Curated OER
Great Lakes Ecology
Eighth graders identify the Great Lakes, and describe the habitat of life of a loon. They are able to point to and explain one of the major river systems that enters the Great Lakes with a focus on the Clinton River and the food webs...
Curated OER
Teaching About the Hydrosphere
Eighth graders are introduced to the Earth's hydrologic system including the cycling of water in the atmosphere and the movement of water on the surface of the planet using the Great Lakes watershed as an example.
Michigan Sea Grant
Sea Lamprey
Learners discuss the types of technology that are used to control the population of sea lamprey in the Great Lakes. They explain the parasite/host relationship and understand the devastating impact invasive species have on ecosystems....
Michigan Sea Grant
Great Lakes, Great Careers
Pupils play a question-asking game to investigate careers relating to marine and aquatic science, then conduct research to further investigate the career of their choice—examples range from marine veterinarian to underwater...
Curated OER
Great Lakes Ecology
Students are able to use a secchi disk to measure the turbidity of water by determining the depth at which the sechi disk is no longer visible and using the data in a formula to quantify the results. They are able to use Vernier probes...
Curated OER
How Big is a Crowd?
Sixth graders compare the relative sizes of the five Great Lakes and their human populations. They describe some of the problems that arise when many people depend on a limited resoure. Students discuss how the Great Lakes and the...
Curated OER
Exploring The Great Salt Lake
Second graders experiment with sand samples taken from a lake. They use this as part of an inquiry that is based on observations. The properties of the sand are observed in the lab and recorded in writing. Prior to the lab students...
Curated OER
Let the River Run
Learners explore the environment by reading a story in class. In this water formation lesson, students define environmental terms such as rivers, streams, gulf, oceans and lakes. Learners read the story A River Ran Wild and discuss the...
Curated OER
"Eggs-perimenting" Fun
Students dissolve salt into water, place an egg into a glass of salt water, observe and record observations, make a scientific hypothesis, summarize what they studied from this hands-on experiment. They share their ideas and findings...
Curated OER
Ducks in the Flow: Resources about Surface Ocean Currants for the Upper Elementary Classroom
Young scholars investigate surface ocean currents. In this oceanography instructional activity, students work in small groups to create models that demonstrate surface currents, the Coriolis Effect, and how surface currents move debris....
Curated OER
The Ethics School: Session 5
Students discuss the need for a Code of Conduct when they are using any type of technology in their workplace. In groups, they examine the various descriptions of areas to focus on to have a complete professional code of ethics. To end...
Curated OER
Parts of an Ecosystem
Fourth graders study the Great Salt lake and the ecosystem that encompasses it. They study the relationship between an individual of a species, a population of that species, a community that includes that population, and the...
Curated OER
Brine Shrimp Hatching Experiment
Students hatch brine shrimp in a classroom experiment. In this hatching brine shrimp lesson, students participate in two-week lab in which they study how brine shrimp hatch under different conditions. They record data about the control...
Curated OER
A Funny Taste
Students participate in a demonstration that illustrates the relative amounts of salt in various bodies of water including the Dead Sea, Sallt Lake, Ocean water and distilled water. They taste and compare various mixtures.
Curated OER
FROM SEA TO SHINING SEA
Identify agricultural products grown in each region of the country.
Discuss how geography affects what is grown or raised in a particular area.1. Hand out a copy of the two activity sheets "Food From Sea to Shining Sea" to each student....
Curated OER
Biological Control of Purple Loosestrife
High schoolers examine the role of Purple Loosestrife in Illinois and Indiana rivers. In groups, they collect a wide variety of plants in a wetland and raise beetles in a controlled environment. They introduce the loosestrife into the...
Curated OER
Aquatic Exotics
Learners identify and describe the aquatic exotic species found in Illinois. Using the internet, they research the species origins and discover their effects on native species in the area. They discuss how appropriate it is to introduce...
Curated OER
The Impact of Acid Rain and the Greenhouse Effect on the Environment
Students study acid rain and complete several activities that show how it affects the environment. They role play members of the community involved in a major decision involving the protection of the environment.
Curated OER
The Journey of the Pacific Salmon
Students examine the journey of the Pacific salmon. In this salmon species lesson, students review the stages of the salmon life cycle and conduct an experiment to determine how the water and habitat changes during each stage.
Michigan Sea Grant
Food Chains and Webs
Starting with a simple food chain, young scientists interpret the difference and interrelatedness between herbivores, carnivores and producers. They answer questions related to cause and effect of food chain disruptions, including the...
Curated OER
Forest Ecosystem
Students become familiar with the temperate rainforest. In this forest ecosystem instructional activity, students identify the producers, consumers and decomposers in the forest ecosystem. Students sort cards and identify the trophic...
Curated OER
Pond Life
Environmental explorers create an experiment related to ponds and then present their finding to the class. This resource is extremely open-ended. It needs more concrete objectives and procedures for meeting them.
Curated OER
The Water Cycle
Students are introduced to the components and importance of the water cycle. They are shown how groundwater moves using a model. Students list 9 places on earth where water is found. They define the terms cycle and water cycle.
Curated OER
Our Forest is Changing
Students read a story and solve a problem about an unhealthy population of trees. In this forest lesson students study tree disease and then research it online and present what they found.