Curated OER
Particulate Matter: How Dirty is the Air We Breathe?
Fourth graders work together to collect air samples for testing. They determine the amount of pollution in the air in their community. They discuss their results to end the lesson.
Curated OER
Coastal Development
Students examine how a coastal area changes after it has been developed. They discover the impact of development on the environment. They illustrate their own non-developed area and change it into a developed area.
Curated OER
Leaking Underground/ Storage Tanks
Students engage in a lesson plan that is about the concept of storage tanks and how they are used. The advantages and disadvantages of them is discussed with the facts given by the teacher during lecture and concurrent discussion.
Curated OER
Biomass As a Fuel
Students investigate the use of biomass as a fuel. They discuss energy and its uses in their homes. They explore the two types of energy, potential and kinetic and examples of both types. They study the process of photosynthesis and...
Curated OER
Arbor Day Across the United States
Students perform research about hardiness zones used to guide planting. They read a hardiness zone color-key map and create their own color-key maps to show when different states celebrate Arbor Day.
Curated OER
The Path of Pollution
Learners conduct a brainstorming exercise that asks them to list all the ideas about air pollution that can be recalled. The ideas are recorded on a chart that the teacher has prepared. The lesson contains sufficient background...
Curated OER
Pollution Solution
Fourth graders examine how trees help to absorb the pollution that is emitted from automobiles. They review the process of photosynthesis and determine how forest management is important on their reservation. They think about the...
Curated OER
Meeting our Basic Needs
Students brainstorm the basic needs of the community and create a chart. In this volunteerism activity, students recognize people in the community who have given charity in the community. Students read biographies of these charitable...
Curated OER
Succession and Microclimate
Learners compare the population of insects in different microclimates. In this biology lesson, students collect data using probes to tabulate temperature and soil data. They predict how certain parameters change as an area goes through...
Curated OER
Home on the Biome
Fifth graders study six major biomes, graph temperature and rainfall, and present their findings to the class.
Curated OER
OaxacaTurtles
Students identify types of turtles off the coast of Oaxaca. They become acquainted with the Mexican Turtle Center. They create a project (mural, map, panel discussion, logo/design) to communicate researched information.
Curated OER
Clean Kansas Water
Students gain an understanding of ways we can be responsible custodians of our water supply. Students explore the governor's clean water initiative involving the Lower Kansas/Republican river basin and the pollutants present there.
Curated OER
Mud Fossils
Learners create their own fossils in an activity using plaster of paris and a variety of objects which can be fossils, e.g. chicken bones, twigs, shells, etc. After making their fossils, they allow them to dry and discuss time and its...
Curated OER
The Party: Friend or Enemy of Democracy
Students recognize and appreciate the paradox between an MP being able to vote according to the wishes of their constituents and / or their conscience versus voting according to party line. The class conducts a simulated vote.
Curated OER
Biotic Factors
Learners identify individual organism, a species, and a population within the study community. They identify biotic factors at the site and attempt to characterize the site's species diversity.
Curated OER
When Electricity Came to Arkansas
Students examine the role that Harvey Couch played in developing a competitive market system in Arkansas. They discuss key vocabulary terms, conduct research and interviews, and write a brief summary of Harvey Couch's life and career in...
Curated OER
Grain Seeds and Food
Students observe the characteristics of different seed types. They classify, sort, name and write about the seeds.
Curated OER
Geography of the Silk Road And the Tokaido Road
Students examine the geographical features of the Silk Road and the Tokaido Road in this introductory lesson on Chinese geography. Small group learning is emphasized and encouraged.
Curated OER
Soil Research
Third graders work together in groups to discover the importance of soils. Using a worksheet, they answer questions as they surf the internet. They observe three different types of soils and record their observations and use the internet...
Curated OER
Replanting the Rainforest
Students practice problem solving techniques. They interpret data gathered by student researchers in Australia about the effectiveness of various strategies for controlling weed growth in a newly replanted rainforest.
Curated OER
Land Grant Colleges
Students are introduced to the concept of land grant colleges which allowed agriculture to be brought into education. As a class, they create a timeline and compare and contrast the land grant colleges of 1890 and 1892. They use maps...
Curated OER
Defining Culture
Second graders define the term culture and are exposed to a variety of cultures from around the world. They read books, play Native American games, develop a class book that examines their own culture and, after examining currencies from...
Curated OER
Worms Attack
Fourth graders observe earthworms and record their observations. They test to find how earthworms react to touch and moisture. After their study of earthworms, they do a creative writing activity in which they tell about life from the...
Curated OER
Our Schoolsyard is Full of Biology
Students study the habitats found in their schoolyard. They apply firsthand, what they have learned in the classroom to something familiar to them. Students look at biotic, abiotic habitats. Small groups will present their findings to...