Junior geologists work through three mini-lessons that familiarize them with the formation and location of fossil fuels. Part one involves reading about petroleum and where it comes from via a thorough set of handouts. A lab activity...

Students compare the organic matter found in soil. In this soil lesson, students compare a commercial garden mix soil to their local soil and determine which has more organic material.

This natural resources worksheet includes discussion activities about natural resources, 2 word searches, and a list of related books and videos.

Make those microbes warm up water. Pupils first investigate water pumps, then design a water circulation system that uses solar energy. A bioreactor in the system takes energy from compost and helps heat water.

Organic waste is a hot topic. The second of three installments in the Bioreactor Water Heating unit challenges pupils to create bioreactors that collect energy released from compost. After watching videos on the properties of water and...

Does a material encourage or discourage the flow of thermal energy? Pupils learn that the answer determines whether a material is a conductor or insulator in a concise video presentation. The lesson also includes several examples of...

Nitrogen is an essential element for productive farming. An interactive lesson explores the chemical makeup of different fertilizers and their corresponding nitrogen content. The interactive challenges individuals to complete molecular...

Now you have a new excuse not to do your homework. A long-term experiment has learners explore cellulose-digesting enzymes. They simulate how paper breaks down in a compost bin. There's no need to blame your dog for eating your homework...

What do decomposers and a compost have in common? Decomposers help a compost break down, or decompose, things that can biodegrade and become similar matter. Watch a video that explores the science of composts.

Dirt or soil? What's the difference? Actually, dirt is soil as explained by the video's high-energy speaker who goes on to emphasize its importance. She describes the composition of soil as minerals, water, air, and organic matter that...

I smell a great video. Viewers learn how the smell of rain originates from various sources, and how ozone and organic material work to produce the recognizable smell.

Fractional distillation? Desalination? Chromatography? How is it that stuff can be separated into raw ingredients? And where did the raw ingredients come from in the first place? So many question and a few answers are provided by a video...

Young biologists trace the path of the sun's energy through marine ecosystems in the second part of this four-lesson series. Building on prior knowledge about producers, consumers, and decomposers students are introduced to the concept...

Camp Joy Gardens, a small, non-profit, Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farm, runs classes for children and adults. The narrator of a short video about Camp Joy Gardens explains how CSA farms can work as a profitable business, as...

In this activity students explore earth-friendly materials that can be used in home environments. They learn about the relationship between the environment and design, and use a variety of problem-solving strategies. They work in...

Students explore decomposition and soil health by creating their own garden.  In this agriculture lesson, students build a "lasagna garden" with organic matter found in the area and plant perennials native to their region.  Students are...

Middle-schoolers solve various problems related to proportions. They write ratios in word form and then, replace the words with numbers. Pupils also write an equation in which they will cross-multiply to solve the proportion. This is an...

Students isolate and determine the amount of plasticizer in polyvinyl chloride. They use Infrared Spectroscopy (IR) or Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and gravimetric techniques in this experiment.

In this chemistry worksheet, students determine the order of reactivity toward displacement in each of the series listed. Then they respond to several multiple choice questions as they relate to compounds and solutions. Students also...

Components of soil, such as inorganic or organic materials are detailed along with the main contributions of each. Deposits, weathering, and distinct types of characteristics and properties of soil classes are given.

For this ecosystem exploration worksheet, students complete 2 prior knowledge questions, then use "Forest Ecosystem Gizmo" to conduct several activities, completing short answer questions when finished.

Students investigate the correct mix of material types for compost. In this composting lesson plan, students explore the correct amounts of different types of materials to create a compost heap. Students then create a compost heap.

Written for an agriculture curriculum, this presentation on organic matter is also informative for gardening or horticulture classes. It details the chemical makeup, affecting factors, functions, maintenance, and composting to create a...