Curated OER
Fashion-A-Fish
Students explore body parts of fish and observe the adaptations they have to live in their environment. In this fish adaptations lesson plan, students create their own fish and look at native Arizona fish and what adaptations they...
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Schoolyard Field Guide
Fourth graders observe, plan, research, and create a field guide for the trees that are in their schoolyard. In this trees lesson plan, 4th graders make careful observations of what they see around their school and create a guide.
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Microbiology Design Challenge
High schoolers discover dangers to human health by researching what's in our drinking water. In this water purification lesson, students discuss the conditions of water in undeveloped countries and why it is unsafe to drink....
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Eyewitnesses to Change
Students explore recent changes in the Artic's climate that have been observed by Artic residents. They watch videos, take notes and create a concept map. They also look at historical weather data from a specific Artic community. The...
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Wetland Metaphors
Students are presented with a selection of hands on objects for investigation as metaphors for natural functions of wetlands. A 'Mystery Metaphor Container' is presented to the class with everything having to do with a wetland in some...
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Coming to Terms
Students explore the rainforest. In this environmental lesson, students work in small groups to conduct online research of various topics having to do with the rainforest. The groups construct a large poster to illustrate the concepts...
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Valuing the World Around You
Students explore the concept of environmental stewardship. In this character education lesson, students examine a quote from John Muir regarding the value of nature.
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How They Get Building Materials Out of the Ground
Learners experience a virtual quarry. In this science musical lesson plan, students understand how materials are quarried and manufactured from rocks, musically interpret a quarrying sequence with untuned musical instruments, and...
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Dendrology Scavenger Hunt
Students examine leaves that are assigned to them. For this earth science lesson students work in groups and find examples of leaves that the instructor asks for.
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Kernel Power" Ethanol Fuel from Corn
Students study why corn is a biodegradable, renewable resource. For this ethanol lesson students build models and observe a chemical reaction.
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Out and About: Plants
Students examine plants. For this hands-on science lesson, students visit the Royal Botanic Gardens, the Eden Project, and Nature's World online or in person to investigate plants and gardens.
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Trash or Treasure?
Students identify things that can be reused. In this environmental lesson, students read the poem "Hector the Collector" and discuss the difference between junk and treasure. Students complete a reflection about what they read by...
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Recycling and Resources
Sixth graders examine ways to conserve natural resources. In this environmental lesson, 6th graders read the book Just a Dream and discuss the natural resources that they recycle. Students brainstorm ways to conserve natural resources...
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Nature Tribute
Students explore parts of nature. In this environmental lesson, students discuss how their actions can affect the environment and design a plan to clean up a specified area. Students practice good hygiene during the cleanup project.
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Food Pesticides and Their Risks to Children
Students examine an industrial disaster in India which affected the food for generations to come. In groups, they research the history of pesticides and place them into groups based on the type of pests they control. They partcipate in...
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The Trouble with Crayfish
Fourth graders compare an ecosystem before and after they introduce crayfish to that ecosystem. In this ecosystem lesson plan, 4th graders see what happens when you introduce a non native animal to a habitat. Students then make...
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The Edge of Home
Students explain why some species of plants and animals occur in more than one area. They watch as the teacher puts an overlapping circles on the chalkboard, students are asked to predict what kinds of things they would expect to find in...
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Madagascar Adventure
Middle schoolers develop photo essays on Madagascar's environmental challenges. In groups, students research and develop photo essay slide shows to explore the issues of balancing the needs of Madagascar's human population with those of...
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Classroom Composting
Students discover the benefits of composting. They identify the steps of decomposition as well. They are read a book and discuss what items decompose.
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Kentucky Coal and Our Environment
Middle schoolers read and discuss the article in reference to the environmental issues of acid rain and global climate change in relation to Kentucky coal. They then answer questions that are related to the article that they read.
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Illinois Coal and Our Environment
Middle schoolers read and discuss the important environmental issues of acid rain and global climate change in relation to Illinois coal. According to the National Acid Precipitation Assessment Program, acid rain has had minimal effects...
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Images of Our Changing Earth
Students identify and explain that remote sensing can detect changes on the Earth's surface that occur over time, and name at least three: urbanization, deforestation, and succession. They select a global change issue to investigate and...
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Take a Hike!
Learners explore the benefits of staying active by going on a hike. In this physical education activity, students discuss the concept of a hike, where a good place to hike is and what types of foods are necessary to stay nourished....
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Habitat Hopscotch
Students analyze different habitats. In this habitat lesson, students evaluate what animals need in their habitats. Students participate in the game Habitat Hopscotch.