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Particulate Matter: The Lorax
Students collect air samples to test it for air pollution. They are read the story The Lorax and discuss the effects of air pollution. They share their observations with the class.
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Oily Oceans
Students are read a book about oceans. They participate in an experiment discovering the effects of oil on water. They discuss different types of pollution and how they can be prevented.
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Acid Rain: The Disappearing Statue
Second graders examine the effects of acid rain on statues and buildings. They participate in an experiment in which they use different chemicals on building materials. They observe and record their observations.
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Fireplace Logs from Newspapers
Students discuss the topic of recycling. They identify items that can and cannot be recycled. They practice using their newspaper to make other items.
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Ready, Set, Go Recycling!
Students practice separating trash into the correct recycling container. They discover the concept of recycle, reuse or reduce. They work together as a class to change their recycling habits.
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Hopscotch Migration
Students examine the use of wetlands by migrating birds. They discuss reasons for the disappearance of wetlands. They discover how humans have affected wetlands as well.
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Biodegradability Capsule
Students identify products that can and cannot biodegrade. They create their own biodegradable capsule and discuss what happens to trash in a landfill. They analyze the results and discuss as a class.
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In Search of Reused and Recycled
Students identify recycled and recyclable products by reading labels. They discuss what happens to solid waste in landfills and its impact on the environment. They discuss ways in which they can conserve natural resources.
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Household Hazardous Waste Identification
Fourth graders discuss the concept of reduce, reuse and recycle. They identify products in their homes that are hazardous and discover alternatives to them. They examine the inventory of other classmates hazardous materials.
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The Landfill Loafers Meet the Wise Buys
Fourth graders identify recyclable materials in an experiment. They discover how to properly dispose of these items. They discover how to use materials again that cannot be recycled.
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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.
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Making a Mini-Landfill
Students create a mini-version of a landfill. They examine the materials they use everyday and determine if they decompose or not. They identify the materials as renewable or nonrenewable as well.
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Wetlands/Watershed Model
Students work together to create a watershed model. They discover the flow of surface water on different topography. They examine how materials originate from miles away and end up in a different wetland.
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Ozone Pollution: Smog Alert
Students simulate the development of smog. They discover how it forms naturally in nature. They read news articles about the ozone and pollution. They discuss what they can do to lower the pollution they generate.
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Underground Pollution
Fourth graders construct their own aquifer. They discover how water travels underwater and identifies sources of underground pollution. They record their observations and discuss the results.
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Acid Rain: An Air Pollutant
Fifth graders participate in an experiment in which they examine the effects of acid rain on buildings. They discover how huge a problem acid rain is not only to structures but to the environment. They gather pictures of acid rain to...
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Testing Growth of Algae
Students participate in an experiment in which they test the growing rate of algae. They test the algae in different elements recording their observations. They share their results with the class and discuss.
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Acid Rain Keeps Falling on My Head
Students examine the pH level of rain water in their local community. They locate each location on a map. They analyze the data and draw conclusions.
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Math and Science in a Wetland
Learners describe safe practice when doing field and lab investigations in a estuary or wetland. They create a model of an estuary and describe their value and function. They participate in field study in which they collect and analyze...
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Paper Capers
Students demonstrate how much paper is thrown away in their classroom in one week. They estimate the weight of paper used, weigh the paper at the end of five days, and discuss how students can use less paper.
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Organic Matter in Soils
Students examine soil samples for the presence of organic matter. They determine which soil sample from their area contains the highest amount of organic matter.
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Desert Xeriscaping
Learners recognize native species of desert vegetation while examining the need for water conservation. They design and create a xeriscape landscape using a variety of materials.
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Don't Cry Over Spilled Oil
Students study the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill while evaluating oil spill clean up activities. They discover the long term impact can have on an ecosystem by completing this experiment.
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Turning the Tide on Trash: Marine Debris Curriculum
Seven pages of fascinating reading on marine debris preface the activities in this lesson plan. Four different activities are employed to simulate how the debris is distributed in the ocean and along beaches. Early ecology learners...