Curated OER
The Way Levers Work
Fifth graders discover the rules by which the lever slants and balances. They determine that there are a great many tools that employ the lever principle even in their ordinary environments. They consider how to use objects easily...
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Hawaiian Natives Disappear
Students explore parts of the Hawaiian Islands to get a examine the exotic invasion, and see what challenges the natives face in reclaiming their territory. They identify the changes in the environment that have been the hardest on the...
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Healthy Water!?
Middle schoolers test water for its quality and record their information.In this water quality lesson, students investigate water for pH, macro invertebrates and identify its characteristics. Middle schoolers complete worksheets on their...
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Go Cough Up a Lung!
Third graders examine and identify the effects smoking has on the lungs. They view and discuss pictures of a smoker's lung and a healthy lung, and read and discuss an informational handout. Students then participate in an aerobic...
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Dinosaurs
Students participate in a simulated archeological dig to gain an understanding of the earth's development as well as the organisms on it. In this dinosaur lesson plan, students work in small groups removing five pieces from the 'dig' one...
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Fact Finding Safari
In this fact finding worksheet, learners read 10 questions, all pertaining to animals or the environment. Students write the answers to the questions, using Internet research if necessary.
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Animals and Environments
Students listen to stories and identify animals and their young. In this animals lesson, students view videos about farm animals and create illustrations to show how animal babies change over time. Students discuss...
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Environment: Fishing and Property Rights
Students participate in a role-playing "fishing game" to discover how over-harvesting can eliminate a resource. In the second round of the game, students are told they can only fish in their assigned territories.
Students explain the...
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Field Guide to Schoolyard Insects and Their Relatives
Your entire class works together to create an illustrated insect field guide. The intent is that they venture outside of the classroom, find a critter, and then research it using reference materials, insect books, and the Internet for...
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Think Green
Students experience and practice compositing and recycling through hands-on-activities. They distinguish between which items from their trash can be recycled, composted and reused. The process for making recycled paper is also covered in...
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Pond Exploration
Pupils take a hands-on approach to explore the world beneath the water in this activity. They examine the creatures they catch to study about the adaptations these animals have that allow them to survive in this harsh environment. They...
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The Woods and Pond
Young scholars participate in hands-on activities to explore their natural surroundings. They recognize that ponds and woods are ecosystems and compare differences between the two. They identify trees by their bark and leaves.
Curated OER
Hawaii's Sandy Shores
Investigate Hawaii's sandy shore ecosystem! Start by creating a vocabulary list and having your class complete a KWL chart. Next, pass out the "I think of" sheet. Each learner will then choose a word from a beach bucket and add it to...
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Is That Legal? A Case of Acid Rain
Develop an environmental case study! Elementary learners discover how a case study is used as an analysis tool. The goal of this activity is to show pupils how techniques of persuasion (including background, supporting evidence,...
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Breaking it Down
High schoolers will identify the factors that contribute to erosion and weathering. They will start by differentiating between chemical and mechanical weathering. They then apply what they learned by playing the online jeopardy game. Key...
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Make Your Own Temperature Scale
Differentiate between temperature and thermal energy. Your class will build a thermometer using simple materials and develop their own scale for measuring temperature. Discuss with your class and consider why engineers need to understand...
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How Hot Is It?
Discuss the difference between conduction, convection and radiation of thermal energy, and complete activities with your class by investigating the difference between temperature, thermal energy and the heat capacity of different materials.
Curated OER
TE Lesson: I've Got Issues!
Learners study environmental issues from different perspectives. They look at the issues from the view of both preservationists and conservationists as they identify themselves with one group or the other. They determine how teamwork...
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Reduce, Reuse and Recycle
Students explore the concept of waste management. In this environmental stewardship lesson, students study the nuances of the terms reduce, reuse, and recycle. Students investigate ways to reduce, reuse, and recycle many everyday items...
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When Ants Fly
Here is a great lesson on constructing line graphs. Learners identify common characteristics of birds, ants common needs of all living things. They also write a story from the perspective of an ant or a bird that has lost its home and...
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The Forest-Life in the Wild!
Learners write a description of each animal using their completed outline and include a graphic of the animal for the program, or a hand drawing. Each student chooses and writes about 2 Rain Forest Animals.
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Color Crazy
First graders create their own brightly colored animals. In this animal adaptations lesson, 1st graders create an animal that is brightly colored but can blend into it's environment.
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Marine Critters and Communities
Students touch, see, smell, and hear marine animals that live in a marina. In this marine animals lesson plan, students take field trip to a marine environment after studying the animals.
Teach Engineering
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is one of several garbage patches around the world where garbage accumulates naturally. As part of a GIS unit that combines oceanography, environmental science, and life science, class members investigate...