Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rainforest Deforestation and the Water Cycle

For Teachers 1st - 5th
Students create terrariums (mini rainforests). They observe and discuss the life processes that occur in their terrariums and how changes in these processes affect the plants and organisms inside. They collect and graph data and present...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water Words

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Young scholars define words relating to water and its use in Nebraska. They listen to the story, Snail Girl Brings Water, list the water words from the story, and create a class dictionary.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Rain Maker

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders work in small groups with a cup each of several materials. Students layer the gravel, sand, and water into a resealable bag. They draw a picture of this bag in their water journal. Students place their sealed bags in a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

PLANT LIFE CYCLES

For Teachers K - 5th
Student learns about the life cycle of plants by watching a time-lapse video. This activity provides students with further evidence that all living things grow and change as they progress through their life cycle.
Lesson Plan
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Here It Goes Again!

For Teachers 1st
First graders work on patterns in nature and to recognize how different living things adapt to different environments such as the rain forest.
Lesson Plan
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Life Cycles

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders investigate the stages of animal life cycles. They examine an egg and compare it to an inanimate object, read a booklet about the life cycle and define key vocabulary terms, and observe a mealworm. Students then design a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ride the Rock Cycle

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students examine the steps of the rock cycle. They describe what happens to the rocks in each of the stages. They participate in a rock cycle game to help them with the steps.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

"Pennsylvania Watersheds, Many Ways to the Sea"

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students trace a molecule of water through the water cycle including each of its three loops. They describe why evapotranspiration demands the largest portion of total precipitation falling on a forested watershed.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water Magicians

For Teachers 1st
First graders observe water changing states from a solid to a liquid to a gas. They predict what they think happen to ice cubes as they sit out. They paint water with paintbrushes outside the classroom in the sun and watch the water...
Lesson Plan
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Chicago Botanic Garden

Greenhouse Gas Emissions — Natural and Human Causes

For Teachers 5th - 6th Standards
What impact do humans have on greenhouse gas emissions? What are the natural causes of these gasses? Thanks to the carbon cycle, carbon dioxide eats away at the earth's atmosphere with the intensified help of humans. Young scientists...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Commonalities and Differences from Africa to Cleveland as Evidence Through the Gullah Community Connection

For Teachers 10th - 11th
Students explore Afro-American history. They identify the commonality between African, Carolinian and Cleveland Black culture. Students explore the water cycle, oceanography, hydrology and bio-geochemical processes. They discuss the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Animal Life Cycles

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students participate in numerous activities to gather information about parts of the life cycle. In this life science lesson plan, the teacher choose from a number of activities to create or support an interdisciplinary unit about the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Chemistry And The Nitrogen Cycle

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Students investigate the factors that compose the nitrogen cycle. The harmful effects of acid rain and ozone depletion are also discussed in the instructional activity. Students define the nutrient that is often limiting to plant growth...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Where Did the Water Go? An Investigation in Scientific Methods

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students view a teacher demonstration that prompts them to solve a problem using the scientific method. In this scientific method lesson, students guess which cup has water and are presented with a conundrum when the water does not...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water Wonders

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Students explore hydrology concepts. In this environment and biology lesson, students identify and describe macroinvertebrates using a variety of pictures and resources. Students observe and write about a classroom aquarium in which...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Structure of the Earth System

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders describe the steps in the water cycle. They discuss factors that affect runoff and explain the differences between stalactites and stalagmites. They discover the importance of ground water.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Much Do I Know About Water?

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders explore how water behaves on a penny.  In this states of matter lesson, 6th graders observe water as they add drops to a penny. This lesson helps students apply the adhesive properties of water to the water cycle.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Putting the Pieces Together

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students, in groups, explore ecosystems, water cycle, rock cycle, and food web. They create a puzzle piece on white butcher paper based on their information.
Lesson Plan
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Climate & Atmosphere: A Global & Local Perspective

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Young scholars complete a series of activities in which they study atoms, molecules, and the presence of atmosphere. They study the water cycle and the Greenhouse Effect by investigating and completing handouts.
Lesson Plan
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The Moon Made Me Do It!

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students research about how lunar cycles affect living organisms. In this biology instructional activity, students prepare an oral presentation of their research results and analyses. They explore the forces that affect tides.
Lesson Plan
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Water, Water Everywhere (Pond Animals)

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders examine the characteristics of animals who live in a pond environment. In groups, they describe the various stages in the life of a frog and identify the characteristics of other pond animals. Using this information,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water Cycle in a Bag

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Pupils participate in a hands-on activity that demonstrates how the water cycle functions. Students look specifically at condensation and evaporation during the recycling of water.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Identifying Watersheds with Topographic Maps

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students model a watershed and delineate one using topographic maps. In this hydrology lesson, students use aluminum foil to model a landscape and observe how water moves on it. They also observe the features of a topographic map and use...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Watershed Landscape

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students demonstrate how water flows by building a human watershed using themselves. In this ecology lesson, students compare and contrast point-source and non-point source pollution. They write what they have learned from this activity...