Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Water Cycle

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students are introduced to the components and importance of the water cycle. They are shown how groundwater moves using a model. Students list 9 places on earth where water is found. They define the terms cycle and water cycle.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Wide Open Spaces

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students examine the problem of groundwater pollution. In groups, they develop a solution to solve the problem of a local polluted water source. They also practice measuring the space between sediment particles and the rate of water flow.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Down By the River

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Pupils examine how watersheds work and determine the difference between point and nonpoint source pollution. They research management practices to reduce pollution and investigate how everyone can participate in reducing water pollution.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Earth Water Distribution and Water Consumption

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students explore the need for conserving fresh water and understand that it is a limited supply.  In this water consumption instructional activity students participate in an activity and answer questions. 
Lesson Plan
NOAA

Build Your Own Ocean Ecosystem

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Hold the sea in the palm of your hand! Amateur oceanographers work together to create models of an ocean ecosystem in the sixth and final installment in a series. Raise awareness of global ocean health issues through guided research,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Using Environmental Models to Determine the Effect of Acid Rain on an Ecosystem

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Demonstrate to your middle school science learners how chalk breaks down in a weak acid. Discuss what affects acidic rain might have on ecosystems. Lab groups then choose one of two questions: "How does acid precipitation affect an...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

FRED the FISH

For Teachers 1st - 12th
Students engage in the study of the human impact on environmental systems (specifically rivers). This instructional activity enhances Students' exploration of a variety of themes or topics.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Air Pollution and Health

For Teachers 6th - 8th
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.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Stream Ecology In Wisconsin and Puerto Rico

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students identify the different types of water and explain in what proportions they exist on Earth. They identify and correctly label the parts of the water cycle and how these parts interact with each other. Students identify the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduction to Restoration Lesson

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore how pollution and invasive plants disrupt the ecosystem.  In this restoration lesson students list materials that pollute wetlands, how people can keep them clean and ways in which invasive plants establish. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Particulate Matter

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders examine the different types of pollutants. In this environmental science lesson, 7th graders observe particulate matter under a microscope. They explain how these can affect once health when breathed in large quantities...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

LitterFlotsam and Jetsam: A Little Litter Goes a Long Way

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students explore the concept of environmental stewardship. In this science lesson plan, students investigate data from the International Coastal Cleanup, identify sources of marine debris, and discover the impacts of this debris on...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Survivor!

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers play a game in physical education class to examine how a deer survives. Using nature as a guide, they discover how it is constantly changing due to weather, food, water, pollution and predators. They discuss the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Five Finger Exercise

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students understnad the importance of keeping our rivers and streams pollution free by remembering the major rivers of northeast Kansas. The see how the rivers contain particles of every substance that drains into them.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water Quality Monitoring

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Pupils comprehend the four parameters of water quality. They perform tests for salinity, dissolved oxygen, pH and clarity or turbidity. Students comprehend why scientists and environmental managers monitor water uality and aquatic...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Politics of Water

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students investigate the Governor's Kansas Water Initiative. Students study rivers, cities and reservoirs and how their location effects the importance of their water quality issues.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Is Dilution the Solution to Pollution?

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore the different types of pollution. they conduct experiments using dye mixed with tap water to measure the levels of dilution. They discuss at what point the dye (pollution) would be diluted enough to be safe to drink.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Surprise of the Blue Water

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students become aware of factors that effect drinking water quality and how this could effect the health of their school environment. Students compose a business letter reporting their school water quality results to an appropriate...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Who Lives Here?

For Teachers K - 12th
Students identify various aquatic wildlife species. In this biology lesson students collect clues about animals that live in wetland habitats. Students rotate through several stations displaying particular animal species to collect their...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rock River Watershed

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students discover what a watershed is and which one they live in. Using the internet, they research why watersheds are important to an ecosystem and how to keep them from getting polluted. They use a map to locate various items within a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Urban Heat Island Effect - Lesson 2 (Grades 8-9)

For Teachers 8th - 9th
Learners use the scientific process to show that when various surfaces are exposed to similar environmental conditions, surface temperatures may vary. They examine the "urban heat island" phenomenon and analyze why it increases energy...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Watershed Model

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
Learners view a presentation of water and land and how we need to protect our water resources. In this water lesson plan, students discuss how we rely on water, and complete activities in all subjects related to water.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Eek, It leaks!

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers construct model landfill liners out of two-inch strips of garbage bags within resource constraints. The challenge is to construct a bag that will hold one cup of water without leaking. This represents similar challenges...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Our Water Resources

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students build a model aquifer to study groundwater zones and water table formation. Students use the models to measure the movement of polluted groundwater.