Lesson Plan
NASA

The Cycle of Matter

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
An educational lesson focuses on the idea of conservation of matter through a demonstration of the water cycle, a discussion of digesting food, and the path of carbon and oxygen atoms as they change form. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Global Warming – More or Less

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders identify the factors that contribute to global warming. In this earth science activity, 8th graders evaluate the impact of global warming on the planet. They discuss their views within the group.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What Are You Doing Here?

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Students draw scenes of different environments and create unexpected visitors in those environments. They reinforce their understanding of the characteristics of different environments and the animals that do or do not live in these...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Earthquake Unit

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders watch the "Earth, the Environment & Beyond" video on earthquakes. Take notes and give an oral summary. They build a working, two dimensional model of a strike-slip, thrust, or normal fault.
Worksheet
Curated OER

Jupiter - King of the Planets

For Students 5th - 6th
In this Jupiter activity, students read a passage about the environment and atmosphere of Jupiter. Students then answer several multiple choice questions about the passage.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Keep Spreading the News

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Young scholars examine the significance of communication in an engineer's life. They develop a list of ways engineers communicate with others, and write a book, newspaper, or story about engineers' role in the environment.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ordering Geologic Events Using Cross-Sections

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners analyze cross-sections of geologic events. In this geology lesson, students identify the type of environment where the cross-section come from. They take a quiz at the end of the lesson.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Understanding Lava Layers

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders trace the lava flow of an erupting volcano. In this earth science lesson, 7th graders experiment using baking soda and vinegar. They record and share their observations.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rock Cycle

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explain the processes involved in the rock cycle. In this earth science lesson, students identify the different kinds of rocks. They complete a worksheet during the activity.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Life is Weird!

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students describe major features of cold seep communities, and list at least five organisms typical of these communities. They infer probable trophic relationships among organisms typical of cold-seep communities and the surrounding...
Worksheet
Curated OER

NYSDEC Environmental Education

For Students 2nd
In this Earth environment worksheet, 2nd graders answer 4 questions about their favorite animal. Students must also draw a picture of that animal inside a shelter in the box provided.
Lesson Plan
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Spaced Out

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students are introduced to the space environment. This lesson covers the major differences between the environment on Earth and that of outer space and the engineering challenges that arise because of these discrepancies. In order to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Land of Plenty, Land of Want

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students view a video about the state of the environment. They discover the topic of sustainable agriculture. They identify problems and how to solve them.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Environmental Health Hazards and Children

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students are introduced to the environmental hazards their community is facing. In groups, they develop a list of the ways humans have changed the Earth and how these changes have lead to environmental hazards. They record their...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Explosive Geography

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Students consider how volcanic eruptions can affect an environment and how a volcano works. The explosions of Mt. Saint Helen's, Mt. Redoubt, and Mt. Kilauea are researched and presented to the class in groups.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Dig Into Ireland

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore environments and wildlife of Ireland to find out how they were formed, and how they helped form Irish culture. Students research online to determine connections between present elements in Irish culture and wildlife and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rocks, Minerals, and Erosion

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students identify and describe rocks that contain records of the earth's history and explain how they were formed. They formulate questions about and identify needs and problems related to objects and events in the environment, and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

You Say You Want an Evolution?

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students estimate the number of living organisms they might find in their local environment. After researching the types of organisms that existed during various geologic time periods, students describe how life forms have changed over...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

It's Really Heating Up in Here!

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students create and observe a greenhouse effect model and discuss the implications of global warming theory for engineers, themselves and the Earth. They discover that Global warming is becoming an increasing concern as we learn more...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Understanding Space Travel

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers study the unique environment of the moon and Mars. In this space science lesson, students design a city located in the outer space. They create a computer aided design, models or drawings of their cities and share them...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Natural Forces

For Teachers 7th - 10th
Students assess the damage natural forces have caused Maryland's geographic features. In this state geography and ecology lesson, students work in a group to research ways in which weathering, erosion, and deposition have affected the...
Lesson Plan
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Lord of the Rings - A Study of Tree Rings

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students examine trees and discuss how the environment effected the tree. They also predict what the area look like in fifty years.
Lesson Plan
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On the Brink

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students view a film about environmental issues. They discover how environmental degradation can lead to disease. They identify the relationship between population growth and the environment.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Protecting Holy Cows

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students study the interrelationships of organisms and their environments. They study ecological communities and determine what is necessary for survival. Students discuss and answer questions concerning a group's biome, habitat, food...