Lesson Plan
Foundation for Water & Energy Education

Perpetual Flow Activity

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Set up a demonstration of how gravity can drive the perpetual flow of water during your hydro power unit. Science learners work in teams to make observations and formulate questions about how it works. They compare the model to what they...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Nearsightedness

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Examine the processes scientists go through to develop their conclusions. Using the internet, research the problem of nearsightedness and identify anyone they know with the condition. Discover the debate in the science world on this...
Lesson Plan
National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Biomass: Biogas Generator

For Teachers 6th - 8th
It's a gas. Middle schoolers build a biogas generator following the directions in this resource. After a few days of observation, they demonstrate that the gas given off by the decomposing manure is flammable. The activity concludes as...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Galapagos - Discover the Diversity

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Pretend you are exploring a newly discovered species of fish in the Galapagos. Your budding marine biologists access FishBase Database's list of marine/brackish fishes and choose one to research. The link through this website does not...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Hurricanes

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students research the formation and life-span of hurricanes and, after analyzing statistics, try their hand at plotting and predicting the course a hurricane.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Natural Figures

For Teachers 1st
First graders look for geometrical shapes in nature to help them appreciate the diversity of the natural environment.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Natural Habitat: What, How and Why

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Students understand what a habitat is. They determine why a habitat is important to our environment no matter where it is located. Students observe and recognize natural habitats in their surroundings.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Fractal Geometry of Nature

For Teachers 8th - 10th
Students identify patterns found in nature. In this algebra lesson plan, students model situation in nature using fractals. They investigate biological geometric structures and draw conclusion based on geometric concepts.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Observing Brine Shrimp

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students observe brine shrimp eggs, create an appropriate environment for their survival, and observe their growth.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Nature of Haiku Poetry

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Students brainstorm elements of nature art prints and photos. They identify the syllable count of Haiku and take a nature walk. They write Haiku poems while practicing the use of simile, alliteration, metaphor, and analogy to describe...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Science and Math Lab (Students Look at Symmetry in Nature)

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students study patterns. In this symmetry in nature lesson, students examine objects to determine what type of symmetry they have. They work in small groups to rotate through stations that have objects for them to study.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Natural Indicators: How Do They Work?

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Pupils describe characteristics and common uses of acids and bases. They describe the role of natural indicators in the chemistry of acids and bases after testing and making observations on a variety of plant extracts. Students observe...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Exceptional Nature of Cellulose

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students observe the affects of a substance's composition and structure have on its solubility.  In this cellulose lesson students compare the amount of energy required to dissolve mono-saccharides with that required to dissolve...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Nature Squares

For Students 3rd - 8th
In this nature observation worksheet, students set up a grid on a small plot of land and record all biotic and abiotic items in the grid. They complete 5 short answer questions based on their observations.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Life Science Observations: Living vs. Non Living Things

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Students investigate the difference between living and non-living things.  In this life science lesson, students discover the different characteristics of living things and the natural or human created non-living things....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Haiku: Observation and Writing in the Japanese Garden

For Teachers 4th - 7th
Students observe a Botanical Gardens. Upon returning to the classroom, students write their own Haiku based on their observations.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ecology and the Conservation of Natural Resources

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Pupils examine the habits of various organism and evaluate the need for conserving natural resources. They role-play as migrating birds traveling between habitats encountering hazards along the way. They observe animals in a terrarium...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Nature's Magic Elixir

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students do research to discover the importance of water in the world and its effect upon our daily lives. They will also appreciate the beauty of water and how it is so adaptable within nature.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Chemical Nature of Water

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders simulate a Jeopardy game to examine the chemical nature of water. Among the topics featured are evaporation, water, salt, and temperature. finally, as review, 7th graders answer a battery of questions presented by the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Vibrational Nature of Sound

For Teachers 1st - 12th
Students explore the vibrational nature of sound. In this science lesson plan, students gain an understanding of sound frequency, pitch, and conduction using the string telephone, tuning fork and musical glasses experiments.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Observing Connections: Art, Poetry, and the Environment

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students write poems. In this language arts lesson, students view the works of Edward Hicks. Students write a poem and illustration based on the style of Edward Hicks.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Relationship Between Nature And Man's Place

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students engage in a lesson that is concerned with the findings of the environment that is around them. They make observations and think reflectively about nature. Students make cognitive connections from the world around them and write...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Nature's Air Conditioner

For Teachers 4th - 7th
Students observe the process of transpiration in leaves. They measure how much water a leaf gives off in a 24-hour period, calculate the volume, and answer discussion questions.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Natural Selection

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers observe, measure and record variations that may be due to genetic inheritance. They look at the length of seeds for germinating pinto and lima beans and measure the distance between eyes in humans. They graph and discuss...