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...
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...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Looking to Our Environment

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders studied an environmental region in Illinois. The wetlands, swamps, woodlands and prairies were chosen. They research this region and create a picture that looks as if they are looking out the window. They had to have at...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Life in Extreme Environments - Who is on Top in the Food Chain?

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Students discuss the design of experiments to determine how much and how fast rotifers feed and design experiments with a lab partner and in small collaborative groups. They then collect data from experiments and present results of...
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...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

To Dam or Not to Dam

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Young ecologists explore the Aswan Dam in Egypt via the internet. Each collaborative group is assigned a specific article about the ecological impact of the dam. Then they prepare a presentation to share with the rest of the class. Some...
Lesson Plan
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Biodiversity Debate - Stream Side Science

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Role play community members who are both for and against the construction of a dam. Research the pros and cons and then hold a classroom debate. This activity ideally follows a series of stream studies, links to which are included. Use...
PPT
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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...
Lesson Plan
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Hot and Humid, That's Manu

For Teachers 1st - 6th
Elementary and middle schoolers participate in a demonstration of the heat and humidity of the Manu rainforest environment. They watch and discuss a video, calculate the humidity and temperature in the humidified tent, and write a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

When the Wind Blows Lesson Plan

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Learners read a book and observe the wind and how it affects the environment. They explore what wind does by looking at pictures, reading a book, and by completing an experiment. They will use their own knowledge of the wind and compare...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Hate 2.0

For Teachers 8th - 10th
Combat hate online by bringing it into the light. Begin by giving learners a quiz, then lead a discussion based on the issues the quiz brought up. As a class, develop strategies to confront online hate. Assign different venues to groups...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Solid Waste Recycling

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students seek scientific and technological solutions to envrionmental problems. They record class activities in a journal. They identify relationships among living things and their environments.
Lesson Plan
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What is an Ecological Footprint?

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Introduce youngsters to the term ecological footprint. Learners identify ways in which humans affect the environment. They look at the problems associated with the use of natural resources, and focus on ways to preserve natural...
Lesson Plan
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We of the Sea: Tribal Native American Stories

For Teachers 9th - 12th
A video featuring members of Oregon’s Astoria Native American fishing community launches a study of the oral tradition of poetry, and how traditions are passed down within different cultures. Activities, assessments, extensions and...
Lesson Plan
Howard Hughes Medical Institute

The Making of the Fittest: The Birth and Death of Genes

For Teachers 9th - Higher Ed
Adaptations must be made as environments change. This fabulous presentation features Icelandic icefish, a transparent, scaleless specimen that even has colorless blood. Genetics and adaptations concepts are explored as scientists study...
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Curated OER

Promoting Disability Awareness and Acceptance in Childhood

For Teachers K - 12th
Create a safe and respectful school environment with the help of this special education teaching guide. Offering dozens of instructional ideas and activities for raising awareness and acceptance of children with disabilities, this is a...
Handout
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Really Good Stuff

New-Teacher Classroom Set-Up Guide

For Teachers Pre-K - 8th
Packed with teaching tips and best practice ideas from veterans, this 16-page packet is a real boon to new teachers, as well as a great resources for those more experienced professionals. Ideas about how to set up your classroom physical...
Lesson Plan
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The Hydrologic (Water) Cycle

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners construct a model of the hydrologic cycle, and observe that water is an element of a cycle in the natural environment. They explain how the hydrologic cycle works and why it is important, and compare the hydrologic cycle to...
Lesson Plan
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Specialized for the Sea

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students use pictures and make a mural to investigate how ocean animals are adapted to certain parts of their environment.
Lesson Plan
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Sedimentary Rocks

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Sedimentary rocks are the building blocks of this geology lesson. In it, learners discover what sedimentary rocks are and how they form. They understand the differences between the major sedimentary rock varieties and learn what types of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Carrying Capacity

For Teachers 5th
Young biologists identify how plants and animals are affected by changes in their ecosystem and environment.  The concepts of succession, maintenance of habitats, interrelationships, and adaptation are all discussed. This...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Traditions and Languages of Three Native Cultures: Tlingit, Lakota, and Cherokee

For Teachers K - 2nd
Learners explore the connections between tradition and language. They examine the environment, history and culture of the Tlingit, Lakota and Cherokee tribes and identify the importance of maintaining languages for oral traditions.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Becoming Part of the Community

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers read narratives by Peace Corps volunteers and examine how they succeeded in adapting to living in a new cultural environment. They identify attitudes and actions that promote having a positive experience in a foreign country.
Lesson Plan
Desert Discovery

Leaping Lizards

For Teachers Pre-K - 6th
Here is a fine biology lesson that introduces youngsters to reptiles. They study their feeding habits, their habitats, and the adaptations they must make to survive in their environments. The outstanding lesson includes two excellent...

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