Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Where's the Oxygen?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars study seawater and how temperature and salinity influence it.  In this oxygen lesson students complete a lab activity on dissolved oxygen. 
Lesson Plan
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Teaching About the Properties of Water

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students use video, Internet research, graphs and tables, worksheets and hands-on experiments to investigate the properties of water in a lake environment. They work under direction or through an inquiry process.
Lesson Plan
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Cyclic Universe: Worlds Without End

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students compare and contrast the Big Bang Theory and the Cyclic Universe Model. They explain basic properties of the univers which make life possible. They evaluate ideas about the origin of the universe as to their scientific value.
Lesson Plan
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Building A Topographic Model

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students visualize, in three dimensions, features represented by contour lines on a topographic map. They see that the different elevations shown on a two dimensional topographic map can be used to build a 3-D model.
Lesson Plan
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Science Detectives

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders examine the differences between chemical and physical changes. As a class, they are read a scenerio and determine whether it was deliberate act or not. In groups, they observe the changes of an alka-seltzer tablet and...
Lesson Plan
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Ocean Planet: Pollution Solution

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Young scholars explore the concept of environmental stewardship. In this science lesson, students investigate the impact of oil spills as they discuss historical spills. Young scholars use problem solving skills to brainstorm clean-up...
Lesson Plan
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Our Universe: Designed or Evolved?

For Teachers 9th - Higher Ed
Students brainstorm and write arguments for Evolution and Intelligent Design. They research the history of each of these ideas. They also examine the controversy of teaching one or both ideas in schools.
Lesson Plan
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Thinking about Energy

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Young scholars examine their understandings about energy concepts by completing an online survey. Students participate in a class discussion about their uses of resources and the differences between perpetual, renewable, and...
Lesson Plan
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Saving Humpty Dumpty;Recycling, Environmental Science, Math, Ecology, Athletic Shoes

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students describe how shoe design, manufacturing, retailing, consumer use, and disposal impact environments and societies. They discuss ways to reduce, reuse, or recycle resources in the life-cycle for a shoe product.
Lesson Plan
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Are Polymers Photodegradable?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students study the term photodegradability and how it applies to the 6-pack loop ring.  In this materials lesson students test photodegradability of the 6-pack plastic ring.
Lesson Plan
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Earth System Science

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students explore the Earth and its ability to support life. They discuss the geosphere and the water cycle and complete the Water Wonders activity. After completing the activity, they respond in their journals and reflect upon the...
Lesson Plan
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A Pre-Treatment Model for Ethanol Production Using a Colorimetric Analysis of Starch Solutions

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners recognize the benefits of ethanol and study photosynthesis.  In this ethanol lesson students complete an experiment that shows the procedure that starch can be hydrolyzed by salivary amylase. 
Lesson Plan
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Root, Root, Root for the Nutrients

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students observe the growth of a seed, predict what will happen when seeds are planted without soil, and conduct an experiment using a hydroponics system.
Lesson Plan
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Where is That Light Coming From?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners investigate the chemistry of bioluminescence and discuss how various organisms benefit from this trait. They prepare a report about of at least one organism that receives each of the benefits discussed.
Lesson Plan
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Water Testing

For Teachers 9th - Higher Ed
Students work together to design their own experiment to test developed hypothesis about the minerals in water. As a class, they discuss the main components of water quality and describe the chemistry behind the hardness assay. They...
Lesson Plan
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Fallout!

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers plot the locations of fallout from two disasters that polluted much of the world's air. They plot the ash fallout from the 1980 Mt. St. Helen's eruption to see what the wind patterns in the United States look like overall....
Lesson Plan
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Water Quiz

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students use a digital atlas to explore the effects of water on landscapes. They view view pictures and complete worksheets to study the properties of water. Students study the water cycle and the chemical role it plays in living cells.
Lesson Plan
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Ecology: Effects of Land Use on Natural Streams

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders examine how humans affect various ecosystems. In this ecology lesson, 8th graders discuss different ways that contaminants enter the stream. They explain the consequences of eutrophication in lakes.
Lesson Plan
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How Does Mining Produce Acid Runoff?

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students examine how mining and other industry operations can lead to acid runoff.  In this mining instructional activity students study weathering and complete a lab on it. 
Worksheet
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Famous Scientists

For Teachers 6th - 12th
In this famous scientists learning exercise, students are provided with a list of 83 scientists from various fields of science to choose from for research.
Lesson Plan
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Nanaotechnology: Small Science, BIG DEAL!

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students read an article that introduces them to the science and applications of nanotechnology. They discuss the the everyday examples of how nanotechnology is and can be used. In small groups, they observe and make inferences about...
Lesson Plan
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The Breathtaking Nature of the Urban Explosion, Part 2

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore ozone levels. They measure the concentrations of ground-level ozone in the atmosphere. Students observe changes in the concentrations of ozone over time. Students complete a data sheet to record ozone readings over a...
Lesson Plan
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Museum Practice for Students

For Teachers K - 5th
Before any of us can learn to enjoy a trip to an art museum, we need to learn how to behave. This list of activities describe the behavior expected on a trip to an art museum. Each behavior comes with an activity intended to demonstrate...
PPT
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Earth Materials Module

For Teachers 9th - 12th
This slide show progresses through a comprehensive review of the grounding principles of earth science. Get down and dirty with the details of fossil fuels! Help your geologists to have a rock solid understanding of the rock cycle. The...