Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Tour Down the Hudson River

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers discuss how the Hudson River is an ecosystem made up of both biotic and abiotic factors. They view the PowerPoint the Journal Down the Hudson River. Students become aware of where the Hudson River begins and ends, the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Using Abiotic and Biotic Parameters to Monitor Air Quality

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students identify the abiotic factors that influence a river or stream and the organisms that live in it. They measure several abiotic and biotic parameters to gauge water quality. Students examine the biotic environment by identifying...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Measurement of Biotic and Abiotic Objects

For Teachers 6th - 7th
Students identify biotic and abiotic factors. In this environmental study lesson plan, students conduct a series of experiments to collect and record data and draw conclusions based on the results. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Tailoring Two Cultures to Adapt to Wisconsin's Biotic Zones

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers examine the effect of the various ice ages on Wisconsin. In groups, they create a map representing the five geographic regions of Wisconsin. They must write out a description of each region to be placed on a poster...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Critters in Your Own Backyard

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Young scholars identify various animals and their habitats, as well as their specific traits In this animal habitat lesson, students list animals they've seen in their backyard. Young scholars select one animal and do research. Students...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Building an Ecosystem

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students research a variety of local and world ecosystems. Students will create a collage to represent the biotic and abiotic factors and interactions important to their given ecosystem.Students will understand that an ecosystem is...
Lesson Plan
NOAA

Build Your Own Ocean Ecosystem

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Hold the sea in the palm of your hand! Amateur oceanographers work together to create models of an ocean ecosystem in the sixth and final installment in a series. Raise awareness of global ocean health issues through guided research,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lotic Environment Lesson Plans

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Pupils create and conduct experiments on a "classroom river habitat." They manipulate the biotic and abiotic factors so that they are able to compare an artificially prepared river model to a naturally occurring lotic ecosystem.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lotic Environment

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students assemble a classroom river model as an example of a lotic system. They control and measure biotic and abiotic information for the in-class system and compare data with a lotic system in a natural environment.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Reading the River

For Teachers 5th - 8th
In collaborative groups, young ecologists measure the temperature, pH, and dissolved oxygen for three different freshwater samples. They examine each sample with a microscope and record observations on the microorganisms in the pond...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ecology and the St. Lawrence River

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders complete a unit of lessons on ecosystems, organism interactions, and energy flow. They create a key for known species of fish, diagram the movement of energy through an ecosystem, and create and present food chains and food...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Comparison of Different Methods for Determining Stream Flow at a Stream Site

For Teachers 9th - Higher Ed
Students make measurements and calculations to  determine the stream flow of an outdoor stream site. In this stream characteristics lesson, students travel to a field site to construct a transect across a stream and measure the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sand Travels

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students examine how sand is formed by erosion and that it can be moved by streams, rivers, and ocean currents in this unit of lessons. They study waves and currents, and structures that change how sand moves by creating story charts,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Exploring Hawaii's Beaches

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders  search the shore and find objects on the beaches of Hawaii.  In this exploring Hawaii's beaches lesson, 4th graders play "I Spy" with objected collected at the beach.  Students compare biotic and abiotic...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Chemistry And The Nitrogen Cycle

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Students investigate the factors that compose the nitrogen cycle. The harmful effects of acid rain and ozone depletion are also discussed in the instructional activity. Students define the nutrient that is often limiting to plant growth...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Microscopic Water Life

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students use a light microscope to observe the organisms living in a sample of ocean or fresh water. Students create a drawing of the organisms that they observe. Students then discuss the different body plans of the organisms and the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Native Species Restoration: Is Saving One Species Hurting Another?

For Teachers 7th - 10th
Students investigate the effect of human activities upon the environment. The studying experience encourages students to think about the issues involved in native species restoration.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Critter Clues

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students work together to examine water quality. They identify the indicators of water quality and complete an experiment. They discuss their results.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Interactions Everywhere!

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Learners examine interactions within the environment and environmental engineering careers. They discuss and view photos of natural and manmade environments, explore various websites, create a web to identify interactions between living...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

New York City Water Quality Assessment Project

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students investigate the chemistry of water and how its molecular structure supports life through its biochemcial, physical, and environmental roles. They investigate the quality of water as it interacts with the environment. Students...
Lesson Plan
PBS

Pbs Learning Media: River Rewilding: Advanced Water Quality

For Students 9th - 10th
In this unit, students will try to improve stream quality and reduce human impacts by taking action.This Advanced Water Quality unit is packaged into three smaller parts: Part 1: Stream Habitat Assessment; Part 2: Macroinvertebrate...
Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Healthy Waters

For Teachers 6th - 8th
By the end of this lesson, learners will understand how we can use macroinvertebrates to determine the quality of water in a river or stream.