This instructional activity is a compilation of interdisciplinary, technology-infused activities that focus on the often complicated and sometimes controversial issues related to toxic chemicals in children's environment. Special...

Students explore how to take good field notes through a scavenger hunt.

Fourth graders use their listening skills to make observations of their environment. They study various insects within a natural setting. They, along with their identification of the insect, create a sketch of the insect.

Learners observe small animal activity. They identify local water animals and describe the habitats where water animals can be found. Students collect samples to observe in the classroom.

Students investigate the environment of a stream or lake to collect and observe macroinvertebrates in their natural environment. They record data and summarize the information obtained. Students look to see if there has been any human...

Students create a book about plants they observe after identifying and researching them.

Students investigate the concept of a macroinvertebrate. They observe the presence of increases or decreases in population in order to test for factors that contribute to the extinction of a species. Students predict the likelihood of...

Young scholars go on an outing and note garbage near picnic tables. They brainstorm ways to be involved with anti-litter campaigns and write letters to local officials.

Students describe the things that citizens can do to reduce ground level ozone and particulate matter. They design a flyer, poster or webpage to teach others about diesel bus retrofitting projects.

Students work together to create a scale model of the distances between the planets. They write a paragraph to describe Saturn and their make-believe trip to the planet. They identify other characteristics of Saturn as well.

First graders explore the job done by ornithologists. They role play identifying the characteristics that make a bird a bird. They discuss what makes each bird species unique. Students are introduced to Wisconsin's most common and rare...

Students identify the four ways to stop the spread of weeds in California. In groups, they practice the five methods of removing and controling the spread of the weeds. To end the lesson plan, they summarize the Bradley sisters way of...

Students participate in this program that heightens their awareness and curiosity of nature as well as their sense of adventure and exploring new surroundings. They identify and choose an object from nature after exploring it with other...

Young scholars discover the many uses of water and the sources of the water we see. They complete a worksheet about the water usage at school and at home.

Students observe and discuss cloud cover. They identify percent of cloud cover, calculate cloud cover by fraction and convert to a percent, and compare their models with the current real sky cloud cover.

Ninth graders investigate relationship between the temperature and concentration of dissolved oxygen in water. They examine how pollution and other natural influences can cause the parameters to change. In groups, 9th graders collect...

Students investigate eight different species of sea turtles while being involved in classroom lecture and video presentation. The characteristics used to identify sea turtles is taught to help students identify unknown species.

Seventh graders use a pond to explore macroinvertebrates and other organisms. They use a dichotomous key to classify the organisms and maintain a journal recording their findings.

Learners use the life cycle of an ant to learn about their own self-esteem. In this self-esteem lesson, students read books about ants and discuss obstacles from the stories as well as the ant behavior.

Fourth graders take a nature walk on a nice sunny spring day. They discuss different things in nature. They write down observations in their notebook.

Students examine the process of scientific inquiry. They develop twenty questions, categorize the questions, develop a research proposal, analyze data, draw conclusions, and explain how their research connects to the state standards.

Students discuss what predators and prey are. Students participate in a playground game aimed at simulating predators and prey.

Students examine the role of Purple Loosestrife in Illinois and Indiana rivers. In groups, they collect a wide variety of plants in a wetland and raise beetles in a controlled environment. They introduce the loosestrife into the...