Curated OER
Compost and Composting Experiments
Students investigate the composting process through a variety of experiments. For this ecology lesson, students discuss the benefits of composting. They examine how compost affect plant growth.
National Park Service
Reduce Our Carbon Footprint, Let’s Compost!
Roll up your sleeves and get a little dirty with this elementary and middle school compost lesson. All you need is a large plastic container, a couple old newspapers, some organic waste, and a few hundred worms and you're ready to start...
Teach Engineering
Biological Processes: Putting Microbes to Work
Is there such a thing as useful microbes? Get ready to perform experiments on applying microbes for wastewater treatment. The first installment of the three-part unit provides background information to prepare young engineers for two...
Curated OER
Mechanisms to Fight Disease
Young scholars explain how our body fight diseases. In this biology lesson, students identify the role of bacteria and viruses in human illness. They create a PowerPoint presentation and essay at the of the unit.
National Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network
Can Small Pollutants Harm Aquatic Organisms?
Nanoparticles have toxic effects on plant and animal life—even though you can't see them. The second lesson of a two-part series has young scientists conduct an experiment that exposes plant and animals to nanoparticle pollutants. They...
Curated OER
Creating a Three sisters Garden
Students understand that a three sisters garden is comprised of corn, beans and squash. For this three sisters garden lesson, students understand that Native Americans planted three sisters gardens and grow a three sisters garden....
Curated OER
Growing Garden Companions.
Students understand that some plants grow better with other plants. In this companion planting lesson plan, students observe the "three sisters" growing system used by the Native Americans. Students understand that small gardens grow...
Curated OER
Allelopathy Experiments
Learners explore how allelopathy works in plants. In this botany lesson plan, students explain how this phenomenon affect other organisms. They read and analyze an article about allelopathy and discuss its flaws.
Curated OER
Dissolved Oxygen in an Aquatic Ecosystem
Students explain why dissolved oxygen is important in aquatic ecosystems. They evaluate the optimal dissolved oxygen levels for living organisms.
Curated OER
Hot Off the Grill
Students read an article about humans getting sick from eating improperly cooked meat. In groups, they cook a hamburger patty and when they believe it is done, they check the temperature with thermometers. They record their temperatures...
Curated OER
Water Quality and Dissolved Oxygen
Students investigate the relationship between dissolved oxygen and organic materials and aquatic organisms. This is a 3-lesson series in which students explore dissolved oxygen and then design an experiment testing the effects of changes.