Curated OER
Effects of the Sun on Our Planet (Grades 2-4)
Students observe how the sun's rays can cause evaporation and discuss its role in the weather cycle. They discover what the sun's energy brings to plants. They examine how different types of technology can enhance the amount of solar...
Curated OER
What's the Big Deal?
Learners explore and define methane hydrates and describe ways that it can impact their own lives. For this methane hydrate lesson students create a molecular model and research methane hydrate.
Curated OER
Climate Change
Students define and associate words with the topic of climate change while completing associated worksheets. They read and discuss articles about climate change including the effects of global warming and the greenhouse effect.
Curated OER
Soil In The Amazon
Students grow plants in soil representing that found in the Amazon basin. They compare results to plants growing in fertile soil and soil fertilized with leaf compost. Students chart, average and graph plant growth by height.
Students...
Wild BC
Carbon Sinks and Sources
Earth or environmental science pupils are assigned to be carbon sources or sinks. They ask yes-or-no questions to try to figure out which one they are. Then they discuss ways people can have positive effects on the changing climate by...
Curated OER
Atmospheric Chemistry
If you need a comprehensive review of the development of Earth's atmosphere through the ages, then this is for you! The presentation starts with a introduction to theories of planet formation and initial distribution of isotopes in the...
Center Science Education
Field Projects: Science in Action
Cooperative groups select from one of four scenarios regarding hurricanes, greenhouse gases, thunderstorms, or the global climate domino effect. They discuss what kind of research needs to be conducted to address their chosen scenario...
Curated OER
Biomes: The Threat of the Sea
Students create posters to raise awareness about Global Warming as an immediate threat. In this environmental lesson plan, students respond to the video Biomes: The Threat of the Sea by researching global warming and making posters...
Curated OER
Environment -- Unit on Globalization and the Environment
Students examine the effect of human activities on the environment. They discover issues that are causing problems around the world. They participate in a debate using their own research.
Curated OER
Ozone Hole Expert Groups
Research topics associated with the hole in the ozone layer over Antarctica. Researchers write five facts about their topic and one question for each of those facts. They present what they learned to the rest of the class. Six topics are...
Curated OER
Greenhouse Effect
Students identify greenhouse gases. They explain why perfluorocarbons are a bad alternative to chlorofluorcarbons. They determine both the least and most influential greenhouse gases.
Curated OER
A GROWING MARKET
Middle schoolers reasearch and grow a plant and present findings. They are told that bedding plant is the name for young plants grown. Students choose one plant to research and they use their worksheet to create an information sheet...
Curated OER
Air Pollution and Health
Young scholars use Internet research to become familiar with the environmental and health effects of the six criteria pollutants identified by the U.S. EPA, along with the greenhouse effect and carbon dioxide.
Curated OER
Barriers to Change: The Myths about Vehicle Idling
Learners have the opportunity to confront some of the most common misconceptions that surround vehicle idling, and employ the concept of social marketing to initiate change. The goal is to give students an appreciation of the impact of...
Carnegie Mellon University
Transportation
Teach your environmental studies, life science, or engineering class how an internal combustion engine works using the first few slides of the accompanying presentation. Then, focus in on the resulting carbon emissions. Finally, take a...
Chicago Botanic Garden
GEEBITT (Global Equilibrium Energy Balance Interactive TinkerToy)
Students use the GEEBITT excel model to explore how global average temperatures are affected by changes in our atmosphere in part two of this series of seven lessons. Working in groups, they discuss, analyze graphs, and enter data to...
NASA
Climate Change Inquiry Lab
With global temperatures on the rise faster than ever recorded, the effects of a heating planet could be devastating. Allow learners to discover just what the world is in store for if the warming continues through a series of videos, a...
EarthEcho International
Investigating How Electricity is Generated
What is the real cost of electricity? The real cost is not just the price you pay, but the environmental and economic costs as well. Scholars build, use, and judge the effectiveness of a turbine. They also investigate the...
American Museum of Natural History
Climate Change
It actually is possible to have too much of a good thing when it comes to climate change. A slide show lesson describes how burning fossil fuels contributes to climate change. Individuals read about the scientific process and the...
Curated OER
What Can I Do About Global Environmental Change?
Middle schoolers complete a unit to evaluate their impact on the environment and greenhouse gas emissions. They conduct Internet research, develop a list of their electrical and energy use, calculate their share of greenhouse gases, and...
Curated OER
Extreme Climate
Middle schoolers discuss global warming, greenhouse effect, permafrost and other key words. In this climate lesson students create a web that connects global warming, the Arctic and world climate then write a paragraph explaining...
Curated OER
Fun With Sun Protection
Students create sun protection devices by modeling sunglasses invented by native people of the Arctic and study about protecting the body from sun exposure. They write a small paragraph explaining and justifying why they believe a...
Curated OER
Possible Causes
Students review any materials from two previous lessons on emissions. As a class, they use a graphic organizer to review their stakeholder's hypothesis. They identify possible causes of global warming and discover how to solve this problem.
PHET
Planet Designer: Retro Planet Red
What does the atmosphere on Mars look like? This fourth lesson in the series of five is designed for high schoolers. Scholars apply previous knowledge to add atmosphere to Mars in an online simulation. This comprehensive lesson includes...