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Sampling Carbon Dioxide

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Learners perform an experiment to determine which source of gas (their breath, exhaust from a car, or the air in the classroom) has a greater concentration of carbon dioxide. Students compare the colors of BTB solutions after...
Lesson Plan
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Our Population and Its Impact on the Planet

For Teachers 11th - Higher Ed
Students explore environmental problems due to the growing worldwide human population and examine the growth rate. They also discuss possible ways to stabilize population growth and increase sustainable development.
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Penguins Nesting Know-How

For Teachers K - 6th
Young scholars maintain a field journal as they follow penguin parents raising their chicks during the breeding season. They formulate testable questions. Students reflect on animal behavior in the field related to survival and chick...
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Mountain Pine Beetles

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers research and develop power point presentations that answer the question, "What is changing our forests?" In this ecology lesson, students research the niche of Pine Beetles and their increased effect on the forests in...
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Zoo Poo

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students use Internet research to determine the amount of carbon dioxide produced per unit energy for biomass and coal. In this alternative energy instructional activity, students research to find out how much energy and carbon dioxide...
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The Water Cycle

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders explore changes in water forms. In this water cycle lesson, 4th graders build a water cycle model and monitor it for 2 weeks in order to understand that water changes state as it moves through the cycle.
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A Watered-Down Topographic Map

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders explore the ocean floor. In this topography lesson, 8th graders compare topographical maps to bathymetric charts. They will create a topographic map and note landmarks and other land features.
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In Harm's Way: Natural Disasters in My Community

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders research and debate natural disasters that have occurred in their community. They assess whether these natural disasters were avoidable or were accidents. They investigate the extent of insurance coverage for disasters.
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Classification of Matter

For Teachers 8th - 10th
Learners investigate common household items and classify them into types of matter. In this matter lesson, students group given items into categories based on their characteristics. They also complete a concept map about matter and...
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Learning About Animal Shelters for Earth Day

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Students explore habitats. in this ecology and animal habitat lesson, students listen to the book A House is a House for Me by Mary Ann Hoberman. Students discuss the basic needs of animals and go on a nature walk to observe animal...
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You Can Die Here

For Teachers 8th - 10th
Students examine Death Valley including the amount of precipitation and winds that it gets.  In this climate based lesson plan students explain the reasons for the amount of precipitation and windward patterns in Death Valley.
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Curated OER

Reduce Reuse Recycle

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Students discover methods that can save the planet by recycling.  In this sustainable planet instructional activity, students read The Berenstein Bears Don't Pollute Anymore, and practice memorizing the 3 R's.  Students...
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Fire Escape

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students explore the effects of the volcanic eruption of Nyiragongo in Congo as a springboard to exploring past examples of volcanic eruptions and their respective relief efforts.
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Climate Change

For Teachers 9th - 11th
Students focus on the production of maple syrup in Northern New England as they study the effects of climate change. They investigate other environmental factors on the forests of Northern New England.
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The Big Hideout

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students identify the types of camouflage used by animals in the desert. They work together to create their own animal creating their own type of camouflage. They determine how well the camouflage works.
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Conservation in Costa Rica

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
Students brainstorm what they do that requires land use and use a worksheet to calculate their footprint (the total area of land and water required to produce all the resources they consume). They then compare their footprints to each...
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Tectonic Plates, Earthquakes, and Volcanoes

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Challenge geography classes to locate the major volcanoes and earthquake faults on a world map. In groups, they identify the pattern made and examine the relationship between the locations of the faults and volcanoes and tectonic...
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Write Picture Captions

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students notice and investigate a large range of devices for presenting texts-captions. Students write original captions for several audiences. Students write a fictional news story based around a certain caption.
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Micronutrient Need Intervention

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students investigate the real world applications of nutrition. They study the problem of starvation and how it affects different populations. Students work in small groups in order to devise and intervention plan. They also search out...
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Everything You Do Makes a Difference

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students choose a current environmental issue and research historical conditions as well as present conditions. They assess the changes in ecosystems, populations of specific species, air quality, or any other aspect of an ecosystem.
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Building an Ecosystem

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students research a variety of local and world ecosystems. Students will create a collage to represent the biotic and abiotic factors and interactions important to their given ecosystem.Students will understand that an ecosystem is...
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The Nanofiber Chocolate Factory: An Analogy

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students investigate Nanotechnology. In this physic's lesson, students evaluate a hands-on model made from chocolate syrup and pretzels to determine the advantages of size.  Students weigh chocolate syrup to determine it's wait...
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Reading Satellite Images

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students analyze satellite images.  In this astronomy lesson, students examine 3 satellite images in order to understand how satellite images are taken and what they can teach scientists.
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Ice, Ice, Baby

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Learners explore the causes and effects of the melting ice formations in Antarctica; they then research different aspects of the topic in order to create a news special.