Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Science Trail

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders explore the concept of ecosystems. In groups, they examine clues to find mystery objects. Once they find the mystery objects, they discuss what ecosystem each comes from. They also look at pond water samples under a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Environment

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Students participate in three stations in which they are made aware of the environment, ways to preserve it, the importance of preserving it and their part in preserving it. They discuss where items are found, recycling, and...
Interactive
Curated OER

Wind

For Students 7th - 8th
In this wind worksheet, students fill in 15 different question blanks that related to wind. First, they define wind erosion and what it picks up and why. Then, students determine the most common form of wind deposit and what type of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Producers and Consumers

For Teachers 1st - 4th
Students make lists of producers and consumers and act as consumers that eat producers in a garden. For this producers and consumers lesson plan, students demonstrate a food chain by using a piece of yarn to connect all of them together.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sand Castles: Pre-engineering 101

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students examine how soil holds together and what the effect of particle size and water content is on soil.  In this engineering lesson students complete a lab, record their observations and discuss what they learned. 
Lesson Plan
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Seeds of Wetland Life

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Learners participate in several activities on seed exploration. In this biology lesson, students classify seeds according to their dispersal method. They explain the different adaptations plant have to disperse their seeds.
Lesson Plan
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University of Wisconsin

Measuring Slope for Rain Gardens

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
The slope of the land is an important feature when considering the erosion that will occur. In this resource, which is part of a rain garden unit, learners calculate the slope of the proposed garden site. Even if you are not planning a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Landslides!

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students discover soil and Earth movement by experimenting in class.  In this Earth Science lesson, students utilize a stream table, soil, graduated cylinder and water to create a re-enactment of a landslide.  Students simulate...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Creating a Mini-Landfill

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students create a min-landfill from lunchbox waste to discover what happens when they throw away packaging and scraps. Using a clear plastic bin, they throw away their trash and layer it with scoops of soil. Students observe what types...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A SALT WATER-Y WORLD

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students observe a model of the distribution of the earth's water and compare the relative volumes and percentages of types of water on earth.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water: Naturally Cleaned

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers use stream trays covered in different types of rocks or soil to investigate infiltrates and runoff. In this water pollution lesson, students work in groups with stream trays that have different substrates. They write a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Groundwater Flow Demonstration Model

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Learners investigate the concept of groundwater that includes aquifers, groundwater flow, and the water table. They participate in activities using a flow demonstration model. Its use engages all types of learners because of its hands on...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Gravity

For Students 8th
In this gravity worksheet, 8th graders complete 4 different questions related to defining gravity. First, they identify the various types of mass movement that is described in each. Then, students explain what each of the 4 types of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Food Poisoning

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students study the prevention of the four major types of food poisoning. They write a letter of advice to an imaginary friend who has had food poisoning seven times within the last year.
Lesson Plan
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The Rock Cycle

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders study the 3 main types of rocks: igneous, sedimentary, metamorphic. They examine samples of these types of rocks and discuss ways to tell what kind of rock each is. They take notes and draw pictures in their science...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Separating Soup Mix

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Learners use screens of three sizes to separate a mixture of five solid materials. They plan and conduct simple investigations using appropriate tools, measures, and safety rules and record and report observations, explanations, and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Forensic Entomology: What the Blowfly Saw

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Young scholars read a paragraph describing various insects and decomposition rates, then fill in the table indicating when the three insects arrived or left the body. They write paragraphs explaining when the person died, and how they know.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rocks

For Teachers 1st - 5th
Students use their five senses to experience different types of rocks. In groups, they compare and contrast the information they collected. They observe rocks in their local community and describe their uses to the class.
Lesson Plan
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Sedimentary Rocks

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students discover how sedimentary rocks form. They identify different examples of sedimentary rocks. They also discover what types of rocks are in Illinois soil.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Our Earth

For Teachers 8th - 10th
In this Earth's environment worksheet, students complete a crossword puzzle given 35 clues about a variety of topics related to our Earth. Topics include ecosystems, precipitation, biomes, energy transfer, soil, weathering and rocks.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Discovering Fossils

For Teachers K - 5th
Students explore fossils. In this fossils geology lesson, students use tools to reveal embedded "fossils" (made with plaster of Paris by the teacher-instructions included), then describe and illustrate their findings.
Lesson Plan
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What is Air?

For Teachers 4th - 7th
Students investigate air by participating in a class experiment. In this matter measurement lesson, students identify air as a gas which consists of mass. Students utilize a windsock or balloon to measure oxygen and explore it's true...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

WATER HERE AND THERE

For Teachers K - 2nd
Introduce the topic of water conservation with a little drama. Dressed as snowflakes, hail stones, or rain drops class members dramatize the events in a narration of the water cycle. The series of lessons that follow focus on...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What Effects Do Trees Have On The Environment?

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Pupils examine the interrelationship between trees, soil and people focusing on urban areas. They collect and analyze data about trees in their research area.