Population Connection
Lessons From the Lorax
Is progress progressing too fast? So believes the Lorax, the eponymous character from Dr. Seuss's The Lorax. Young environmental science students read the book and debate the arguments of the Lorax and the Once-ler regarding the...
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Sun and Shadows
Why do shadows look different in the summer than in the winter? What causes day and night? How can a sundial be used to tell time? Answer these questions and more through two engaging lessons about light and shadows. Fourth and fifth...
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The Giving Tree
Students explore wants and needs. In this ecology and economics lesson, students listen to the story The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein and compile a class list of what the boy got from the tree. Students categorize these items as...
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What Does Earth Day Mean? - Biology Teaching Thesis
Middle schoolers possible sources of water pollution, and explain the effects that water pollution can have on the food on the food chain. They Name human and other animal (i.e. fish) illnesses that can be contracted from drinking...
Sea World
Endangered Species
Study different endangered species with several activities that incorporate math, science, language arts, and research strategies. A great addition to your activity on conservation or Earth Day.
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African Mask
Students make masks. In this African art lesson, students review background information about African art and the use of masks. Students use geometric shapes and other designs to create their masks.
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Flowers and a Beautiful World: Earth Day (1st)
First graders discuss Earth Day and making the world more beautiful. For this world beautification lesson, 1st graders participate in an interactive read aloud of Barbara Clooney's, Miss Rumphius. They talk about how making the world a...
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Create, Design, and Invent with Plastic
Students explore creative ways to reuse materials. In this ecology/art lesson, students create artwork using trash. Students view examples of folk art from around the world that used waste products as a main component.
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Mother's Day Craft
Learners create a flower pot for their mom on mother's day. They use pictures found in magazines to create a collage on the flower pot. They are to follow instructions to complete this lesson.
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What's Outside the Window
What do your students see when they look outside the window? This project lets their imagination go wild, and lets you see what kind of daydreaming they do best. They each draw, paint, and color an image of what they imagine as they are...
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Our Intriguing Star, the Sun!
Explore the sun in a lesson plan about space. The lesson spans ten weeks, with learners performing activities to answer weekly questions about the Sun and Earth.
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The Potential Consequences of Climate Variability and Change
Students analyze the impact of climate variability and change utilizing a broad span of topics over a wide range of grade levels. This three lesson plan unit is easily adapted for the various instructional levels listed.
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Make Your Own Trashasaurus Rex Sculpture
Students explore environmental awareness through reusing materials. For this environmental awareness lesson, students use trash to create a "trashasaurus," a large dinosaur sculpture made from waste. Detailed structure and papier-mâché...
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Earth Day...Comin Atcha!!!
Students explore the idea of consequence that every individual leaves a daily environmental footprint. They read articles about creative solutions to solid waste issues and then create an artwork from household trash.
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Hot, Hot, Hot, Cold
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...
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Natural Phenomena That Change the Earth's Surface
Students explore a natural phenomenon. In this science lesson, students research a natural phenomenon and create a script about that phenomenon. Students act out their scripts for the class.
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"Mother Earth" -- Present
Pupils examine the Native American belief of "Mother Earth". They read stories from Native American authors and reflect. They illustrate this concept through art and haikus.
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The Cat in the Hat is 50!
Have your class react to a number of statements about The Cat in the Hat, then read a news article about a special event honoring the birthday of the popular book. The teacher introduces an article with a discussion and vocabulary...
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Intermediate Guided Reading Lesson Plan
Third graders read Children of the Earth and Sky: Five Stories about Native American Children by Stephen Krensky. In this guided reading lesson, 3rd graders gain knowledge about various Native American tribes. Using a graphic organizer...
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Investigations in Aid: Identifying the Need
Students investigate the needs in emerging nations. For this emerging nations lesson, students research the conditions for needs in the given countries. Students are assigned to the country groups of Honduras, Nigeria, Bosnia, Cambodia,...
California Academy of Science
Energy: A Day in My Life
If only we could harness the energy of fifth graders, our energy problems would be over! The class discusses where different forms of energy come from and how we use them. They complete a chart of the activities that they do daily...
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The Starry Night Time and Day Time
Second graders complete a unit of lessons on the solar system. They complete various art projects inspired by Van Gogh's 'Starry Night,' create a moon phases book, create a moon phase wind chime, develop a timeline of space exploration,...
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Sunrise, Sunset: Quickly Go the Days
Students explore the concept of daylight. In this daylight instructional activity, students compare the amount of daylight on a particular day in Anchorage compared with daylight where they live. Students color maps of the US according...
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ABCs of Endangered Species
Learners create an ABC Book of Endangered Animals that includes locator maps, "fast facts," and explanations about why those animals are endangered.