Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Paper Bag Turkeys

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students create paper bag versions of turkeys using old newspapers, paint, brown paper bags, and pre-cut turkey "heads" in this Art instructional activity for the pre-Kindergarten to 2nd grade classroom. The instructional activity can...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Turkey Centerpieces

For Teachers K - 6th
Students create "turkey centerpieces" in this easy elementary art lesson using apples, toothpicks, construction paper, and gumdrops. The lesson includes a materials list and a step-by-step list of instructions to create the turkey...
Lesson Plan
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Light Bulb Decorations

For Teachers 4th - 12th
Students create light bulb decorations for the holiday season in this Art lesson for 4th through 12th grades. Emphasis is placed on creativity and artistic expression. Also a great activity for older students raising money for...
Lesson Plan
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Paper Bag Pilgrim Dolls

For Teachers K - 3rd
Stuents create paper bag versions of "pilgrim dolls" in this excellent Art lesson for the time just before Thanksgiving break. The plan uses staples or glue to attach dolls and includes a picture diagram and two "cut-out" templates to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Tread Lightly: Visualizing Footprints

For Teachers 6th - 12th
The student reflects on concepts of ecological footprints and climate changes. In this Art lesson, students will produce a visual representation showing understanding of how ecology and climate affects the world.
Lesson Plan
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Out and About: Sculpture

For Teachers 4th - 12th
Students take a closer look at sculpture. In this visual arts lesson, students may visit the Yorkshire Sculpture Park, the New Art Center Sculpture Park, the Fruitmarket Gallery, or Tate Britain online or in-person to discover details...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Urban Ecosystems 5: In Defense Of Cities

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers explain that while cities have unattractive features, the density of human life enables energy efficiency, mass transit, recycling, and other benefits which are difficult or impossible in rural areas. This is the fifth...
Lesson Plan
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Build an Indoor Compost Bin

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students write an essay to describe the contents of a compost bin.  In this composting lesson, students create a compost bin. Students examine soil for its contents and explains in an essay the impact of the soil on the environment.
Lesson Plan
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Save the Earth, it's Everyone's Home!

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students examine trash for items to recycle and reuse.  In this trash lesson, students explore how people in the community can use recycled and reused items as they play a recycling game.
Lesson Plan
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Soda Straw Weaving

For Teachers 1st - 5th
Students investigate the loom and weaving process. In this weaving lesson, students use soda straws to make a bracelet or a bookmark. Students use the over-under pattern of weaving.
Lesson Plan
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Goldfish Bowl

For Teachers 1st - 5th
Students discover proper pet care by creating a home for a fish.  In this pet responsibility lesson, students create a goldfish bowl by cutting a plastic jug in half and decorating it with markers and stickers.  Students are...
Lesson Plan
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How Long Does Trash Last

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students work in cooperative groups to estimate how long trash lasts in a landfill. They study environmental consequences of not recycling and use graph-making software to create a graph that illustrates the lifespan of trash items...
Lesson Plan
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The Landfill Loafers Meet the Wise Buys

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders demonstrate an understanding of recyclable materials, what proper disposal of these items is and which waste materials can be recycled. Students engage in a simulation/role play that increases their understanding of...
Lesson Plan
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Edward Burtynsky's Ship Breaking

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders view Edward Burtynsky's artwork that represents ship breaking. They view images of recycling, the water cycle, rusted metal, and ships to determine factors that threaten the existence of a particular habitat of an...
Lesson Plan
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Making Something from Nothing

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students explore how to make something out of nothing. In this recycling lesson, students discuss the importance of recycling and what effects their choices could have on future generations. Students create something new out of used...
Activity
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Cardboard Frames

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students create works of art. In this visual arts lesson, students use recycled cardboard to make picture frames. A game, a song, a craft, and a recipe are all included with the lesson to complement the theme.
Lesson Plan
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Sorting

For Teachers K - 2nd
A lesson plan on classification and sorting is here for you. Elementary schoolers participate in an interactive computer game in which they sort books by theme. They take a trip to the library to observe and discuss how books are sorted,...
Lesson Plan
University of Colorado

Terra Bagga

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
One way to identify possible volcanic activity on other planets is by testing the planet for magnetism. A science lesson begins with pupils constructing their own planet from a dead battery, magnets, paper, and tape before labeling...
Activity
Newspaper Association of America

Cereal Bowl Science and Other Investigations with the Newspaper

For Teachers K - 12th Standards
What do cereal, fog, and space shuttles have to do with newspapers? A collection of science investigations encourage critical thinking using connections to the various parts of the newspaper. Activities range from building origami seed...
Lesson Plan
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I Give You My Heart

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders create hearts using stencils, pastels, construction paper, and tracing and cutting techniques in this Art lesson plan for the 2nd grade classroom. Emphasis is placed on the concept of repeating patterns. An ideal lesson...
Lesson Plan
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When is a Block, not a Block?

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students use a stamped shape image to create a piece of imaginative art. In this stamped art lesson, students use a stamped shape as a starting point to create their own imaginative piece of art that incorporates the stamped shape.
Lesson Plan
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Pick It Up!

For Teachers K - 5th
Students investigate recycling by creating receptacles that can hold trash or recyclable items.  In this graphic design lesson, students encourage their classmates to help save the environment by using a recycling receptacle they...
Lesson Plan
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Aluminum Can Drive

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders complete a recycling project to clean-up their school. In this service project lesson, 2nd graders assess their campus for litter, set up a recycling project, clean up their campus, and recycle the trash. Students also...
Lesson Plan
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Fashion Forward, Fashion Functional

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students consider the implications of waste. In this waste streams instructional activity, students learn what waste streams are and identify their impact on the environment. Students also recycle waste materials to create functional...