Pennsylvania Department of Education
Cycles, Systems, and Webs
Fourth graders review the parts of the plant and their functions. In this plant lesson, 4th graders recognize that plants must transfer energy to make food. Students understand the interdependence of organisms in an ecosystem.
Pennsylvania Department of Education
The Digestive System
Fourth graders simulate how the digestive system works. In this hands-on simulation, 4th graders complete six group activities that help students visualize how our body breaks down food into nutrients.
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Talkin' Trash
Use these lesson plans to illustrate the effects of trash on our environment and the ways in which we dispose of it.
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Rainsticks
Students create a rainstick decorated with repeated patterns of shape and color, out of paper towel tubes.
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Got the Whole World in My Hands
Students review factors that threaten survival of different species. this lesson is part of a multi-segmented unit on animal survival.
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A Review of Lessons and Options
Pupils participate in a number of activities that reinforce the knowledge they have learned from previous units over waste management.
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Needs and Wants
Students examine the difference between needs and wants. In this consumption lesson, students illustrate their needs and wants and discuss their own reasons for buying things. They also discuss the connection between their choices and...
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Summer Safety Activity: Time to Tidy Up
Students find that cleaning up can be easy. In this early childhood instructional activity, students practice fine motor skills while making their classroom more safe. Students create large storage boxes.
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Hometown Ecology
Middle schoolers examine how ecology is at work in their own community. As a class, they identify what they already know about the world around them and discuss how they personally affect the environment. Using magazines, newspapers...
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Earth Day, Every Day
First graders celebrate Earth Day. In this Earth Day lesson, 1st graders listen to a book Where Does the Garbage Go? by Paul Showers, and list facts about the garbage we throw away. Students use the Think-Pair-Share method.
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Toxic Waste
Students examine the problem of excess garbage in New York City and around the world. They answer questions about their personal garbage output, conduct Internet research on a scientific survey conducted in the South Pacific, and write a...
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Safe Subs
Students investigate ways to reduce use of hazardous materials. For this safe substitutes lesson, students review hazardous wastes used in many homes and possible safe substitutes for these harmful chemicals. Students write and...
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Cleaning Up
Learners demonstrate how to be a philanthropist. In this philanthropy instructional activity, students read the story The Wartville Wizard and discuss ways to become a philanthropist. Learners participate in a good deed by volunteering...
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Dell House Dig
Students experience an archaeological dig exploring off the shore of Black Hawk Island and Wisconsin River. They study in the same place where the infamous Dell House once stood. Dell House and its historical significance is reviewed...
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What a Waste
Students analyze components of garbage. They collect and sort a few days' worth of garbage. They chart the results of an investigation.
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Pollution
Third graders investigate pollution. They discuss pollution and its effects. They create a Venn diagram of pollution and people polluting. They create a landfill and predict what will occur over a week's time. They create two air...
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Regroup Tens as Hundreds
In this regrouping tens as hundreds practice learning exercise, students sharpen their problem solving skills as they solve 6 story problems.
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Learning to Give
Students learn what it means to give generously. In this giving lesson, students give examples of when they have given of themselves. Students complete a service project where they create a gift for preschoolers with whom they can share.
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Edible Landfill
Students investigate landfills. In this edible landfill lesson, students replicate the structure sanitary landfills as they use the listed foods to build a model.
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Decomposers- Nurse Logs
Learners investigate temperate forest ecosystems. In this environmental instructional activity, students discover different forms of decomposition and its effect on the environment.
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Lesson 12 - Landfills, Leaks and Spills
Students define spill, leaks and landfills and identify the environmental problems caused by them. They complete worksheets and a quiz.
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Sea Pollution
Students explore facts about sea pollution. They discover how litter affects marine life. They investigate ways to reduce pollution. They complete a quiz to test their knowledge of sea pollution.
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Viruses, Bacteria, Protists, and Fungi
In this viruses, bacteria, protists, and fungi worksheet, students will review the basic characteristics of each of these groups. Students will complete 7 fill in the blank questions about viruses, 6 true or false questions about...
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Using Land
In this using land worksheet, students determine if effects on the environment are due to natural or man-made causes. This worksheet has 10 fill in the blank and 4 short answer questions.