Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Carbon Cycle Game

For Teachers 6th - 8th
In this carbon cycle lesson, middle schoolers review the carbon cycle and visit stations in the room where they experience every phase in the carbon cycle. Students journal about their journey through the cycle and brainstorm ways...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Waste Aggregates and Material Properties

For Teachers 5th - 10th
Young scholars define specific waste materials that could be used as aggregate in concrete. In this aggregate and waste lesson plan, students brainstorm on how to incorporate waste in construction and define different aggregate materials.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Dance of the Butterfly

For Teachers 1st - 2nd
Learners explore butterfly life cycles and movement.  In this integrated fine arts and biology life cycle lesson, students listen to the book The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle and identify the related life cycle stages....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ag in My Community; Agriculture

For Teachers 1st - 6th
Students build knowledge about agriculture as it relates to their communities' commodities.  In this agriculture lesson, students brainstorm about conditions in their community with regards to growing different types...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lesson: Design a Sturdy Paper Table

For Teachers 4th - 7th
Student create a table with paper legs. In this engineering lesson, students use rolled paper to create table legs and attempt a variety of designs to find one that will hold a textbook. They work in small groups, brainstorm and attempt...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Writing the Wind

For Teachers 1st - 5th
Students make a windmill.  In this wind lesson, students learn background information about the windmill, complete an activity where they create a windmill, discuss using wind as a natural resource and brainstorm other inventions...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Exploring Beach Erosion in the Great Lakes

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders conduct an experiment.  In this beach erosion lesson, 4th graders define erosion, brainstorm ways to stop erosion, view pictures and video clips of erosion, and complete an experiment that models the process of erosion.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Insects

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders brainstorm and identify several types of common insects. They play bug bingo, building bugs and an insect tree, observing real insects in the classroom and examining some of the things insects make.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Horse Sense

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students research wild horses in the American West. They brainstorm how they can help preserve the wild horses.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Testing and Refining Aircraft Design

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers design and make a flying device. They work in small groups to brainstorm ideas for the design of their device. They choose an idea or combination of ideas to use for their design and create a sketch of their design. The...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Man's Struggle for Environmental Preservation

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine the way all living things are connected to one another. In groups, they participate in experiments in which they analyze the chemical processes through the biosphere and explain the role of energy. They also brainstorm...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Case Study - Tragedy of the Commons

For Teachers 4th - 12th
Students role play being a fisherman and fulfill the goals they are given from a description sheet. Other students observe the fisherman and record their behavior and actions. The class then discusses how this activity was an example...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Conservation in Costa Rica

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
Students brainstorm what they do that requires land use and use a worksheet to calculate their footprint (the total area of land and water required to produce all the resources they consume). They then compare their footprints to each...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Salmon Vs. Dams: the Dam Removal Debate on the Elwha River

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students role-play a meeting of the Elwha River council in which they present opposing views to council members on hydroelectric power and salmon fisheries resources. They brainstorm possible conflicts between various people in land-use...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Simple Machines

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders discover the principles and uses of gears noting that they can be used to change the direction of motion or the speed of an object. They may also change the force and/or distance through which an object turns. They then...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Build Your Own Simple DC Motor

For Teachers 8th - 10th
Learners, after brainstorming how we interact with some kind of motor every day in our lives, explore how to build their own DC motor. They collect all the parts needed for their experiment and review all safety precautions. In addition,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Chemical Formulas

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students assess how to go from writing ionic chemical formulas to nomenclature and naming chemical compounds. They brainstorm former studies and share their thoughts in small groups. A list of everyday products (shampoos, toothpaste,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Genocide Teaching Project

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students investigate what genocide is as well as places that it is found in the 20th century. They trace the history of genocide back to the events that occurred in Sudan's history. Brainstorming ways to prevent the ongoing conflicts and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Wonderful world of Water

For Teachers 1st
First graders examine the water cycle through readings and experiments. In groups, they conduct interviews with others and use the information to create a chart displaying the various uses of water. After brainstorming lists of ways to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Seed Sensation

For Teachers K
Students explore seeds through dissecting, sorting, comparing and contrasting. They draw their observations of both a closed and open seed and then they label the parts of a seed. They brainstorm where seeds come from. They compare seeds...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Pollinator Habitats

For Teachers 6th - 7th
Students read and discuss background information included with this instructional activity. They brainstorm the best sources for developing a list of native or migratory pollinators. Students work in groups to design habitats based on...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students brainstorm and share opinions about products that can be reused or recycled after reading the article, "Seattle's Recycling Success Is Being Measured in Scraps." They then investigate, analyze and evaluate articles on recycling...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Extinction Extravagance

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Learners brainstorm and discuss what it means for a species to be considered endangered and/or extinct. They research animals in Puerto Rico and choose one that is considered endangered and create a poster about it. In addition, they...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Fancy Packaging

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Youngsters consider the amount of packaging used in manufacturing food and follow its travels through to the landfill. They brainstorm ways in which to reduce packaging and take a survey at home to evaluate ways they could reduce trash.