Pair earth scientists up to use an amazing online arctic portal mapping tool and Google Earth to analyze permafrost changes. They compare changes to data on atmospheric concentrations of methane to see if there is a correlation. Then...

Introduce your young meteorologists to black carbon produced by the burning of fossil fuels by showing the video, "Changing Planet: Black Carbon." Viewers discover that deposition of this carbon on polar ice impacts the absorption of...

Watt is going on here? Middle schoolers are learning about energy use and carbon dioxide emissions! In the first part of this lesson, learners measure how much energy different appliances consume and calculate the amount per day. In...

In class, your emerging environmentalists construct dust catchers. They take them home for a week or two, and then bring them back into class to examine under a magnifier. From this activity, they learn what makes up dust and that...

Split your earth science or environmental studies class into groups and give each a scenario card. Scenario cards describe the lifestyles of 10 different fictitious families, focusing on their energy usage. Carbon dioxide emissions are...

Students examine two devices used to clean up the air waste stream before it enters the atmosphere. They construct and use a wet scrubber and an electrostatic precipitator, and answer discussion questions.

Third graders discuss the ways in which human interaction with the environment and production of waste products contribute to pollution. Through a pollution demonstration, they explain how various groups of plants and animals can be...

Students define and differentiate between point source and non-point source pollution. Students discuss various types of pollution including air, water and land pollution, analyze demonstrations and complete a worksheet.

Students identify the different sources of air pollution andevaluate knowledge of air pollution concepts in school and community. Students brainstorm ways of reducing air pollution and instruct school and community in reduction of air...

Students identify and interpret the causes of air pollution in their local community. They collect and analyze data to identify pollutants in the air and seek solutions to eliminate the contaminants in the atmosphere. Finally, students...

Young scholars develop a list of actions they could perform that would protect our water resources from pollution. They formulate hypotheses, conduct experiments and draw conclusions about actual pollutants found in our water supply.

Students discuss and write about air pollution in their journals. They practice using new vocabulary words associated with pollution and write sentences using those words. They end the lesson by determining what they can do to fight air...

Students examine the role of pollution indoors rather than outdoors. They identify pollutant sources and complete a KWL chart. They also measure pollutant levels and discuss how they can improve air quality.

Students examine pollutants and investigate air pollution emitted by a car in a year.  In this air pollution lesson students complete an activity and make calculations. 

Young scholars discuss the different causes of water pollution. In this ecology lesson, students brainstorm ways to purify polluted water. They formulate their conclusion based on the results of the experiments.

First graders investigate what causes water pollution and conduct a water pollution experiment. They listen to the story "What Polluted the Potomac?," and during the story pour small containers of dirty water into a large container at...

Young scholars work together to solve the problem of air pollution. Using the Internet, they research the pollution problem in one city. Using the data, they develop their own solution and pitch it to the class. They must identify the...

Students conduct a brainstorming exercise that asks them to list all the ideas about air pollution that can be recalled. The ideas are recorded on a chart that the teacher has prepared. The lesson plan contains sufficient background...

Students follow the path of pollution from the Chernobyl accident. Students name and locate countries where radiation traveled to, describe how air pollution travels from one area to another, and seqence the travel of radiation in...

Students simulate the development of smog. They discover how it forms naturally in nature. They read news articles about the ozone and pollution. They discuss what they can do to lower the pollution they generate.

Students determine how pollutants can travel though sediment and explore methods of pollutant removal. They conduct an experiment on porosity and permeability of soils and simulate an EPA "pump and treat" method for removing subsurface...

Fifth graders examine what contaminated water looks like, and how it becomes polluted. They examine a teacher demonstration of water is not polluted but does contain rocks and other things that do need to be cleaned out before drinking...

Students study their role in eliminating ocean pollution and helping keep the oceans clean. In this environmental issues activity, students define pollution and brainstorm examples of ocean pollution. Students define biodegradable and...

Students participate in a hands-on activity to determine how water is polluted and investigate steps in how to treat water. Students try to produce the cleanest water possible using the materials provided.