Curated OER
Native Planting for the Built or Green Environment
Students identify the terms used in naturescaping. They identify how to plant, how to do site preparation and how to develop a plan. Students explore the benefits of naturescaping for the health of the environment. They also...
Curated OER
Landscaping for Wildlife
Students identify the essential elements needed for promoting wildlife habitat. They describe the terms used in habitat design and the shelter for wildlife. Students explore how to create a pond to support wildlife and how to create a...
Curated OER
A Tour in Sustainability
Students explore two LEED certified green buildings. They examine what is the LEED certification process and what constitutes a green building. They tour via the internet two LEED certified green buildings, while comparing and...
Curated OER
Earth Day
Students participate in activities to make them aware of Earth Day and its significance, and how they can make a difference in saving the environment.
Curated OER
What Is Sustainability?
Students discuss environmental preservation and sustainability and their role in consumption and preservation. After a brief demonstration of how limited our resources are, students determine which natural resources they use most...
Curated OER
What Makes a Building Green?
Students examine the concepts of green building used in constructing or renovating a building. They conduct an interview with someone who sells green materials, or designs or implements green building plans. They work in teams to...
PBS
Technology: Conveniences and Consequences
It's a delicate balance—using technology to improve our lives while still protecting the environment, and ourselves, from the hazards of technology use. Class members examine statistics about the increase in media use, complete a survey...
Curated OER
The Conficts of the Founders
Students discuss the often conflicting viewpoints of the framers of the Constitution. One Framer in particular, George Mason, strongly objected to the creation of the Constitution. His objections are explored and the Constitutional...
Curated OER
How Can Citizens Participate?
Students discuss the role of citizens in society and in government. Working in groups, students list ways in which individuals can participate in government as well as the advantages and disadvantage of that participation. Each group...
Curated OER
Classroom Composting
Students observe and describe the cyclic nature of life. They identify and appreciate the importance of a balanced ecosystem. Finally, students compare and contrast biodegradable and non-biodegradable resources in nature and describe the...
Curated OER
We are all Responsible
Students desribe the interdependence between humans and nature and positive behavior with regards to natural resources. They demonstrate respectful attitudes and behaviors with regards to the environment. Students gain knowledge of...
Curated OER
Away with Waste!
Students read and analyze the story Away on the Bay as a springboard to discuss water pollution. They may look into ways in which water can be cleaned and a watershed restored.
Curated OER
Reduce and Reuse
Students conduct a lunch waste audit by recording each item they throw away at lunch. They graph class lunch waste. They use this information to devise a plan of action to reduce lunch waste. There is also an activity to make paper.
Curated OER
"Arsenic and Old Waste": Groundwater Activities Using Modeling
Students develop models of groundwater and pollution flow. They research information using the Internet and develop models of groundwater flow in Stella and Excel.
Curated OER
The Web of Life
Pupils describe the importance of having a balance ecosystem. After a brief lecture, students give an explanation of the properties of an ecosystem. They create a web, using yarn which shows how the various members of the ecosystem are...
Curated OER
What Is Sustainability
Students investigate the concept of how people are dependent upon natural resources and how they can apply them to be maximized in usefulness. The students are encouraged to develop an appreciation for the environment. They conduct a...
Curated OER
We Are All Responsible
Students conduct research about the issue of conservation and the environment. They focus upon the interdependence of man and nature. They write and discuss the issue of environmental preservation. Students appreciate the importance of...
Curated OER
Environment: The Haves and the Have Nots
Students examine consumption habits in developed and developing countries and determine their effects on natural resources. In groups, they assess graphs on the Living Planet Report and observe the connection between consumption and...
Curated OER
Precision Tools
Learners discuss the appropriateness of using a specific tool to measure and define an object. After measuring the area of their classroom and the objects in it with the appropriate tools, they create a floor plan that makes the most...
Curated OER
Renewable Energy
Students examine the United States' current and future energy needs. They describe different forms of renewable energy sources and compare the impacts of renewable and non-renewable energy sources on the earth and society.
Curated OER
Switcheroo
Students construct a simple switch and determine what objects and what types of materials can be used to close a switch in a circuit and light a light bulb.
Curated OER
Adaptable Animals
Students examine the types of adaptations that animals use to survive. They research the animals and report their findings to the class.
Curated OER
Community Action
Fifth graders brainstorm a list of decisions that students make daily that affect the welfare of the environment categorizing them as being either helpful or harmful. They then trace local actions to distant consequences to determine how...
Lin and Don Donn
Lin and Don Donn: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Lesson Plans
This personal site provides lesson and unit ideas for teaching students about recycling. There are links to other pages as well as great ways to integrate this earth conscious model into the classroom.