Lesson Plan
Curated OER

"Lettuce" Learn About the Water Cycle

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Young scientists investigate the water cycle through a lettuce seed experiment. For this experiment, learners plant lettuce seeds inside of a ziplock bag in order to create a small greenhouse. They observe condensation and precipitation,...
Worksheet
Curated OER

The Tallest Plants ... are Trees!

For Students 3rd - 5th
A fabulous worksheet about trees awaits your students. They read a lengthy selection on the various parts of trees, then complete 13 fill-in-the-blank and matching questions about what they have read. An excellent reading comprehension...
Worksheet
South Penquite Farms

Measuring Soil Temperatures

For Students 6th - 8th
Using an auger, start-up soil scientists bore a core of soil. They examine the sample and record the temperature at three depths in the borehole. This is an attractive activity sheet that succinctly guides your earth science class...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Tibetan Plateau

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Young scholars discuss the characteristics of the biosphere, with a focus on the Tibetan Plateau. They participate in a question and answer period discussing biomes and climate patterns. They compare and contrast different ecosystems.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Smart Growth Can Reshape Communities

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers explore the concept of smart growth development. They create a class list highlighting the benefits of smart growth and then research, discuss, and present their findings on the benefits of smart growth and how it...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Game of Life

For Teachers 6th - 8th
By playing this game, students discover what happens to a fish stock when large amounts disappear.
Lesson Plan
2
2
Chicago Botanic Garden

Personal Choices and the Planet

For Students 7th - 9th Standards
The last activity in the series of four has individuals determine steps they can take to reduce their carbon footprints and then analyze their schools' recycling programs. Through a sustainability audit, they identify how and where their...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Make a Solar Sill

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students design a solar still and purify water.  In this earth process and design lesson, students observe how the heat of the sun helps to purify water. Students analyze why this could be helpful on a desert island.  Students...
Lesson Plan
NASA

Making Oxygen and Carbon Dioxide

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Some like it hot! Scholars observe both exothermic and endothermic reactions as part of the carbon dioxide oxygen cycle. First, scientists demonstrate (or watch) a chemical reaction to create pure oxygen using fire for...
Lesson Plan
Alabama Learning Exchange

Good Litter, Bad Litter

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Which ones can be thrown on the ground? Discover the difference between natural litter and unhealthy trash, helping scholars by using several examples. Use the information here to give them a basic background, but also encourage prior...
Lesson Plan
1
1
Population Connection

Meeting Human Needs

For Teachers 9th - Higher Ed Standards
How to meet the needs of people around the globe—a question many ask. The fifth in a six-part series about human population and its effects on the globe, the eye-opening lesson includes discussion, a homework activity, and an in-class...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ecosystem Lesson Plan: Food Chain/Food Web

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students discuss ecosystems, eliciting their current knowledge of an ecosystem. Students receive an Ecosystems document and look at the picture. Students brainstorm connection between the cover picture and ecosystems. The indicated...
Activity
Wild BC

Greenhouse Gas Guzzlers

For Teachers 4th - 10th
Teams of six to eight players imagine that they are driving in a vehicle and collect balls that represent carbon dioxide emissions based on their different activities. "Greenhouse Gas Guzzler" cards tell teams how many balls to collect...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Arkansas: A Changing Climate, a Changing Land

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Here is a lesson on the climate zones and geography of Arkansas. In it, learners look at maps (embedded) of different climate zones found throughout Arkansas. They engage in discussions regarding how global warming and climate change is...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Agriculture and the Environment

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students investigate the interdependence of agriculture and the environment. They research areas of interdependence and provide examples of situations where farmers are practicing conservation in the local area. Their findings are...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Aerogel

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students identify how technology aids scientists in their research. Through discussion, they explain the various ways scientists use Aerogel to aid in their collection of high-speed particles. Through experimentation, students create...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Are Dams Forever?

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
  Students consider the life span of dams, and what would happen if a dam falls apart.  In this environmental impact instructional activity, students discuss what the purposes of dams are, how they could be...
Lesson Plan
Forest Foundation

Forest Watersheds

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Where does the water we use come from? To understand the concept of a watershed, class members study the water cycle and then engage in an activity that simulates a watershed.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What Is Sustainability

For Teachers 1st - 5th
Students investigate the concept of how people are dependent upon natural resources and how they can apply them to be maximized in usefulness. The students are encouraged to develop an appreciation for the environment. They conduct a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

You Need How Much Food When? Where?

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders explore how human activities shape the earth's surface.  In this awareness lesson, 9th graders create pictographs showing the relations of food, people, land, and resources. Students complete worksheet.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sun Friendly Homes

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students design and build a model solar energy home. In this technology lesson plan, students test the efficiency of their model houses by measuring temperature at regular intervals. They analyze data and share results with the class.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Hawaiian Hot Spots

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students describe how plate tectonics contribute to the development of volcanoes. In this earth science lesson, students examine the map of Hawaii and explore the physical and biological environment there. They write a story about an...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Seas of Grass

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers view a video clip about grasslands. They identify threats to grasslands and describe cultures which have adapted to grassland conditions. They discuss possible solutions to preserve grasslands as well.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rivers and Streams

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students research the rivers, streams and water bodies of Hawaii. They read a variety of books, play Bingo with water-related terms, create and maintain water-themed journals, view videos, conduct Internet research and participate in a...