PBS
Taking a Field Trip
Students examine the importance of taking a field trip. They make predictions and practice making environmentally sound decisions. They watch a video clip about enhancing historical experiences.
Curated OER
Natural Resources Trick-or-Treat
Learners explore that some resources are finite. They are able to deelop an understanding of commodities-some resources are worth more than others so companies choose to spend more money to find them. Students realize that some...
Curated OER
Weather, Sea Level Rise and Climate Change Course
Students explain the impact of glacial melting to global climate change. In this environmental science lesson, students design an experiment to investigate the effect of salinity change to melting glaciers. They share their results to...
Curated OER
Hot Hamsters
Using this quick activity, you can have your class review what they have learned about mammals. Learners sit in a circle, and take turns naming a mammal. This activity could be enriched by having learners go to their desks, identify a...
Rainforest Alliance
Trees and Carbon
You'll find everything but the kitchen sink here ... or just a carbon sink. In the activity, pairs or groups of middle school learners go outside and measure a tree's circumference and height to estimate its carbon storage potential and...
Curated OER
Local Environmental Issues: Pollution
Third graders discuss the ways in which human interaction with the environment and production of waste products contribute to pollution. Through a pollution demonstration, they explain how various groups of plants and animals can be...
Curated OER
Effects of chemical use in Agriculture
Students research environmental data to create a bar graph. In this agricultural ecology lesson, students research the pros and cons of chemical use in farming. Students debate on passing a law to reduce chemical use.
Curated OER
Toxicology and Living Systems
Young scholars investigate how toxic chemicals affect biological systems. They determine the toxic dose of a chemical that inhibits seed germination in a Brassica rapa. They investigate the effect of environmental tobacco smoke on human...
Curated OER
Keeping Our Surroundings Clean
Students define the word environment. In this environmental awareness lesson students, orally make a list of at least 6 ways to keep our environment clean. Students individually create posters that show how to keep the environment clean.
Curated OER
Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs
Third graders use a variety of information resources to identify local environmental issues and examine the ways that people have tried to solve these problems. They read "Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs" and create a list of three...
Curated OER
Your Blooming Pond
Students model a pond system that becomes enriched with nutrients (fertilizer). They manipulate variables, make observations over time, and draw conclusions that may lead to further inquiry. They, in groups, simulate a pond environment.
Curated OER
Fish Food for Thought
Learners examine the role of the US Environmental Protection Agency and the Federal Clean Water Act of 1970 after reading Lynne Cherry's, A River Ran Wild. They decide if the goals of the act were met and create a fish cartoon that...
Curated OER
Beam Me Up Scotty#153
Students analyze population and land use data to predict future environmental problems. They use fictitious data for this exercise while pretending that they are helping aliens who have come to them for advice.
Forest Foundation
The Sustainable Forest
As part of their examination of forest ecosystems, class members examine how foresters, biologists, botanists, geologists, and hydrologists work to together to develop a management plan for sustainable forests.
Curated OER
Write On!
Help empower your class by learning about the editorial section of the newspaper. They will have the option to also write to a politician. The goal is to teach students how to speak-up and express their opinions on important issues....
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Special Order 40
The city of Los Angeles' 1979 Special Order 40 states: "LAPD officers shall not initiate police action with the objective of discovering the alien status of a person." After reading a fact sheet that details the history of Special Order...
Curated OER
Bringing Climate Change Into the Classroom
Students investigate the greenhouse effect and examine the potential effects of climate change in the Arctic. They construct a mini-greenhouse and test its effect on temperature, analyze historical climate statistics, and conduct an...
Rural Science Education Program
Bees and Flowers – Partners in Pollination
Why are bees so important? After several activities where kids investigate the form and function of flowers, they learn about the different types of bees and label them. They then examine pollen under a microscope and decide which bees...
Curated OER
Ozone: The Earth's Security Blanket
Young scholars work in groups to define and research the terms: ozone, troposphere and stratosphere. Students watch videos, conduct Internet research, participate in discussion groups and complete worksheets.
Curated OER
Building on the Land
Ninth graders study how cities affect the environment and design an ecologically-sound city. They focus their study on the benefits and constraints of life on the Northern Great Plains.
Curated OER
Genetically Modified Food
Students work in teams to develop a presentation and handout representing a particular point of view in a genetically modified food debate. They synthesize their knowledge of food, food contamination, nutrition, and their issues, and...
Curated OER
Ethical and Critical Thinking: Genetically Modified Food
High schoolers read statements representing different points of view on Genetically Modified Food. They identify the "facts" and "opinions" in each statement, and then briefly summarize the issue of Genetically Modified Food in a short...
Curated OER
Disposable Diaper Comparison and Mystery Powder Identification
Students investigate which diaper is the most absorbent. In this chemistry instructional activity, students calculate how much water is absorbed by diapers. They identify an unknown powder based on physical and chemical properties.
Curated OER
You Can Stop!!
Students analyze smoking behavior based on peer pressure. In this health lesson, students read and complete worksheets on the internet concerning the behaviors associated with smoking. They summarize what they have learned by typing a...