Curated OER
Great Lakes Snow Analysis Collaborative Network
Young scholars interpret data on snow cover and analyze trend patterns. In this snow instructional activity students compare data and locate their school's GPS coordinates.
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...
Michigan Sea Grant
Survival Game
Musical chairs may be a classic game, but Ruffe Musical Chairs is a unique lesson on invasive species! Using the time-honored game, pupils role play the behaviors of the invasive fish called Eurasian ruffe. Learning about this aggressive...
Curated OER
A Coin Out of Water
Students examine the Michigan state quarter and identify land and water on the quarter. They locate the Great Lakes and other bodies of water on a map. They compare and contrast streams, rivers, ponds, lakes, and oceans.
Curated OER
Repopulating Michigan's Waterways
Eleventh graders identify the parts of an ecosystem and how communities change over time. For this ecology lesson students formulate a habitat restoration plan.
Curated OER
A Good Boat is Hard To Find
Eighth graders design and construct a safe and efficient human powered watercraft that can be used on a trip on the Great Lakes. Students utilize math and measurement skills to design and cut the pieces for their boat. Working in...
Curated OER
Gallery Walk Questions on Rivers
A Gallery Walk is a technique that allows small groups to visit different stations, where they examine and discuss materials about an overarching topic. Questions about rivers and fluvial processes are available in this resource;...
Curated OER
Preparation -- The Right Way to Help and FOrm for Poetic Reflection
Students prepare for their service learning project by listening to a representative from the Lake Michigan Federation. They volunteer their time to clean up the coast line. They reflect on the event by writing a poem about their...
Curated OER
Why Should We Clean The Beach?
Students volunteer for the International Coastal Cleanup. They describe the purpose of the Lake Michigan Foundation and a history of the dunes. They reflect on their experiences with writing.
Curated OER
Students Slide to School on Air-Powered Sled
Students locate the Great Lakes on a US map, then read a news article about a sled being used as a wintertime school bus in Wisconsin. In this current events activity, the teacher introduces the article with a map and vocabulary...
National Institute of Open Schooling
Heavy Metal Contamination
An informative lesson focuses on heavy metal contamination of environments. Classes read about, discuss, and answer questions pertaining to sources of heavy metals in the environment. To finish the 35th installment of 36, individuals...
Curated OER
Algae--Where does it Live?
Students discover algae. In this science lesson plan, students examine what green algae is and where it grows. Students test the growth of algae in four different types of water: lake water, well water, distilled water and tap water
Curated OER
Glacial Striation Investigation
Students operate a GPS unit to investigate the direction of glacier movement. They describe the motion of glacier movement by interpreting a graph. Students explain how scientists use glacier striations to determine glacier movement.
Michigan Sea Grant
Fish Habitat and Humans
Strict habitat requirements are needed for the survival of fish populations and fish variety in the Great Lakes. Young scientists become experts in the basic needs of fish and understand how survival necessities can vary with different...
Curated OER
Trees: Are They Thriving or Surviving?
In this trees survival lesson plan, 8th graders discuss what trees need to grow, brainstorm things that could adversely affect tree growth, and compare characteristics of thriving trees vs. surviving trees. Students learn about the trees...
Michigan Sea Grant
Exploring Watersheds
Collaboratively, students partake in a hands-on activity in which they build models of a watershed. Each group member draws an elevation map—a bird's eye view—of their model and predicts how water will flow from the high to low points....
Curated OER
I Hear an "A"
Learners explore the long "a" sound. Using the Michigan quarter reverse design, students say the words aloud to discover the long "a" sound. Learners read given words and identify the long "a."
Curated OER
The Island Biogeography of Isle Royale, South Manitou Island and Pelee Island
Students study the species that live on islands in Lake Erie of the coast of Michigan. They examine the influence of human activites on the change in these biomes as they complete lessons on the islands biogeography.
Curated OER
Teach a Mini-Lesson Sentence Variety
Help your developing writers spice up their writing by studying simple, compound, and complex sentences.
Curated OER
Mystery State #32
There is no better way to start a lesson, than with a good problem-solving activity. Give your class the chance to see if they can use each of the five clues to determine the name of mystery state number 32. Hint: It's the eastern most...
Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Section Four: How Can We Protect Biodiversity?
Look into the future with a lesson plan on biodiversity and natural habitats. Learners read articles about different perspectives when it comes to planning future development, and decide which angle is the highest priority in a group...
Curated OER
The Mussels Are Coming
Students work together to identify and describe the various types of mussels. Using a color-coded system, they plot the arrival date of zebra mussels in North American waters. They discuss the increase in their population with the class.
Curated OER
Mystery State #15
Do you know the name of the Badger State? Using five fantastic clues, your super sleuths will determine the name of mystery state number 15. A wonderful way to warm up the class!
Scholastic
Perfect Postcards: Illinois
Connect the geography and history of Illinois using an art-centered activity on the railroads. The railroad connected once-distant places, particularly in the Midwest. Using research, class members create postcards of fictional...