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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Build an Anchialine Pond

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students explore biology by conducting a nature experiment. In this pond examination lesson, students utilize recycled materials, play-doh and water to recreate a pond and its inhabitants. Students identify the different elements within...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Watershed Protection

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Learners explore environmental care by participating in an Earth science activity. In this clean water lesson, students discuss what a watershed is, how they become polluted, and how it affects the overall quality of drinking water....
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Make a Windmill

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students explore Earth science by conducting an energy experiment in class. In this windmill lesson plan, students identify how wind has been used to pump water throughout history and the latest developments wind energy has produced....
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Lesson Plan
Illinois Department of Natural Resources

Section Two: Why is Biodiversity Important?

For Teachers 3rd - 5th Standards
Explore soil, genetic traits, natural resources, and pollution in a series of lessons that focus on biodiversity. Kids complete experiments to learn more about the importance of varied genes and organisms in an ecosystem.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Seed Transport

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Students explore botany by completing KWL worksheets. In this seed transportation lesson, students define a list of vocabulary terms associated with botany and seedlings before completing worksheets based on assigned text. Students...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Imagine a Kelp Forest

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Students write a story based on their research of the kelp forest. In this ecosystem lesson, students view a video and research the kelp forest ecosystem. They write a short story imagining the discovery of a new species in the kelp forest.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Natural Habitat: What, How and Why

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Learners understand what a habitat is. They determine why a habitat is important to our environment no matter where it is located. Students observe and recognize natural habitats in their surroundings.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Can You Test Your Soil?

For Teachers 5th - 9th
Students investigate chemicals in soil samples. In this soil science lesson, students test local soil to measure the pH, nitrate, phosphate, and potassium content.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Plate Tectonics: An "Eggs"periment

For Teachers 3rd - 7th
Students investigate plate tectonics by observing a cracked egg shell.  In this Earth science activity, students draw borders of continents on an egg shell, only to watch it crack in a glass.  Students record the breakup of the "Earth"...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Seed Germination

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Learners explore plants and the scientific method. In this plant growth instructional activity, students follow the steps in the scientific method to perform a seed germination experiment as a whole class. Learners work in a group to...