Curated OER
Positively Paper
Students study concepts related to paper recycling. In this recycling lesson plan, they investigate the chemical processes used to recycle paper, and look at the environmental problems associated with using and recycling different types...
Curated OER
Squirrel Islands
In this adaptations worksheet, students read about 3 species that have changed over time to adapt to their environment. Students design a squirrel that has adapted to an island habitat that students are assigned. They describe the...
Curated OER
How Many Is Too Many?
Students explore the population explosion. They view a video depicting the exponential growth of human population. Students research the internet to project future population data. They perform hands-on, multimedia activities to study...
Curated OER
Dirty Decomposers
Students explore the ecosystem by conducting a ziploc bag experiment. In this recycling lesson, students identify decomposer organisms in our environment and how they speed up the recycling process. Students utilize a ziploc plastic bag,...
Curated OER
It's Clean, Fresh and only Three Billion Years Old - Water!
Students engage in a lesson plan which explores the wate cycle. They get to see some very entertaining video, do fun hands-on activities and gain a better understanding of evaporation, condensation, precipitation and collection.
Curated OER
Into the Bat Cave
Students explore the lives of bats. In this bat lesson plan, students participate in up 6 activities that focus on bats and build their background knowledge about the nocturnal mammals.
Curated OER
Identifying Watersheds with Topographic Maps
Students model a watershed and delineate one using topographic maps. In this hydrology lesson, students use aluminum foil to model a landscape and observe how water moves on it. They also observe the features of a topographic map and use...
Curated OER
Temperate Forest : Pacific Spirit Field Trip
Students examine nurse logs with hand lenses and identify animals. In this ecosystem lesson, students gain understanding of the rainforest by studying nurse logs. Students become familiar with vocabulary through their study...
Curated OER
Making Your Own Sampling Tools
Students examine cause-and-effect relationship between human attitudes and behavior in the environment. They also assist citizens in increasing their sensitivity and stewardship for the environment.
Curated OER
Models of Succession
Students create a model city in order to understand the effects human habitats have on the environment. In this environment lesson, students examine the effects human habitats have on the environment. Students create a model...
Curated OER
How Does Preserving Wilderness Enhance Forestry
Students identify events of the environmental movement in the United States. For this environment lesson students study Theodore Roosevelt and John Muir, who had a great impact on the environmental movement.
Curated OER
Hooray for Birds!
Students explore the theme of birds through both indoor and outdoor activities. In this bird studies instructional activity, students go bird watching and compare the types of birds seen. They also study bird calls, bird environments,...
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Hand Washing Experiment
An engaging experiment allows scholars to understand why the recommendation is to wash for 20 seconds with soap and water — while making them aware of their own habits!
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Microbe Multiplication Magic
A lesson introduces the reproduction rate of E. coli though a video. Then scholars complete a data table and graph of reproduction rates in ideal conditions as well as less than ideal conditions.
Michigan State University
Gases Matter
Young scientists learn that seeing isn't necessarily believing when it comes to the states of matter. After performing a fun class demonstration that models the difference between solids, liquids, and gases, children complete a series of...
Curated OER
What Happened Here?
Young scholars examine environmental concerns that are important in their home, school, and community. In this environment lesson, students use information from the previous lesson to respond to a mess in the classroom. They choose an...
Curated OER
Ocean Planet: Pollution Solution
Young scholars explore the concept of environmental stewardship. In this science lesson, students investigate the impact of oil spills as they discuss historical spills. Young scholars use problem solving skills to brainstorm clean-up...
Curated OER
The Science of Forensics
Students examine the importance of details in evidence gathering, as well as the relationship between chemistry, physics and biology. In this forensics lesson students divide into groups and look at fingerprints and fill out an...
Curated OER
Butterfly Life Cycle
Students investigate the life cycle of a butterfly. In this life cycle instructional activity, students read the book Monarch Butterfly by Gail Gibbons and discuss the four stages of the life cycle. Students illustrate the life cycle on...
Curated OER
Sound for Sight
Learners study echolocation and understand how dolphins use it to locate prey, escape predators, and navigate their environment. They view a video, "In the Wild-Dolphins with Robin Williams" and see first hand how dolphins communicate. ...
Curated OER
TE Activity: Environmental Interactions
Students design a web that shows the interactions between the living and non-living parts of the environment. They determine what an environment is and how engineers work together to solve problems. They complete a tally chart that they...
Curated OER
Spaced Out
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...
Curated OER
This Land Is Your Land, This Land Is My Land
Students review and evaluate the ways land is covered and used in their local community. They consider the environmental effects of the different types of land use. Students act as community planning engineers to determine where to place...
Curated OER
Terrariums: A Look at the Living and Nonliving World
Third graders examine life in a terrarium and relate it to life in a larger environment. For this terrarium lesson, 3rd graders examine how living and non-living things work together by examining the changes in a terrarium. They make...