Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Taking Count of Biodiversity

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Here is a well-designed lesson on biodiversity that should intrigue your charges. In it, pupils compare a natural desert area to a school field to see how habitat destruction affects species diversity. Groups set up transects and collect...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Toxic Free Bingo

For Students 4th - 6th
In this environmental worksheet, students learn about safer alternatives to hazardous products by playing a Bingo game. Students listen to the item which is called, then mark their boards with a safer alternative. Example: Aerosol...
Lesson Plan
National Wildlife Federation

When It Rains It Pours More Drought and More Heavy Rainfall

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Which is worse — drought or flooding? Neither is helpful to the environment, and both are increasing due to climate change. The 16th lesson plan in a series of 21 covers the average precipitation trends for two different climates within...
Handout
National Institute of Open Schooling

Environmental Concerns

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
Every year, more than 14 billion pounds of garbage is dumped into the oceans of the world, most of which is plastic and toxic to ocean life. Lesson 32 in the series of 36 focuses on environmental concerns, specifically pollution. Under...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Pollution

For Teachers 3rd
Young ecologists investigate some of the many ways that human activities adversely affect the environment. After identifying the main types of pollution (air, water, soil), 3rd graders fill in a Venn Diagram by pasting cut-out pictures...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ecology

For Teachers 8th - 10th
Students explore, experience and experiment identifying the human impact on the environment of vegetative differences within the same biome. They assess what causes deserts, rain forests, savannahs, tundras and saguaros and how these...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Surviving in Our Ecosystems

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders investigate the balance of ecosystems and how each species has different survival needs. They research on the internet using the site included. They then participate in activities/centers utilizing the facts they discovered.
PPT
ARKive

Adaptation: Design a Species

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Adapt is what an animal does to ensure it will survive in a specific environment; maybe it's more complicated than that. Your young animal experts can view this handy presentation to better understand animal adaptations and also complete...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Interactive Biogeochemical Cycle

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students gain understanding of several of the biogeochemical processes in microbial mats. They acquire knowledge of the different roles of organisms in a microbial mat ecosystem. They understand how microbial mat ecosystems contributed...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Bird Ecology Unit

For Teachers 10th
Tenth graders conduct various activities utilizing the scientific method to formulate a hypothesis, conduct a controlled experiment, collect and analyze the data and communicate their results through a poster. They also identify...
Activity
Howard Hughes Medical Institute

Zebrafish and Skin Color

For Teachers 9th - Higher Ed
You may not know if that zebrafish in your fish tank is a model citizen—but it is definitely a model organism! What can we learn about ourselves from a tiny zebrafish? Discover more about the polygenic trait of skin color through a...
Lesson Plan
WK Kellogg Biological Station

Sounds of Selection

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Do you want a creative and fun way to teach about natural selection? Hop to it by turning your middle school princes and princesses into frogs trying to catch as many bugs as possible in a Hungry Hungry Hippos style game. For high...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What's The World Made Of?

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders identify the three states of matter by examining fishbowls with various contents. They discuss their observations and the characteristics of matter in each state. Pupils read the story The Rainbow Fish and look for...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Independence and Conservation

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Students read an original story "Brothers of the Rainforest" downloaded from the internet site provided. Students investigate the impact of the demise of a particular species on the rest of the environment. Students participate in a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Web of Life

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Highlight the importance of each animal in an ecosystem by having scholars research different endangered species. Research is a lot more streamlined when learners are provided with a tool such as the graphic organizer attached here. How...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Layers of the Rainforest

For Teachers 2nd
What a great way to discuss the rainforest! Learners discuss the importance of adaptation in the environment and how it is linked to survival. They use critical thinking and inference skills to place animals and insects in the different...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Penguins Around the World

For Teachers K - 5th
Students investigate penguins. In this Science lesson, students compare and contrast penguins to flying birds. Students use a Venn diagram to illustrate the differences and similarities of penguins and flying birds.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

“THE LORAX” by Dr. Seuss

For Teachers 1st - 3rd Standards
Few children's books convey the message of conservation as well as Dr. Seuss' The Lorax. Read the story aloud, emphasizing the interconnectedness of plants and animals in an ecosystem and discussing different ways people can help...
Lesson Plan
ARKive

Invasive Species

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learn about how invasive species and introduced species impact the environment around them with a presentation and lesson plan. After viewing the presentation, learners go to the library and computer lab to look up various species and...
Lesson Plan
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Chicago Botanic Garden

Migration, Adaptation, and Changing Climates

For Teachers 7th - 9th Standards
It is easy for humans to adapt to changing environments, but how do animals and plants do it? Classes discuss how plants and animals deal with environmental changes in the second of seven lessons. Through questions and discussions,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Living in the Greenhouse

For Teachers 1st - 5th
Learners discuss the different types of climate zones found throughout the world. They participate in activities which relate to real events. They make observations and the consequences of their actions on the environment.
Lesson Plan
Monroe City Schools

Clouds! Clouds! Clouds!

For Teachers 1st
Here is a beautiful instructional activity on clouds designed for your 1st graders. Learners study three different types of clouds. They construct drawings of cumulus, cirrus, and stratus clouds. The Cloud Book, by Tommie dePaola is...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Fossils!

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students explore what fossils are, how they are formed, what different types there are and why they are significant to both our present and past geology history. They participate in a hands on fossil observation of their choice and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Hajj: Muslim Pilgrimage in a Geographic Perspective

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Young scholars read information on the Hajj. They discuss pilgrimage and ways it differs from going to a church, mosque or synagogue. Students discuss logistical problems that might be posed for the host country of a pilgrimage. Young...