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Prairie People
Eighth graders interview a person who explains the lifestyles of people who lived on the prairies in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. They examine how today's lifestyles impact the environment and write up what they learned.
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Horticulture Crops in the agro-ecosystem
Ninth graders apply ecological analysis to fruit and vegetable production systems. In this horticulture instructional activity students learn about different management practices.
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Blue Mud Shrimp Mystery
Students explore invasive species on an environment. In this exploratory lesson students hypothesize why shrimp are on the decline and make a brochure or poster showing their results.
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The Schoolyard Safari
Students engage in a activity to find out more information about insects. They collect and observe different insects found on school property. They research the insects once they have been classified. Also a video is used to create a...
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Identifying Wetlands
Students describe three major categories of indicators that are used to delineate wetlands. In this wetlands lesson students visit a wetland and make observations then complete an activity using the soil.
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Storage, Use, Pollution,& Clean Up of Water
Students synthesize water resource educational posters into class presentations based on the poster's theme. Working in groups, they make presentations on wastewater, water uses, watersheds, groundwater, wetlands,water quality, and...
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Freshwater/Saltwater "Eggs-Periment"
Students explore water properties by conducting a class experiment. In this buoyancy lesson plan, students utilize freshwater, saltwater, plastic cups, hard boiled eggs and food coloring to experiment with the floating capabilities of...
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Great Lakes Ecology
Eighth graders identify the Great Lakes, and describe the habitat of life of a loon. They are able to point to and explain one of the major river systems that enters the Great Lakes with a focus on the Clinton River and the food webs...
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Down, Dung and Dirty
Students observe the changes seen in succession and the biodiversity of a community through its species richness and evenness. They create a dung culture in a clear plastic cup from horse, goat or cow dung then observe the numbers of...
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Wild About Wildfires
Students conduct a debate. For this wildfire and controlled burning lesson, students watch the video "Legacy of Fire" and discuss the topic of wildland fires and controlled burns. Half of the class researches the arguments for these...
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Forest Management
Students analyze physical and biological changes in the Sequoia forest ecosystem, especially logging and fire management practices. They evaluate the controversy of how logging and fire management should be conducted in the Giant Sequoia...
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Our Keystone FFA Spring
Students identify where their water sources and explore a watershed on a map. For this watershed lesson students walk a wetland, and identify sources of pollution.
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The Water Cycle
Students develop a better understanding of the need to conserve our renewable resources. In this water cycle lesson students take notes, complete a guide sheet and illustrate the water cycle.
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Renewable Resources: Ancient Civilizations
Students examine how ancient people used natural resources. In this renewable resource lesson, students will be put into 5 groups each focusing on a different past civilization. Each group will identify they types of resources their...
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Is that Tree Safe?
Young scholars examine the parts of the tree and examine the health of trees in the vicinity. In this tree safety lesson plan students work in groups to complete a stated goal.
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Forest Stewardship
Students go on a nature walk. In this forest stewardship lesson plan, students brainstorm a list of things found in the forest, go on a nature walk and discuss forest stewardship.
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Create a Community Tree Tour
Students study tree identification. In this tree identification lesson plan, students design and assemble a tree tour booklet describing 5 trees found in their community. The booklet should feature common and Latin names of the species,...
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It's All in the Rings
Students examine how the environment influences tree growth. In this tree lesson, students analyze the growth of rings to see how plants adjust to adverse conditions in order to survive.
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Who Cares About the Forest?
Students explore the natural environment and people's views, in particular the Native Americans. In this environment lesson students discover the many uses of wood as it pertains to our natural resources.
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How Do They Know That
Learners explore methods for reconstructing the past. In this forest succession instructional activity, students examine forest succession and how to read the land in order to predict patterns of change. Learners will visit a historical...
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What's a Tree Worth?
Learners calculate the board footage of a tree. For this forestry lesson, students use a Biltmore tree scale stick to calculate the number of board feet that would be produced. They quantify the economic value of a tree from this...
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Water Quality Survey
Students identify the differences in the water quality of a stream and complete water testing. In this water quality lesson students collect aquatic insects and identify them.
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Falling Hydrogen Ions
Tenth graders define pH and use it to interpret amounts of hydrogen ions in a solution. In this hydrogen lesson students read about acid rain, divide into groups and present their information to the class.
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Must We Shoot Bambi?
Students explore the deer population. In this environmental lesson, students participate in a hands-on activity to better understand the concept of controlling the deer population.