Curated OER
Great Salt Lake
Third graders are introduced to the Great Salt Lake (GSL) environment and the various components of it. They make observations about algae and its environment and discuss why it is considered a living organism and various components of...
Curated OER
At Home on the Prairie
Pupils discover the importance of the bison within the prairie ecosystem and Native American culture, and explain the importance of habitat and place to living organisms.
Curated OER
I Depend on You, You Depend on Me!
High schoolers explore the interdependency between humans and the ecosystems. They examine how uncontrolled development threatens the rain forests. They discuss how human actions affect the rain forest.
Curated OER
The Chemistry of Coal
Students investigate the chemistry of coal. This lesson serves as a review of conservation of mass, simple reactions and equation balancing. During the lesson, students research chemical components of coal, as well as environmental...
Curated OER
The Chemistry of Killer Coal
High schoolers research chemical components of coal, as well as environmental health impacts of mining and burning coal. They discuss conservation of mass as it relates to combustion of organic compounds.
Curated OER
Don't Cry Over Spilled Oil
Students study the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill while evaluating oil spill clean up activities. They discover the long term impact can have on an ecosystem by completing this experiment.
Curated OER
Wh0-o-o-o's Out There?
Fifth graders describe the physical features of an owl and identify survival adaptations. They Investigate an owl's niche in an ecosystem. The students participate in an interactive puzzle on the internet that helps for motivation.
Curated OER
Apply Scientific Inquiry and Scientific Habits of Mind
Learners review the components of the scientific inquiry method. In groups, they develop hypothesis on the issue given to them by their teacher and inquiry questions. They state the data in terms of qualitative and quantitative data. ...
Curated OER
Animal Habitats and Their Management
Students review components present for a quality animal habitat and then explore a goose pond to find out what animals reside there. They learn how wildlife managers work with the land so everything can co-exist together.
Curated OER
Sound Pictures
High schoolers examine the components of a sonar system. In this physical science lesson students explain how multibeam and sidescan sonar systems are useful to ocean explorers. High schoolers simulate sonar operations in an...
Curated OER
Groundwater Realities
Students review the components of the scientific inquiry method. In groups, they use the internet to research the sustainability of water resources in their community. They examine an environmental impact study, answer questions and...
Curated OER
Watershed Management
Students investigate the concept of a watershed. They conduct research into the concept using a variety of resources. Students take a field trip to a local watershed to make observations. The outcome is a report concerning the outside...
Curated OER
Terrariums for Project Pals
Students identify the components needed by plants to survive in the terrarium. In this biology instructional activity, students build their own terrariums using materials available. They present their project in class.
Curated OER
Sustainable Forestry
High schoolers evaluate a forest for timber harvest and discuss potential impacts of logging. In this sustainable forestry lesson, they work in groups in a forested plot to choose trees to cut based on species and stem diameter and then...
Curated OER
Sustaining Life Under the Ice
Pupils design and conduct experiments in order to identify the components of lake water environments that are affected by winter ice cover. They use the experiment results to propose effective human management of these ecosystems.
Curated OER
Exploration of 'pill bugs'
Fifth graders define words. They create a dichotomous key. After carefully examining pill bugs, 5th graders record observations. They compare and contrast habitats of pillbugs.
Curated OER
The Water Cycle
Pupils develop a better understanding of the need to conserve our renewable resources. In this water cycle lesson students take notes, complete a guide sheet and illustrate the water cycle.
Curated OER
Identifying Watersheds with Topographic Maps
Students model a watershed and delineate one using topographic maps. In this hydrology lesson, students use aluminum foil to model a landscape and observe how water moves on it. They also observe the features of a topographic map and use...
Curated OER
Grid Frame Mapping
Young scholars map and describe small area of the schoolyard and discuss habitats.
Columbus City Schools
Photosynthesis and Respiration
Thirty percent of the world's oxygen is produced by rainforests found throughout the world. Seventh grade learners explore the processes of photosynthesis and respiration through 10 days of labs, manipulatives, and discussions. They...
University of Minnesota
What's the Deal? Addiction Card Game
Addiction is a big deal! Playing a game of cards helps learners understand the concept of addiction. Through their analysis, they examine the potential for addiction and how it varies for each individual.
Curated OER
U.S. History: Antebellum Heroes and Villains
Eighth graders research and write reports on key figures of the Antebellum Period. The projects also include pictures, bibliographies, and timelines about their assigned figure. In addition, 8th graders present oral reports to classmates.
Curated OER
Transpiration
Pupils explain the function of the hydrologic cycle and demonstrate how transpiration rates can be experimentally changed.
