Incorporate knowledge about biomes and ecosystems in multiple ways while encouraging creativity. Emerging ecologists collaborate and perform research to complete a graphic organizer about various biomes of the world. They conclude the...

Middle schoolers discover that throughout history cities have been centers of population but that human exploitation of fossil fuels was key to the growth of large cities worldwide. They research urban growth through a number of websites.

Students explore decay in ecosystems by investigating a rotting log and/orcreating a decomposition chamber. They make predictions and answer questions about the changes involved.

The difference between sinking and floating may be a little salt. Young experimenters analyze the effect of salt and temperature on the density of water. They use their results to predict the effect of climate change on ocean ecosystems.

Upper graders identify the major characteristics of a wetland. They explore the human factors that change a wetland and write a descriptive paragraph about wetlands. This comprehensive lesson also has an interactive "Watershed Game"...

Young scholars research how alien species can change an ecosystem. In this coral reef instructional activity, students describe invasive species and site evidence how these species came to be invasive and what control measures are possible.

Fourth graders make predictions, observe, collect and record data. They investigate several soil and worm websites. Finally, 4th graders write a letter to The President which defends earthworms by explaining their value to the United...

Young scholars investigate marine life by researching aquatic organisms on the Internet. In this oceanography lesson, students monitor algae and animals of the ocean by identifying their population and habitat on data sheet ID cards....

In this learning about watersheds worksheet, students answer 15 questions using links to web resources about water use in their community.  This page includes numerous links to helpful websites.

In this Webelos naturalist instructional activity, students list short answers to 13 questions and assignments. The instructional activity also includes a list of online resources.

In this forester activity, students illustrate a map that shows the types of forests growing in various parts of the country. They also identify six forest trees common to the area where they live and explain how both wildlife and humans...

Twelfth graders construct a timeline to show changes and trends in the future of urban and community forestry. In this forestry instructional activity, 12th graders discuss the importance of trees. They read a timeline and add future...

Students build and experiment with a watershed to understand the effects of pollution. In this movement of water activity, students work in groups creating rock formations and change the viscosity of the liquids falling down the...

How many animals can live in a climate as cold as Mount Everest's? Find out with a science lesson plan all about biodiversity. Activities include research, presentations, group work, coloring maps, and a simulation of a food web.

How do genetic mutations within a population lead to future variations? Provide your class with the resources to answer this question and more upon completing an activity on natural selection. The entire class participates in a...

Many of us focus on the causes and effects of the Dust Bowl as it relates to people. Why not shift the focus of cause and effects to how the Dust Bowl affected the environment. Here is a different take on the tried-and-true Dust Bowl...

Save the oceans! The 22nd installment of a 23-part NOAA Enrichment in Marine sciences and Oceanography (NEMO) program focuses on laws and marine policy. Pupils take part in an activity investigating fisheries stock data.

What is a controlled burn, and how is it different from a wildfire? Learn about the different ways forest rangers take care of the forest with a fun, interactive board game that focuses on forest management and fire safety.

We take paper for granted, while thousands of trees are being made into the paper we toss in the trash. Start a dialogue about paper reduction and recycling in class, and share the negative effects paper production has on our...

Reduce, reuse, recycle, and recover. Young environmentalists learn about the overwhelming amount of garbage produced and discover better ways to minimize their impact on Earth by learning the difference between garbage and...

Seventh graders discover how an ecosystem works by creating one in class.  In this Earth science lesson, 7th graders study vocabulary terms associated with ecosystem and read environment handouts.  Students create an...

Pupils conduct an experiment using a small sample from a local water source. They introduce fertilizers and pesticides, separately, and carefully examine the results in their simulated aquatic ecosystem.

Seventh graders create ecosystems in a jar which they observe over the course of the school year.

Students examine the components of a river ecosystem. They discuss the picture and text from the book, "A River Ran Wild," and create a mobile of a river ecosystem using magazine pictures or original drawings.