PBS
Waste Audit
Does everything in the trash can belong there? Conduct a waste audit with your class by collecting a day's worth of garbage, separating it into recyclables, non-recyclables, or food waste, and properly distributing what they find into...
Purdue University
What a Waste of Food!
Follow the life of an apple from harvest to the consumer. A three-part lesson describes the different steps to get an apple from the farmer to your kitchen and the approximate waste that happens at each step. They discuss the process and...
Intel
Composting: Why Bother?
The first STEM lesson in a group of 10 explores composting. After discussing how to make a better tomorrow, classes are challenged to track garbage in their communities, visit a local waste management facility, and conduct a survey about...
Curated OER
Dispose of Waste Properly
Students examine how to dispose of waste properly and discover how pollution affects plants and animals that live in streams. In this effects of waste lesson, students explore biodegradable detergents and the concept of dilution as the...
Curated OER
Wake County Landfill Problem
Students create a proposal to solve Wake County's problem with losing the North Wake landfill in such a way that: a new landfill site is agreed upon, Solid-wase disposal is in compliance with Local and State landfill regulations and...
Curated OER
Waste: Where Does It Come From? Where Does It Go?
Students work together to identify sources of hazardous waste in their community. They discover the threat it poses to the environment. They examine how to properly dispose of hazardous waste as well.
Curated OER
Dispose of Waste Properly
Students explore biology by participating in an environmental role-play activity. In this animal waste lesson, students identify the appropriate way to dispose of human and animal waste when staying outdoors. Students conduct an outdoor...
Curated OER
Lesson: Litter Hunt
Students examine the issue of littering. In this waste management lesson, students discover what littering is and how it affects the environment.
Curated OER
Streetfilms' Moving Beyond the Automobile
This is an exceptional series that you can use in an environmental or engineering unit. There are four lessons: "Sustainable Transportation," "Designing for Safety," "Changing the Landscape," and "Engaging in Policy." Each lesson...
NASA
Planning Time
Ever feel there's just not enough hours in the day? Young adults explore an important part of personal development using a group of activities. After comparing how they actually spend their time with how they would like to, scholars...
Curated OER
The Impact of Water Pollution on Global Peace
Tenth graders participate in hands-on activities that require them to consider the implications of water pollution. In this environmental stewardship instructional activity, 10th graders conduct 6 experiments pertaining to water...
Curated OER
Companion to Superfund -- The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act Program
Students examine the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. They work together to discover how their local community handles waste disposal. They complete a worksheet to end the lesson.
Curated OER
How We Can Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle
Students evaluate the school's recycling and waste management practices. After analyzing current methods, teams develop a new recycling plan, and create a slideshow presentation. They present their proposals to the principal for...
Curated OER
Hazardous Waste Hot Potato
Students investigate hazardous substances. They work in groups to decide how to properly dispose of such materials..
Curated OER
Electronics: Wants or Needs?
Third graders determine how electronics negatively impact the environment. In this environmental lesson, 3rd graders read the article "Earth Friendly Waste Management", and identify how recycling impacts our environment. Students...
Curated OER
It's a Wrap!
Students read about the importance of packaging foods and related items properly and reducing waste. In this packaging lesson, students read the background information about packaging and bring a variety of packaging materials to class....
Curated OER
Talkin' Trash (All About Landfills)
Students investigate the types of waste created by people and identify various options for trash disposal. They read and discuss a handout about what a landfill is and the different types of trash, match types of trash with the proper...
Curated OER
Worm Compost & Vermicomposting
Students explore vermicomposting, the species of worms needed and the proper climate for it. In this composting lesson students make their own worm compost bin.
Curated OER
Water Quality Monitoring
Students 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...
Curated OER
Current Groundwater Contamination Research
Students research the effects of groundwater pollutants on life. They name and describe 1 environmental factor that has an effect on our drinking water. Students read the Water-Groundwater and Pollution Article. They discuss and...
Calvin Crest Outdoor School
Survival
Equip young campers with important survival knowledge with a set of engaging lessons. Teammates work together to complete three outdoor activities, which include building a shelter, starting a campfire, and finding directions in the...
Curated OER
Settling The Wasterwater Problem
Pupils name models that are representations of larger objects. They suggest ways that industry, agriculture, and mining affect water quality. Pupils demonstrate the use of lagoons for treating wastewater. Students define the following...
Curated OER
Give a Little Respect
Students recognize the importance of helping the environment. In this improving the environment lesson, students create a task that will improve the environment. student make decisions about how to share the work to get the job done....
Curated OER
What's Organic?
Learners discuss background information presented by the teacher and read dictionary definitions for the words "organic" and "synthetic." For this gardengin lesson, students complete a worksheet on the material. Learners grow and compare...