US Department of Energy
Geothermal Energy
With Earth Day quickly approaching, as well as many science fairs, why not challenge your class to investigate geothermal energy or other renewable energy resources? There are five driving questions explored in depth here, as well as...
Vosonos
Interactive Minds: Solar System
Travel through space as you learn about the galaxy, solar system, planets, and much more. An extensive resource for studying astronomy in upper-elementary and middle school classrooms.
Curated OER
Celebrating Earth Day
Young scholars explore environmental safety by planting seeds outside their classroom. In this Earth Day lesson, students identify the different ways to recycle and conserve resources on Earth while facilitating recycling bins around...
Curated OER
Earth Day - Hooray
Students listen to the story, Earth Day - Hooray!, and discuss the story as it is being read. In this Earth Day instructional activity, students discuss incentives and penalties in regards to taking care of the Earth. This lesson plan...
Curated OER
Earth Day
Students practice addition and estimation. They use tens models to solve the problems related to grocery bags and Earth Day. Afterwards, they complete an activity sheet and draw a large grocery bag decorated with Earth Day messages.
Curated OER
Google Earth Landforms
In this lesson, Google Earth Landforms, students research a landform that has been studied in class. Students explore Google Earth and record everything they find about their landform. Students have the opportunity to extend their...
Curated OER
Magazine Project
Groups of students create magazines that contain stories and images of one aspect of the ocean, and ocean life. The expectations for the final products are quite high, so this lesson will require some effort to properly implement. A...
K5 Learning
The Astronomy Project
A passage about an astronomy lesson may leave readers starstruck. Fifth graders read about a class's exploration into the makeup of the galaxy and its constellations before answering six questions about the terms and vocabulary words...
Curated OER
Ode to the Earth: Magnetic Poetry
Students explore Earth Day by creating an arts and crafts project. In this nature appreciation lesson plan, students utilize nature related vocabulary terms on magnets and put them in different orders to create interesting poetry....
Curated OER
The ABCs of Conservation
Students explore the components of convservation, letters, and the sounds of the alphabet. The letters of the alphabet and the corresponding sounds and words that begin with that letter are identified as ways of protecting the Earth are...
Curated OER
Learning About Animal Shelters for Earth Day
Young scholars explore habitats. in this ecology and animal habitat lesson, students listen to the book A House is a House for Me by Mary Ann Hoberman. Young scholars discuss the basic needs of animals and go on a nature walk to observe...
Curated OER
ESL: Earth Day
In this Earth Day instructional activity, students read a passage about the day, then complete short answer questions and match lists of items to their descriptions.
Curated OER
The Personal Concept Map
There are lots of details that make you who you are! Illustrate what those details are with a personal concept map project. After learners view a step-by-step presentation, the follow a rubric to complete a concept map about themselves.
Berkshire Museum
Meet a Naturalist: Researching, Writing, Interviewing
Young scholars reach out into the community and learn about different environmental science careers in this inquiry-based instructional activity. Beginning with a short research assignment, children gain background knowledge about...
PJ Library
Joseph Had a Little Overcoat
Teach children that just because something is old, doesn't mean you have to throw it away with a reading of Joseph Had a Little Overcoat by Simms Taback. Engaging children with an arts and crafts activity in which they patch the holes in...
Curated OER
Stopping Deforestation in the Amazon: A Publicity Campaign
Students investigate the environment by designing a group project. In this ecology lesson, students identify the man made threats to the Amazon while reading environmentally conscience vocabulary terms. Students collaborate in groups...
Curated OER
The Earth's Atmosphere and Temperature
Students describe and compare the layers of the atmosphere. They explain how to measure the temperature of the atmosphere and discover what causes the atmosphere to heat up in some places more than in others.
Curated OER
A Digital Family Tree Trip Through Time
Learners research their family history by creating a family tree and using online tools. For this family tree lesson, students use bubbl.us to research their biographical information and web the data. Learners create timelines for their...
Curated OER
Science and the Envrionment
Students utilize a digital camera to record interesting objects in their environment. In this ecology lesson, students participate in a mini-field trip around their campus as they take 2-3 pictures of the school environment. Students...
Curated OER
The ABCs of Conservation
Students identify the letters of the alphabet and corresponding sounds and words that begin with that letter.
Curated OER
Seasoning the School Year
Students observe the changes a class tree goes through as the seasons change and record observations in journals. They investigate changes in the weather, changes in the length of the day, and how that affects people. They create...
Curated OER
Let's Make a Plan
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...
Channel Islands Film
Island Rotation: Lesson Plan 4
Foster's Rule? Allopatric speciation? After watching West of the West's documentary Island Rotation, class members use Venn diagrams to compare endemic species on the Channel Islands with mainland related species. They then create a...
Curated OER
Hoot: Concept/Vocabulary Analysis
Augment your unit on Carl Hiaasen's Hoot with a series of activities about the environment, civil disobedience, making an impact in the world, and growing up. A list of literary concepts and themes helps you to write your lessons to...