Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Plants and Air Purity

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore how green plants help improve air quality. They read an article and discuss the importance of air quality and its effects on the human body. They investigate by connecting hose to the top of a Bell jar and to a funnel....
Lesson Plan
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Thar She Blows!

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students identify the advantages and disadvantages of wind farms and turbines. They examine how weather conditions can affect their effectiveness and how engineers are trying to solve the problem. They discover how engineers use this...
Lesson Plan
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Determine Soil Particle Size

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine various soil samples in groups. Using the samples, they identify the characteristics of them and calculate percolation and infiltration rates. They use this information to discover why some species can survive in one...
Lesson Plan
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What Do You Think About Sharks?

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders explore sharks. They read a story about sharks and act out using Reader's Theater. They discuss fact and attitude statements about sharks and complete a Shark Survey. They create a shark promotion brochure informing...
Lesson Plan
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Swim Like a Whale or Fish?

For Teachers 1st - 5th
Learners recognize the difference between whales and fish by categorizing them according to their method of swimming. They synthesize this information by simulating the swimming patterns of whales and fish and comparing it to their own.
Lesson Plan
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Climate in the Western Regions

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers examine the interactions of the Earth's systems and other objects in space.  In this climate change lesson students study the pros and cons of different climates and what their preferences are. 
Lesson Plan
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The Learning Bottleneck

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students identify and analyze what energy is and how they feel after moving around a lot. They identify other ways that they can acquire heat and if there is some sort of mechanism for storing energy. Finally, students construct their...
Lesson Plan
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Directions on a United States Map

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students generate directions for an imaginary trip. For this map lesson, students review the four main directions and how to use a map legend. Students locate destinations based on directions given by classmates.
Lesson Plan
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Our Fifty States

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders identify and locate all fifty states in the United States and their capitals. Individually, they research one state identifying when it became a state, its motto, song, flower and nicknames. To end the lesson, they are...
Lesson Plan
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Barnacles: Harder than Cement

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders watch the movements of the complex animal hidden inside the tiny barnacle shells. This instructional activity allows students to study the behavior, adaptation, and larval stage of the barnacle.
Lesson Plan
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Bird Beak Anatomy

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders participate in an activity to determine which tool will work the best to gather food. They create analogies about how the experiment relates to birds. They brainstorm about which adaptation helps or hurts the survival of an...
Lesson Plan
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Reading Around the World

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students use the internet to identify the seven continents. Using maps, they locate and identify major physical features of Earth. They are read different books by various authors on the Earth and answer questions related to it. They...
Lesson Plan
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Finding Our Place in the Community

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders search TDC database for images of our hemisphere, continent, ocean, country, state, and city. They identify their place in the hemisphere, continent, ocean, country, state, and city.
Lesson Plan
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Mapping La Salle's Travels

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students use the internet to create a map showing the path of La Salle through North America and the Caribbean. They identify the main geographic features of the two areas and the main French forts. They also complete a timeline.
Lesson Plan
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On the Road Again": Moving People, Products, and Ideas

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
In this lesson students learn how to identify modes of transportation and communication for moving people, products, and ideas from place to place. Students also study the advantages and disadvantages of different modes of...
Lesson Plan
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An Introduction To Material Sciences

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students investigate the concept of molecular structure. They describe the behavior of simulated molecules and identify any dislocations in crystalline structures. They also define various related vocabulary words and use them in...
Lesson Plan
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The Big Crush

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students examine weather maps from their state from the past few days. They examine the Highs and Lows on the maps to determine what kind of weather they produce. They use that information to better prepare for their activities and what...
Lesson Plan
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Acid Rain: An Air Pollutant

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders participate in an experiment in which they examine the effects of acid rain on buildings. They discover how huge a problem acid rain is not only to structures but to the environment. They gather pictures of acid rain to...
Lesson Plan
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Acid Rain: The Disappearing Statue

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders examine the effects of acid rain on statues and buildings. They participate in an experiment in which they use different chemicals on building materials. They observe and record their observations.
Lesson Plan
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Social Studies: The Connecticut Hill Community

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students discover the reasons for the settlement of the Connecticut Hill Community. Through an examination of the climate, occupations of the inhabitants, and demographics, they discuss reasons people choose locations for settlement. ...
Lesson Plan
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Yam and Eggs

For Teachers K - 5th
Students gain knowledge about the different kinds of foods people eat around the world for breakfast. They look at a map and see if they can come up with reasonable answers as to why location may affect what people eat. Students also...
Lesson Plan
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Somewhere in the World . . . .

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Pupils, in groups, choose a country. On the surface of an inflated balloon, they draw/write information (geographic and otherwise) about the country. To finish the project, they make a basket for the balloon and then give a 2-3...
Lesson Plan
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Geography: Mapping Neighborhoods

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students examine their neighborhoods and draw maps reflecting land use. In addition, they make predictions about their community's future. Students also consider the impact of business and industry on their communities and predict ...
Lesson Plan
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Geography: Islands and Alcatraz

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students, in groups, create maps of islands including map keys and compass roses. They compare and contrast their island communities with that of the island prison, Alcatraz. Students select from a series of projects, including writing...