Unit Plan
Discovery Education

STEM Camp—Urban Infrastructure

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Build a bridge to learning in a STEM-aligned unit about urban infrastructure. Young engineers explore the many aspects of civil planning and design in a five-day unit. Content includes the challenging aspects of balancing building with...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Urban Life: What Lives In Our Local Park?

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders participate in activities during a visit to Central Park. In this urban life lesson, 5th graders visit Central Park where they explore pond dipping, stream chemistry, and play a native plant Bingo game.
Lesson Plan
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Nature Works Everywhere

Sustainable Cities

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
Investigate aspects of sustainable cities and relate them to where you live! A detailed lesson first investigates the definition of sustainability. Learners then explore human impact on the environment and social justice. Their final...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

P.O.V.'s Borders Picture Project: Lesson 1 - Air

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Take photos of human activities that impact air quality. Collaborative groups present one of the photographs, identifying how the activity contributes to air quality and what can be done to minimize the impact. As one in a series of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Study of Urban and Suburban Environments within the Mystic River Watershed

For Teachers 10th - 12th
High school students examine their own water-based environments, within the Mystic Watershed. As the learners engage in inquiry-based, hands-on projects, critical thinking skills and problem-solving, the project will lead them to cross...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Cycles of Life in an Urban Habitat: Changes in Biodiversity

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders compare and contrast animate and inanimate objects. In this environmental science lesson, 2nd graders create simple food webs. They observe their environment and create a collage about it.
Unit Plan
University of Southern California

Human Impact on the Sea

For Students 4th - 8th
How far does the human hand reach?  Five interactive lessons lead classes through a unit exploring the human impact on ocean resources, pollution, and even extinction. Learners discover how their decisions affect the ocean...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Urban Heat Island Effect - Lesson 2 (Grade 5)

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders use the scientific process to examine how when various surfaces are exposed to similar environmental conditions, surface temperatures may vary. They conduct an experiment to show the relationship between surface and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Impervious Surfaces

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students comprehend impervious surfaces. They recognize the problems caused by impervous surfaces. Students observe how land use can influence impervious surfaces. They chose four of the seven basic land surface, students draw a picture...
Unit Plan
Purdue University

The Great Clearcut Controversy

For Teachers K - 5th
Urban development and habitat retention are often at odds. A three-part lesson examines the pros and cons of forest clearcutting. Learners review data and characteristics of a specific mammal to make conclusions about the effect...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Urban Safari: A Walk on the Wild Side

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students discover the urban ecosystem through a series of activities. They explore both the biotic and abiotic factors of the urban environment.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Solid Waste and Recycling

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students demonstrate effects of waste on environment and ways of reducing it, observe how much packaging goes into bag lunches each day, and survey their families to assess awareness levels and household recycling practices. Lessons all...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Tree Is More than a Street Name

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders discuss the role of trees as one of the most important natural resources. In groups, they examine how the forests nearby helped to shape their urban city. Using the internet, they research the use of the forest in early...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The High Cost of Chemical Dependency

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders explore, analyze and study the effect and impact that humans have on the environment based on their choices as individuals, businesses and governments. They assess the balance between human activities and aquatic pollution.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Flowering Phenology: How Do Plants Know When To Flower?

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students explore the biotic and abiotic factors that affect plant reproduction and the potential consequences of human activities on plant populations. The effects of urbanization are discussed as an influence in the consequences.
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 lesson, students analyze an article about the Kyoto Protocol and its goal of saving our environment.  Students...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Central Park Field Trip

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students visit the park to observe signs of spring in the forest and pond environments.  In this field trip lesson, students explore the park for various items
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Measurement of Biotic and Abiotic Objects

For Teachers 6th - 7th
Students identify biotic and abiotic factors. In this environmental study lesson, students conduct a series of experiments to collect and record data and draw conclusions based on the results. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What Effects Do Trees Have On The Environment?

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Students examine the interrelationship between trees, soil and people focusing on urban areas. They collect and analyze data about trees in their research area.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Land of Plenty, Land of Want

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers view a video about the state of the environment. They discover the topic of sustainable agriculture. They identify problems and how to solve them.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Energy Alternatives

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Students brainstorm a list of all of the ways they use energy in a day. In groups, they research the energy situation today and discuss what is being done to solve the problem. They also examine the issues related to this in politics...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Much Is An Ecosystem Worth?

For Teachers 9th - Higher Ed
Young scholars explain and discuss the importance of ecosystems. They analyze the natural resources in the environment. They also suggest actions that would protect ecosystems.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What Trickles Down?

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Young scholars explore different levels of permeability and compare the permeabilities of several different materials. They are introduced to the basic concepts of building design, landscape architecture, and environmental pollutant...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Recycling

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students investigate landfills and the problems associated with urban and suburban areas. In this recycling lesson plan, students discuss landfills and the problems associated with landfills. They discuss the amount of waste an...