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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Endangered Species 1: Why are Species Endangered?

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Emerging ecologists examine endangered species by visiting the US Environmental Protection Agency website. They consider human contribution to the decline of different species. They research an endangered animal and then craft a poster...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Urban Ecosystems 2: Why are There Cities? A Historical Perspective

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Second in a series of five lessons, this instructional activity encourages preteens to consider cities as urban ecosystems. First, they keep a food diary for a few days. They visit the Natrional Agricultural Statistics Service website...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Floating Fishes: Fishing Expedition

For Teachers 4th - 8th
A referenced PowerPoint is not included, but this lesson can still make an impact with emerging environmentalists. After introducing them to the facts about overfishing, they experiment with a fishing simulation using colored beads and...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Iceberg Ahead: How Does Temperature Affect the Density of Water?

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Demonstrate how ice floats on water and get the class thinking about why icebergs are so deceiving. Investigators then experiment with mixing water of the same temperature and water of different temperatures. Make sure to explain the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Galileo's Thermometer: Measuring the Density of Various Unknown Liquids

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Sprouting scientists explore the concept of density by making mass and volume measurements for five different liquids. From these measurements, they calculate densities. They apply their learning to explain Galileo's thermometer works...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Day After Tomorrow: How is the Density of Water Related to Climate Change and Global Warming?

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Science learners simulate what happens when ice breaks up and floats on water and how increased pressure on ice causes it to melt faster. They view a clip from the movie, The Day After Tomorrow, and relate their lab activities to what...
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PPT
Curated OER

The Willamette River

For Teachers 9th - 12th
An informative set of slides inspects the Willamette River. Hydropower dams, agriculture, and the presence of major cities on its banks have led to increased bacteria, temperature, and mercury content as well as skeletal deformities in...
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PPT
Curated OER

Climate Shifts

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Eight slides of information related to shifts in the climate make up this presentation. The vocabulary and concepts displayed are geared toward high school meteorology learners. Content is not cohesive from slide to slide, but the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Exploring Biomes Lesson 3: Endangered Biomes

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Future environmental scientists compare data from two different conservation strategies. Alone this lesson is sufficient, but as part of the Exploring Biomes unit produced by the Arizona Fish and Game Department, it becomes top-notch. 
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Down in the Dumps

For Teachers 7th - 8th
After an introduction to municipal sludge, middle school ecologists consider the pros and cons of dumping in the Hudson River Canyon. The class is split into two groups: one to debate in favor or dumping and one to debate against the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Top to Bottom

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Marine science classes read about the 2005 North Atlantic Stepping Stones Expedition and review climate change. They use maps to locate the seamount chains. In collaborative groups, they research how climate change may be altering the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Watering Our Prairie Farms

For Teachers 5th - 8th
After reading an article about irrigation on Canadian farms, learners participate in a discussion. They individually write an opinion paper about the surrounding issues. A lesson like this can be used in an earth science class when...
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PPT
Curated OER

Humans and the Environment

For Teachers 4th - 7th
This PowerPoint is a straightforward list of facts about how humans impact the environment. Subjects covered are extinction, natural resources, different types of pollution, and conservation efforts. Questions are presented on some...
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PPT
Curated OER

Forestry

For Teachers 4th - 5th
When you are exploring pollution or human impact on the environment with your class, this PowerPoint will serve as a support. The first half focuses on the effects of the logging industry, creating roadways, and wildfires. The second...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Week 3: Pollution Source and Effects

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Lab groups set up an experiment to observe what happens over time in collected pond water when fertilizer, representing pollution, is added. This website does not include student lab sheets, but background information, materials, and...
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Lesson Plan
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Curated OER

Empty Oceans

For Teachers 6th - 8th
In groups of four, pupils brainstorm about seafood. They view the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch website to examine the problems caused by the seafood industry. Learners are then brought back together to discuss what they...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Environmentally Friendly Community

For Teachers 7th - 8th
In cooperative groups, learners research and report on the environmental friendliness of the local community. They consider water protection and disposal, waste management, energy supply, public transportation, and more. This lesson plan...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Treasures in Jeopardy

For Teachers 6th - 8th
In small groups, middle schoolers research deep-sea coral reefs and design a poster to educate the public about their importance. They compare them to shallow-water reefs and consider the impact of bottom-trawl fishing. Many internet...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Whose Garbage is It?

For Teachers 7th - 10th
Two news articles are read by class members regarding the excess of garbage in Toronto, Canada. As small groups, they take sides about how to handle the trash, conduct internet research, and then select a representative to act on their...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Week 8 - Sea Life

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Using a magnifier, mini marine biologists examine the barbules of a bird feather. They swirl the it into a mixture of oil and water and then re-examine the feather. After the activity, discuss how the oily feathers pose a problem to sea...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Composting

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Using 2-liter bottles, junior ecologists create composting tubes in which they place nitrogen-rich and carbon-rich materials. They observe what changes occur over two weeks' time. Provide more specific direction to your class as to what...
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Interactive
Curated OER

Images as Messages

For Students 4th - 10th
Your class watches a video about Chris Jordan, a talented photographer and activist who tries to get an environmental message out by his work. As a cross-curricular project, have your class imitate his style of art with an object that...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Image Classification

For Teachers Higher Ed
Students explore what are "multi-spectral" or "multi-band" images? They investigate how landscapes change over time- at least over the time-span of satellite imagery, particulary due to human influences. Students explore how to train...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Horseshoe Crab Fun

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Marine biology masters will meet the horseshoe crab and red knot shore birds that feast upon the crab eggs. Begin with a discussion and then have learners write postcards from each animal detailing their migration trips. A few math...