of a building. In this temperature lesson, students hypothesize what the results will be using a thermometer and then after a week see what the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Breaking it Down

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students discover how water expands when frozen during a glacier. In this matter lesson, students fill a glass jar with water, leaving no room for air in the jar and place it in the freezer.  Students retrieve the jar and notice the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Volcano Lesson Plan

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students describe the properties of volcanoes, and explain why volcanoes are important to the environment.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Exploring the Night Sky: Summer

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students explain how moon phases occur. They describe and explain at least two common misconceptions that people have about the moon. Students explain what a star is. They explain 3 ways that the night sky has been used throughout history.
Unit Plan
Curated OER

The Motions of the Oceans

For Teachers 6th
Students examine the topics of ocean waves, currents, and tides. They locate and label ocean currents on a world map, conduct experiments, analyze key vocabulary, view demonstrations and record the data, and complete handouts.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Tides & Lunar Cycles

For Teachers 4th - 12th
Students demonstrate how the moon affects the tides, a neap tide, and spring tides by using their bodies as models. After students observe the model they created, they draw and label the diagram on a provided worksheet. They then log...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Analog Forecasting

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Young scholars recognize the elements of an analog weather forecast.  In this weather forecasting lesson plan, students use a website and look for trends, persistence and climatology in weather forecasting.  Young scholars...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Does the Loss of Ozone Affect Our Climate

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students explore the greenhouse effect and what it does to the environment. They discuss if and how human behavior contributes to global warming and test natural materials for carbon content.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Timeline of Extreme Weather Events

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students research and chart extreme weather events on a timeline. In this extreme weather lesson, students interview older people who have experienced extreme weather events. Students complete a worksheet based on the information of the...