Lesson Plan
Curated OER

WWW = World Wide Wildlife

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Through video, internet research, and hands-on activities, learners conduct a study of the interdependence between animals and the habitats they live in. They conduct Internet research independently in order to complete a report on a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Hurricanes: An Environment of Concern

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students study hurricanes and research the damage done by hurricane Katrina.  In this environment investigative instructional activity students divide into groups and complete a given assignment. 
Lesson Plan
Captain Planet Foundation

Energy Flow in the Garden

For Teachers 4th
How can you tell what an owl has eaten? Study the food chain and flow of energy in an ecosystem by dissecting an owl pellet and noting the bones found inside. Additionally, the lesson includes a game about consumers and producers with a...
Lesson Plan
Science Matters

Energy and Winds

For Teachers 6th Standards
In the study of wind energy, scholars build a small windmill and observe how it transfers wind into mechanical energy. Learners will make connections to the previous instructional activity with concepts such as the...
Lesson Plan
Science Matters

Energy Transfer and Transformation

For Teachers 6th Standards
When you take a simple task and create an exceptionally difficult way to complete it, it is known as a Rube Goldberg machine. These machines are filled with many types of energy transfers and energy transformations. Here, pupils...
Lesson Plan
Science Matters

Potential and Kinetic Energy

For Teachers 6th Standards
Everything has potential energy; learning to use it is the key to understanding all types of energy. Scholars learn the difference between kinetic and potential energy. They then apply the concept to drawing examples of both types...
Lesson Plan
Science Matters

Energy from Water Wheels

For Teachers 6th Standards
Historians believe the first vertical water wheel was invented in Rome during the Augustan Age. The sixth lesson in the series of 10 has scholars experiment with designing their own water wheels. Through testing various pastas and...
Lesson Plan
Maryland Department of Natural Resources

Eyes on Dissolved Oxygen

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Learn about the factors that affect the way oxygen dissolves in salt water with a chemistry lab. After studying the molecular structure of water, young scientists figure out how aeration, temperature, and organic waste affect...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Dead Zones: Why Are the Waters Dying?

For Teachers 9th - Higher Ed
Students investigate the effects of pollution on marine ecosystems. They read and discuss an article, identify the effects of pollution on marine life, conduct research on local nutrient pollution, and conduct local water quality studies.
Lesson Plan
University of California

Energy and Biomass Pyramids

For Teachers 6th - 10th Standards
Young scientists play tag as they act out the food pyramid in the ocean ecosystem. Energy circles pass from the smaller prey to the predators and at the end of the activity, a data chart and analysis questions allow pupils to apply their...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ecosystem Lesson Plan: Food Chain/Food Web

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Learners discuss ecosystems, eliciting their current knowledge of an ecosystem. Students receive an Ecosystems document and look at the picture. Learners brainstorm connection between the cover picture and ecosystems. The indicated...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water Chemistry

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students engage in a instructional activity that is concerned with the concept of water chemistry. They conduct research using a variety of resources. Students also consider an experiment to observe how water has the abiility to exist as...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What's Making It Look So Brown Outside?

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders analyze cars and particulate matter in the atmosphere. They analyze results of particulate pollutants and identify which vehicle gives off more particulates. They identify sources of particulate matter and relate to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Make it Rain!

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students describe how water exists on earth in three states. They trace the path that rain water follows after it falls. Students describe various forms that water takes on the earth's surface and conditions under which they exist....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Soiled Again

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students propose and perform an experiment using the scientific method. The purpose of the experiment is to discern some earth materials or combinations of earth materials that best increases the pH of "acid rain". From the results of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

For Your Eyes Only

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students identify two major types of visible pollutants, smog, and particulate matter, They explain that air pollutants are generated during incomplete combustion. They measure and rank collectors from the most pollutants to the least...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Tropical Atlantic Aerosols

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students analyze NASA data from the Multi-angle Imaging Spectroradiometer. In this NASA data lesson, students access an assigned website to examine information from the MISR on the Terra Satellite. They determine how desert dust travels...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Permafrost: Permanently Frozen Ground

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students explore permafrost.  In this 3 states of matter lesson, students identify characteristics of solids and liquids.  Students observe water and soil melting and freezing at various temperatures.  Students make...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Plant Power

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders discuss the role of plants on Earth's biological system. In this life science instructional activity, 7th graders explain the process of transpiration and its importance in establishing Earth's climate patterns.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Dusty Air

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Students discover the types and amounts of particulate matter found in the air. They collect particulates using a Petri dish coated with Vaseline then classify and count the collection under a stereoscope.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Tides and How Creatures Survive

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students discover tidal pools.  In this oceanographic activity, students observe the tides of the earth and the creatures that inhabit the intertidal zones.  Students role-play the tidal zones by portraying themselves as...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Global Warming

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students examine how human produced emissions of carbon dioxide contribute to global warming. Using the internet, they research the future effects of global warming on the Earth. In groups, they discover ways to reduce daily energy...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Energy: Exploring Alternative Forms

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
In the study of science, there is always going to be research, data, theories and wonderful new discoveries. I feel that my interest about energy will help me design an adequate unit full of intrigue and discovery. The students should...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Phases of the Moon

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Pupils use a simple physical model of the Earth, sun, and moon to understand why the moon changes phases from the perspective of Earthly observers. They hold up balls representing the moon in a room with a single light source to see the...