Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Black and White Bottle Experiment

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students investigate solar energy and color. In this solar energy instructional activity, students assess the benefits of solar energy. Students discover that solar energy is attracted to darker colors and conduct an experiment...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Build an Outdoor Compost Heap

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students study how to create a compost heap. In this composting lesson, students create a compost heap. Students write an essay describing the process.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Design a Colonial Garden

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students explore botany by completing an art design activity in class. In this gardening history instructional activity, students identify the plants and crops utilized in the Colonial era for both food and medicine. Students utilize...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Effects of Oil Spills on Environment and Marine Life

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students explore oceanography by conducting an environmental experiment in class. In this oil spill lesson, students discuss the human need for oil and what is at stake when we drill for oil in our oceans. Students read a book in class...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Growing a Native American "Three Sisters" Garden

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students explore plant life by creating their own gardens in class. In this food growing lesson, students discuss the types of gardening methods Native Americans used in order to keep healthy. Students plant corn seeds in their school...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Planning a Garden Using a Grid

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders plan for a garden. In this garden planning instructional activity, 3rd graders investigate the use of a grid to accurately map out and plan for a vegetable garden. Students predict the space requirements for different...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Solar Cells Work

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students create electricity. In this solar energy lesson, students role play how photovoltaic cells change sunlight into electricity.  Students discuss the experiment and create their own diagram of the model. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Indoor Gardening by Building a Simple Hydroponics

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners investigate the use of hydroponic gardening on the world food supply. In this hydroponic gardening lesson, students make a garden out of a soda bottle, grow a cilantro plant, and compare hydroponics with regular gardening using...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Make a Solar Oven

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students build a solar oven. In this Science instructional activity, students construct a functional solar oven. Students design the oven and explain the energy concepts involved.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Make a Solar Sill

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners design a solar still and purify water.  In this earth process and design lesson, students observe how the heat of the sun helps to purify water. Learners analyze why this could be helpful on a desert island.  Students...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Starting an Indoor Container Garden from Seed

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students create an indoor container garden. In this container garden lesson plan, students explore seed germination. Students discuss edible seeds.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Trash to Gas

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students experiment with biomass materials as alternative energy sources. In this biomass material lesson, students participate in an experiment with cow manure to determine how it can be used as an energy source. They record their data...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

So Much Water, So Little to Drink

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students explore salt and fresh water. In this water activity, students investigate the amount of Earth covered by water. Students compare the amounts of salt water to fresh water. Students create a visual representation to aid...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Drip and Drop's Adventure

For Teachers K - 1st
Young scholars determine ways of conserving water and write a Big Book about them. In this water conservation lesson, students participate in a puppet show about Drip and Drop, and ways to conserve water. They write a book that tells...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Conserving Water through Art!

For Teachers K - 4th
Young scholars study water conservation. In this water conservation lesson, students investigate the scarcity of water and determine reasons for conserving water.  Young scholars estimate how much water they use in one day and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Be "Sun-sible" about Heating Water

For Teachers K - 4th
Students create a solar water heater. In this solar energy activity, students conduct an experiment to determine which colors absorb more radiant heat. Students investigate the relationship of heat loss to insulation. Students then...
Lesson Plan
1
1
Curated OER

Snack Smart!

For Teachers Pre-K - 1st
Learners discover healthy snacks. In this healthy snacks lesson plan, students create a healthy snack. Learners sample a simple healthy snack.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Comparing Light Bulbs

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders learn how light bulbs are different and which are more cost efficient.  For this energy and efficiency lesson, 3rd graders compare the cost of a light bulb and understand that its lifetime is important to their...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Hazardous Products Substitutes

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders write a hazardous products substitutes recipe book. In this Science lesson, 3rd graders identify words and symbols that indicate hazardous substances. Students investigate safe substitutes and write a recipe book to use at...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Draft-O-Meter

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students explore where there are drafts in their homes.  In this waste reduction lesson, students experiment with a students made draft-o-meter and record drafts on a worksheet.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Hot and Cold Colors

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Learners experiment with the color and solar energy absorption. In this color and solar energy absorption lesson plan, students spend two days discussing and experimenting with the concept of energy absorption. They paint cans with...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Energy Transfer (Heat)

For Teachers 8th - 12th
The pages of this resource are in landscape view and ready-made to use as slides in a presentation on energy transfer in your high school physical science course. Begin with pertinent vocabulary and finish with an explanation of the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Be Water Wise!

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Rally your administration and facilities manager to let your class examine the water flow rates in different areas of the school. After the audit, the class researches opportunites for conserving water and writes a report or develops a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mission Possible: Energy Trade-offs

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Teams of electrical engineers work together to develop plans for increasing electricity to a fictitious, but growing community. They consider different sources of electricity, both renewable and nonrenewable, the cost of building and...