Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The "Nuts and Bolts" of Taxonomy and Classification

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students develop classification scheme that meets the established rules of the Linnaean system. They write one page essay on classification choices.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Spinning the Eco Web

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
Students examine the components and relationships of ecoregions and ecosystem management. They define ecoregion and ecosystem, list ecoregions, and participate in a simulation that demonstrates the connections between parts of the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Graphical Determination of Density

For Teachers 10th - 11th
Students determine the density of metal shot by a graphical method using significant digits in making measurements and calculations. Students graph a seris of laboratory measurements and determine density from a mass verses volume graph.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Fuel Cells

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students examine how fuel cells and combustion engines work. Using the internet, they research the positives and negatives of the various energy sources. In groups, they complete an experiment with a working fuel cell model and take a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Solar Cars

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students research the causes and effects of air pollution. Using the internet, they examine the specific effects of carbon dioxide on the environment and discover the benefits of using solar power. In groups, they build a model of a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Acid Rain

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students identify the causes and effects of acid rain. Using the internet, they research pollution sources in their local area and by collecting rain samples and testing the pH. In groups, they develop their own plan urging local...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students examine the relationship between temperature and brightness.  In this astronomy lesson students will correlate the evolution of stars to the HR diagram plotted. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Effect of Moisture on Soil Temperature

For Teachers K - 12th
Students analyze the relationship between soil moisture and its effect on soil temperature.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

It Won't Budge: Balloon

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders use the scientific method to discover why a balloon is not inflated.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Atoms, Kinetic Theory, Solids and Fluids

For Teachers 10th - 11th
Students identify and describe the building blocks that make up an atom. They also compare the ages of atoms to the ages of the materials they compose,as well as, give examples that illustrate the small size of atoms.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Compost Tag

For Teachers K - 5th
Students identify biodegradable items. In this environmental lesson, students participate in a game of tag. A student's name is called out along with a biodegradable item and the student is tossed a ball.
Worksheet
Curated OER

A Short History of Natural Gas

For Students 3rd
In this energy source worksheet, 3rd graders read a short passage about the history of natural gas. Students must then answer several multiple choice questions about the passage.
Lesson Plan
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Channel Islands Film

Human Impact on the Food Web of Santa Cruz Island

For Teachers 9th - 12th
What happens when a non-native species is introduced onto an island? Santa Cruz Island, part of the Channel Island chain located off the coast of southern California, provides the perfect laboratory for young environmental scientists to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Telling Our Own Stories

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Explore online profiles and social media with your middle and high school classes. Use blogs to inspire your class to craft a well-written, thoughtful response to a prompt you give.  A few example prompts are given. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Global Warming Statistics

For Teachers 7th - 12th
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...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

My Own Private Idaho; Using Social Studies to Explore Idaho

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Young scholars engage in several activities to explore Idaho and Social Studies themes. Using an variety of media, students become familiar with Idaho's geography and geology.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Environment, Technology, and Culture of the Chumash People

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Young scholars develop an understanding of the interrelatedness of technology, culture, and environment as illustrated by the Chumash culture. They research the tribe and complete a table for the Chumash people describing their...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Weather Watchers

For Teachers 4th - 9th
Students identify basic weather instruments and how they are used to record weather data. Students define several vocabulary terms as stated in lesson. Students use basic instruments to record weather data in their area. Students use the...
Lesson Plan
Discovery Education

It's Getting Hot in Here

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Class members engage in a STEM experiment and investigate how materials affect heating in a house by creating models of houses and using different top surface materials. They record the temperature inside the models and consider what the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Countdown to Disaster

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Students discover the potential dangers of weather in their hometown.  In this environmental lesson, students research Hurricane Hugo and the devastation it caused South Carolina in 1989.  Students record weather data from...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Wild, Wild Weather: Severe Storms

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders research dangerous weather and how they can stay safe. In this environment lesson, 2nd graders view video clips and research the Internet to identify the different types of severe weather storms. Students complete a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Environment As Art

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Students create an idea for environmental artwork for installation somewhere on school property.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Soil Scrolls

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders examine soil samples and explore the what happens in each layer of the subsoil. They work in cooperative groups to create a scroll that shows what takes place in each layer, and discuss why much of the activity is in the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Vectors: How Much Force Can You Apply

For Teachers 9th - 12th
This lesson entails the viewing of two videos to get an overview of force and its application. The lesson covers how vectors use force in real-world situations.