Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introducing Recycling

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Learners study environmental issues of excess garbage and learn about recycling. In this recycling lesson plan, students discuss recycling and read a story about too much garbage. Learners write a persuasive essay about the importance of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Wild Dog Urine

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Learners investigate biology by researching wild animals. In this animal extinction lesson, students research African wild dogs and discuss the impact of the environment on their survival. Learners read and analyze an article titled...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

AIDS Child Activist Dies

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students read an article on AIDS child activist Nkosi Johnson, and examine the extraordinary difficulties faced by students who have AIDS. They write reflection papers on Nkosi Johnson and how his example can help people in their own lives.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water Wars

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students investigate the water wars taking place in East Africa. In this global issues instructional activity, students watch video clips and read selected articles about the water shortages in East Africa. Students estimate their own...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Heat is On

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students investigate climate change. For this current events lesson, students research the listed Web sites that include information about the effects of greenhouse gases on the Earth. Students discuss how to combat the negative effects...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Current Groundwater Contamination Research

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers research the effects of groundwater pollutants on life. They name and describe 1 environmental factor that has an effect on our drinking water. Students read the Water-Groundwater and Pollution Article. They discuss...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Daily Waste Times

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students describe qualities of a newspaper article that make it effective. They define waste and identify local waste problems and practices, and select one component of a newspaper which communicates about the issue. issues of waste...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Salton Sea - Live or Die?

For Teachers 4th - 7th
Students read and discuss the scientific article attached to the lesson. They compose a letter to the editor citing the importance of preserving an ecological environment.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Energy From Space: The Next Frontier

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students investigate ideas for getting energy from space. For this space-based power lesson, students read articles about ideas for alternatives to fossil fuels. Students define and give examples of vocabulary words. Students answer...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

"To Terraform or Not to Terraform?"

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Pupils analyze an article written by an engineer at NASA proposing colonizing Mars with human explorers on the fastest track possible. They are invited to react to the article through several activities.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Who Gives a Hoot?

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students look at owl migration and its impact on the environment and the food chain after reading an article from The New York Times. Students then apply this information to and research different food chain situations for other species...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Deadly Diseases

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Learners consider the social, political, environmental, economic, medical and other considerations for why particular countries experience outbreaks of certain infectious diseases.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Oceans and Coasts

For Teachers 9th - Higher Ed
Students explore the topic of marine pollution. They define key vocabulary words, list examples of marine pollution, complete a true/false handout, read an article, and participate in a class discussion.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mystery Spill

For Teachers 9th - 11th
Students investigate the cause of birds dying in Monterey Bay. In this scientific research lesson, students use various resources, scientific investigations, and vector analysis to solve an environmental mystery.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Conservation at a Crossroads Lesson 1: What Is Conservation and Why Does It Matter?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore the concept of conservation. In this conservation lesson, students read articles and primary documents about the Conservation Movement in the United States and compare the movement to today's environmental movements....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mangrove Loss Faster than Land-Based Forests

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore the reasons Mangrove forests are in jeopardy.  In this lesson, students read an article that discusses specific facts on Mangrove forests, then complete numerous activities that reinforce the information, such as...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sustainability Project

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students explore alternative energy sources. In this environmental lesson, students discuss alternative energy sources and construct a plan to incorporate an alternative home technology into a bedroom. Students build a model of their...
Lesson Plan
Brown University

Youth Activism and the Dakota Access Pipeline

For Teachers 7th - 12th Standards
Do young people have a role in social movements? Should they? The involvement of young people in the Dakota Access Pipeline is the focus of a resource that asks class members to examine letters written by native youths who oppose the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Issues About Rivers

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Learners explore the environmental issues of rivers. In this river lesson, students collaborate to create a concept mat pertaining to environmental issues regarding the Tangipahoa River.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sample Activity From The Water Sourcebook

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students explore septic system failures and contamination of groundwater. The complete a worksheet to explore the basic parts of a septic system. In a lab situation, students simulate a septic system failure. They explore coliform...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Words in The News ' "Crunch Time For Climate Change"

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students read about the Geneva Convention, Paris peace treaties, and Kyoto protocol. After discussing the importance of each event, students choose vocabulary words from their readings and answer questions dealing with the topic.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Global Warming: A Cause and Effect Writing Lesson

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students practice cause and effect writing skills on environmental topics.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Treacherous Trash

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students recognize the harmful effects people have on the environment. In this environmental lesson, students simulate water pollution clean-up by using tangled objects and untangling them in a cooperative group. Students identify why...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Reporting on WWII in Alaska

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students explain the people and the political, geographic, economic, cultural, social, and environmental events that have shaped the history of the state, the United States, and the world.