Using the sun's light as a source of energy is not a new concept. Give your environmental studies, engineering, or physical science class this list of how humans have used solar energy throughout history. Assign groups a certain time...

Students explore the scientific method.  Students identify the steps in the scientific method and explain what each step means.  Students use these steps to determine if boys or girls are taller in their classroom.

Students develop a recycling plan. In this environmental lesson, students develop a recycling plan for their school. Students write an outline of the plan to present to their class.

Students investigate pollution reduction policies in place at their school. In this pollution reduction lesson, students interview people in their school to determine what pollution policies are in place. They create a plan to increase...

Students explore the causes of water pollution. In this environmental lesson, students conduct experiments with natural filtration systems.

Students discover beliefs and practices of the Mayans.  In this Mayan gods lesson, students discuss "The World Tree" of the Mayans, the three layers of the tree, and their meanings.  Students discover the manner and purpose of...

Students describe the properties of volcanoes, and explain why volcanoes are important to the environment.

Pupils research and locate their own weather data using a weather website. They examine how to locate valid information on the www.weather.com website, and explore the website. Next, they select a city they want to visit, and compare...

Students study watersheds and examine how they are composed.  In this watershed system lesson students explain how water enters a watershed and the concept of stream order. 

Second graders study Native American Kalapuya culture. In this American History instructional activity, 2nd graders discover the early inhabitants of their community. They take a field trip to Dorris Ranch.

First graders read the book "Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do you see?" by Bill Martin, Jr. and work cooperatively to create an online book about their geographic region. Books can be posted on the internet with other books from around...

Students find differences in handprints in a cooperative effort to make a rainbow.  In a rainbow painting activity, students use their hands to create the different levels of the rainbow. Students may choose their colors.

Students research real-time and historic temperature data of U.S. and world locations, and analyze the data using mean, median, and mode averages. They graph the data and draw conclusions by analyzing the data. A spreadsheet is used to...

Students identify the essential elements needed for promoting wildlife habitat. They describe the terms used in habitat design and the shelter for wildlife. Students explore how to create a pond to support wildlife and how to create a...

Students analyze energy usage and connect energy usage to fossil fuel consumption. In this global warming and pollution lesson, students what fuels are used to generate electricity and how much CO2 each fuel produces, then graph the...

Sixth graders observe different microorganisms under the microscope. In this biology lesson, 6th graders draw and describe the samples they see. They study the root nodules of plants and explain how the plants benefit from those bacteria.

Young scholars differentiate between renewable and non-renewable resources and identify the different forms of energy and list the advantages or disadvantages of different forms of energy. They also determine the benefits as well as the...

Students identify sources of hazardous wastes and their effects on the ecosystem. For this hazardous waste lesson plan, students are given a hazardous waste card and walk around to locate other links in their hazardous waste events...

Students role play as newscasters to highlight the lives of estuary animals. In this estuary animal lesson, students watch local new shows to examine how interviews take place. They research the lives of animals that live in estuaries...

Youngsters consider the amount of packaging used in manufacturing food and follow its travels through to the landfill. They brainstorm ways in which to reduce packaging and take a survey at home to evaluate ways they could reduce trash.

More of a mini-unit than a lesson, these activities lead inquisitors through a survey of oil deposits. In the first part, they read about and view diagrams of sedimentary rock layers that trap oil. Next, they test porosity and...

Looking for a terrific lesson on the phases of the moon that has lots of good worksheets? With two excellent websites are embedded in the plan, the activity is sure to spark some interest in your astronomy unit. Some common...

Learners dance the image of falling snow. They move, swing, fall, and rise to music working to depict snow falling, the sun, and high/low movements. This is a well-thought out lesson that aids them in seeing movement as a form of...

Scientists need to figure out how to measure interplanetary magnetic fields, but the magnetic field of the spacecraft is interfering with their readings. Scholars attempt to solve the problem that has perplexed NASA scientists for years.