Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Cooler In The Shadows

For Teachers K - 1st
Students investigate the concepts of shadows and how they are projected with objects different positions in relation to the sun. They conduct an experiment by observing objects in different positions. Then students record the observations.
Lesson Plan
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LAND USE DEBATE / TOWN MEETING

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders research, analyze, and orally defend an issue related to the use of geologic resources. They defend their position in written form by composing a letter to an appropriate source.
Lesson Plan
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What's Up With the Water Cycle?

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students explore the water cycle.  Students identify the stages in a water cycle and create a PowerPoint presentation based on their knowledge.
Lesson Plan
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Meteorology

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students research and produce an oral history that reflects the importance of meterologists in the lives of people in their community.
Lesson Plan
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The Global Precipitation Measurement Mission (GPM) Lesson

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Introduce your class to one of the ways that technology is benefiting humanity. The Global Precipitation Measurement Mission involves the data collected by nine satellites from different countries with a united focus on studying world...
Lesson Plan
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Apple Energy

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders evaluate the energy associated with the production of five different forms of apple products. They develop a poster to advertise one of the five apple products to the class. Students provide additional examples of consumer...
Lesson Plan
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Lunar Myths

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders explore the phases of the moon. For this moon lesson, 4th graders research myths regarding the moon and create a PowerPoint presentation to share their findings.
Lesson Plan
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Bugs, Bugs, Everywhere!

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Young scholars collect and compare bugs using magnifying lenses and graph data based on their comparisons. In this bugs lesson plan, students also make an aspirator by using a jar, tubing, and screen.
Lesson Plan
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Stopping Deforestation in the Amazon: A Publicity Campaign

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students investigate the environment by designing a group project.  In this ecology instructional activity, students identify the man made threats to the Amazon while reading environmentally conscience vocabulary terms. ...
Lesson Plan
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Kindergarten-Respect Unit (Lesson Seven) Respect The Environment

For Teachers K
Students review the concept of respect and that they should respect, not only themselves, but those around them. They comment on some example pictures in which the environment is NOT being respected and decide what should have been done...
Lesson Plan
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Where the Buffalo Roam

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders explore what life in the Chicago area was like hundreds of years ago. They discuss how settlers impacted the environment, and why there are no longer herds of buffalo in the Chicago area today. They read an article and...
Lesson Plan
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Paper Plate Sunflowers

For Teachers Pre-K - 2nd
A great way to recall the parts of a flower is to make one. Little learners create sunflowers out of paint and paper plates. They also discuss and label the various parts of their flowers. 
Lesson Plan
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Aquatic Exotics

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students identify and describe the aquatic exotic species found in Illinois. Using the internet, they research the species origins and discover their effects on native species in the area. They discuss how appropriate it is to introduce...
Lesson Plan
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Making & Breaking : The Rock Cycle

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students examine the rock cycle and how rocks can change over time.  In this geotechnical engineering lesson students draw a diagram of the rock cycle.
Lesson Plan
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Rock River Watershed

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students discover what a watershed is and which one they live in. Using the internet, they research why watersheds are important to an ecosystem and how to keep them from getting polluted. They use a map to locate various items within a...
Lesson Plan
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Photosynthesis

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students are introduced to the process of photosynthesis. In groups, they test the effects of the lack of sunlight on plant leaves and compare the results with their hypothesis. They note the characteristics that plants and animals share...
Lesson Plan
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Ozone Hole Expert Groups

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Research topics associated with the hole in the ozone layer over Antarctica. Researchers write five facts about their topic and one question for each of those facts. They present what they learned to the rest of the class. Six topics are...
Lesson Plan
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Watercolor Rainbows

For Teachers Pre-K - 1st
Who doesn't love a rainbow? Little ones adore them, so why not make rainbows the subject of your next art project. Your class can use watercolor to paint rainbows. As they do, have them identify the colors in the rainbow, talk about how...
Lesson Plan
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Geology Rocks

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students discuss information relating to Illinois geology. They examine top mineral resources in Illinois to find detailed information about geodes and where they can be found. Students complete geode lab to explore external structure of...
Lesson Plan
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Introduction to Bacteria

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Beginning biologists survey several websites to learn about the types, structure, motility, feeding habits, and reproductive methods of bacteria. All websites are linked to the lesson plan, so you can have individuals access it and click...
PPT
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Chemistry

For Teachers 5th - 9th
As the title implies, this PowerPoint defines and illustrates the basic terms involved with describing matter. Phases of matter, atomic structure, and the different categories of compounds are included. Slides are simple and uncluttered....
Worksheet
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Break the Code: Astronomy

For Students 4th - 8th
Here is a quick puzzle-style worksheet for your aspiring astronomers. A code is printed at the top of the page and learners use it to fill in the blanks describing different phenomena or objects in outer space. The material does not even...
Lesson Plan
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Destination Mars!

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders view Mysteries of Earth & Mars Video on DVD and record thoughts in their online journal. They record data in a spreadsheet about each planet then form a theory of the best time to launch a space craft from Earth to land...
Lesson Plan
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Our Home in the Milky Way

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students gain appreciation of the vastness of our galaxy by viewing an applet about the Milky Way. Students hypothesize about how long it would take to get from Earth to Pluto.