Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Eco-Logical: A Coastal Logic Problem

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders study the characteristics of five coastal communities. They use logic cards and matching activities to identify the proper community for plant and animal species.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Our Earth

For Teachers 8th - 10th
For this Earth's environment worksheet, students complete a crossword puzzle given 35 clues about a variety of topics related to our Earth. Topics include ecosystems, precipitation, biomes, energy transfer, soil, weathering and rocks.
Lesson Plan
University of Connecticut

Building Your Own Biosphere

For Teachers 7th - 8th Standards
On September 26, 1991, four women and four men entered the scientific experiment, Biosphere 2; the doors were sealed for two years in order to study the interactions of a biosphere. In the activity, scholars explore biospheres by...
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

What Do We Need In Our Environment To Survive?

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Young scholars discuss and write about waste management to save the environment. For this environment lesson, students discuss what an alien coming to Earth would notice about the environmental needs of humans for survival. They pretend...
Lesson Plan
California Academy of Science

Pollution in Our Watershed

For Teachers 2nd - 8th
The concept of a how pesticides and other chemicals pass through a watershed can be difficult for younger learners to grasp without a concrete example. In the activity here, some blank paper, markers, and a spray bottle are all you need...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Earth: Our Big Blue Marble

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students investigate Earth and its resources. In this Earth, space, and nature lesson plan, students collaborate to design presentations on the Earth, its cycles, and how humans have impacted the planet. Images, diagrams, and background...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Our Earth Crossword Puzzle

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
For this earth's environment worksheet, students use the 20 clues and their problem solving skills to correctly complete the crossword puzzle.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

My Own Backyard

For Teachers Pre-K - 3rd
Scholars create a drawing of their own backyards. They will use a visualization technique to sketch their own backyard onto construction paper using oil pastels. Guiding questions are given along with materials for the project....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Our Environment

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Learners examine the world's environmental dilemmas and create project depicting how to improve the environment. They study ten endangered species.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Monarch Migration

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders investigate the life cycle of the Monarch butterfly. They experiment with various tools to simulate the mouth parts of insects, conduct research, record their observations of butterflies hatching, write a play, complete...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Wild Chain Reaction

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students explore habitats. In this habitat  lesson, students break into groups and are labeled as a part of a habitat. Students then do an activity with yarn that shows how all of the parts are connected and depend on each...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Where in the World? Biomes of the Earth

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students research a biome.  In this biomes of the Earth lesson, students discuss what they already know about ecology and view pictures of different biomes.  Students work in groups to research a different biome.  Students...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Exploring Forest Objects

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Students explore the forest. In this ecosystems lesson, students rotate through sensory activity centers, brainstorm, and read about temperate forests.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Solid Waste Recycling

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Learners 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
Curated OER

Ecosystems and Remote Sensing

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students obtain remote sensing data to compare and contrast global biomass data with global temperature data.
Lesson Plan
Forest Foundation

Forests, Carbon & Our Climate

For Teachers 4th - 6th
To conclude their examination of forest ecosystems, class members consider the role forests play in the carbon cycle and how forests can offset climate change.
Lesson Plan
NASA

Decomposers Get Energy From Dead Things

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
When life gives you mold, make penicillin. Scholars design an inquiry experiment to determine what causes rotting and mold growth. It also covers decomposers and the important role they play for other living things. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Case of the Missing Pumpkin

For Teachers K - 6th
Scientists define and discuss decomposition, and watch pumpkins decompose and return to soil in classroom experiment. They record the date the experiment began, chart changes in pumpkins on a calendar, count how many days it takes...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Monterey Bay

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students read background information about Monterey Bay, California, and conduct related experiments. In this ocean in motion lesson, students read information about the location, wildlife, and characteristics of Monterey Bay. They...
Lesson Plan
Indian Land Tenure Foundation

Relationships to Places

For Teachers K - 2nd
Young historians take a look at how the Indian tribes of California promoted a mindful relationship between people and the land. They begin to understand how the Indians were champions of conservation, and at preserving the natural...
Lesson Plan
University of Southern California

Mastering Microbes

For Students 6th - 12th
Small but mighty! Learners explore the role of microbes in a healthy ecosystem. An engaging lesson asks pupils to design an aquaponics system that demonstrates that healthy microbes are necessary to maintain the ecosystem.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Change Since 1609

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students recognize how the climate of the Hudson Valley has changed since the last glaciation. They explain these changes using a reconstruction of the land use changes in the Hudson Valley composed of confetti, Ziploc bags and other...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Paleoclimate of the Hudson Valley

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Students recognize how the climate of the Hudson Valley has changed since the last glaciation and be able to explain these changes. They reconstruct the paleoclimate of the Hudson Valley.