Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduction to the Elements of the Water Cycle

For Teachers 4th
The basic elements of the water cycle and how water is recycled through our environment is focused on in this lesson. Your students construct classroom terrariums and learn to make and record observations relating to the water cycle....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

"Lettuce" Learn About the Water Cycle

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Young scientists investigate the water cycle through a lettuce seed experiment. For this experiment, learners plant lettuce seeds inside of a ziplock bag in order to create a small greenhouse. They observe condensation and precipitation,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

An Environmental Puzzle: The Carbon Cycle

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle school science stars examine fuels and energy with a variety of activities. They begin with a KWL chart, read an informative passage, and then complete a puzzle. The puzzle itself is included. Cleverly, each piece corresponds to a...
Lesson Plan
Rainforest Alliance

The Carbon Cycle

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Scholars learn about the carbon cycle, play a carbon cycle game, and then write a story based on their role as a carbon atom during the game. After the writings, pupils analyze the carbon cycle by leading a class discussion on the material.
Lesson Plan
National Wildlife Federation

The Amazing Adventures of Carbon: How Carbon Cycles through the Earth

For Students 5th - 8th Standards
Here's a stat for your pupils: 18 percent of the human body is carbon! Part 10 in the series of 12 takes pairs on an adventure through the carbon cycle. After a class reading about carbon, pairs read and choose their own adventure...
Interactive
US Geological Survey

The Water Cycle for Schools: Beginner Ages

For Students K - 3rd
Explore a day in the life of a water droplet. An interactive infographic helps scholars learn how water cycles work from precipitation all the way around to condensation. Learners hover over each step of the cycle to read more as they...
Lesson Plan
Teach Engineering

Life Cycles

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Breathe some life into product design. Pupils learn about the stages of product creation, use, and disposal—sometimes called a cradle-to-grave assessment. They see how this cycle relates to the life cycle of organisms.
Printables
US Geological Survey

Water Cycle Poster

For Students 2nd - 5th
How many parts make up the water cycle? How many things on Earth rely on water as a system? Learn more about the water cycle in an informative and colorful poster. Print and hang, or project the graphic in the classroom for optimal use.
Printables
National Weather Service

The Water Cycle

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Looking for a full-color, labeled water cycle diagram? You found one! From evaporation to precipitation to plant uptake and everything in between, it's all here and beautifully illustrated. 
eBook
Utah Education Network (UEN)

Utah Open Textbook: 4th Grade Science

For Students 4th Standards
How does weather affect Earth? Learners understand the characteristics of water and make predictions about weather patterns. They recognize how water and weather affect rocks and minerals through erosion. They also learn about fossils...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Butterfly 1: Observing the Life Cycle of a Butterfly

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students observe and identify the characteristics of the life cycle of a butterfly.
Activity
NASA

Freshwater Availability Classroom Activity

For Teachers 2nd - 6th Standards
This science assignment produced by NASA teaches inquiring minds the distribution of Earth's water. Learners will appreciate and understand the importance of fresh water and how weather and climate affects everything.
Worksheet
K12 Reader

Why Does the Moon Orbit Earth?

For Students 2nd - 3rd Standards
Have you ever looked up at the moon and wondered why it looks different every night? Learn about the moon's orbit and the lunar cycle with a reading comprehension exercise. Using context clues, kids find the definitions of unfamiliar...
Lesson Plan
National Wildlife Federation

It's A Bird...It's A Plane...It's...CARBON!

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
An interesting lesson takes pupils on a trip through the carbon cycle. A reading passage allows scholars to take notes and make choices about what happens to the carbon on its journey. This third lesson in a series of 21 discusses...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Understanding the Water Cycle

For Teachers K - 2nd
Investigate the water cycle and how water moves from the land to the air and back to the land. Create a terrarium and observe the water cycle at work. Define weather terms including evaporation, condensation, and precipitation.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Earth's Water

For Teachers 4th - 8th
If the majority of our planet is covered with water, why do we need to bother conserving it? With a thorough and varied investigation into the location and types of water on the earth, learners will gain an understanding of why this...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Earth: Our Big Blue Marble

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students investigate Earth and its resources. In this Earth, space, and nature lesson plan, students collaborate to design presentations on the Earth, its cycles, and how humans have impacted the planet. Images, diagrams, and background...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Life Cycle of the Plant - The Pumpkin

For Teachers 1st
First graders access prior knowledge about pumpkins and read the story Pumpkin, Pumpkin. They will sequence the life cycle of the pumpkin through the use of picture cards and then sing a song about the life cycle of the pumpkin and plant...
Lesson Plan
NOAA

The Cycle of Water

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd Standards
Young water cycle enthusiasts discover the water they have been using has been cycling around the earth for billions of years. Through presentations, learners will understand that water has three states and how these forms...
Activity
1
1
US Environmental Protection Agency

Water Purification by Evaporation and Condensation

For Teachers 4th - 7th
This easy-to-perform demonstration shows students how the water cycle, specifically the processes of condensation and evaporation, purifies Earth's water supply. Just mix up some water, dirt, and gravel in a glass bowl, place a cup in...
Unit Plan
3
3
Curated OER

Unit 1: Water is Life: The Heart and Science Behind this Phrase

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Water, water, everywhere — but will there be enough to drink? Check out these detailed lesson plans to meet NGSS water cycle and CCSS literacy standards in your science classroom. Learners do a close reading of a challenging, poetic text...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Where's the Water? Stream Side Science

For Teachers 6th - 9th
After a whole-class discussion of water reservoirs, ten liters of water are given to each lab group to represent Earth's total amount of water. They divide the water into smaller containers, each representing one of those reservoirs. The...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water Cycle Reading and Writing

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Here is a great way to get pupils to express a scientific concept in a fun way. After hearing the story of Walter the Water drop and learning facts about the water cycle, the class will write a creative expository piece describing what...
Unit Plan
Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Life In A Nest: Exploring Life Cycles With Bird Cams

For Students 6th - 12th
Why read about it when you can watch it happen? Bird cams make it possible for learners to experience the life cycle of a bird in real time! An engaging set of lessons provides activities to connect their learning to bird cam...