Curated OER
Musical Resources
Students complete a simulation similar to musical chairs where the chairs represent natural resources and when one is taken away, the people still stay in the game. In this natural resources lesson plan, students learn about supply,...
Curated OER
Crude Conversation
Students analyze text and maps in determining the effect the world's energy resources have on human society, and make charts illustrating at least three ways each resource makes life easier for human society.
Curated OER
Water Conservation
Students investigate water conservation. In this water conservation activity, students list the uses for water and record their water usage for one day. Students graph the data and create a water conservation poster.
Alabama Learning Exchange
Are We Finished with It Yet?
Learners recognize the importance of natural resources and that we need to conserve, reuse and recycle them. In this conserving natural resources lesson, students are given one object and must create something with it. Young scholars...
Curated OER
Recycling
Students investigate how to reduce, recycle, and reuse items in order to conserve natural resources. They complete a trash graphing activity after discussing different types of trash. Finally, the examine ways to buy recycled products to...
American Forest Foundation
Who Speaks for the Trees?
Help young conservationists appreciate the important role that trees play in ecosystems around the world with this collection of six engaging activities. From a shared reading and class discussion of Dr. Seuss' The Lorax, to in an depth...
Curated OER
Air and Water in the Environment
Learners explore the traits of water condensation and evaporation. For this water cycle lesson, students develop an awareness of the importance of water for sustaining life. Learners participate in a hands-on activity in which water is...
Polar Bears International
Taking Action!
Motivate young scientists to stand up and take action with this environmental science lesson. To begin, the class works in small groups brainstorming actions that support the conservation of the earth before creating and implementing an...
Purdue University
Design of an Earthen Dam for a Lafayette Neighborhood
How do dams support bodies of water? Scholars engage in a hands-on STEM activity where they design, build, and test dams to learn about bodies of water and how humans use natural resources. They learn how criteria and constraints affect...
Curated OER
Be a Watershed - Create a Living River
Students investigate water ways by conducting an experiment with classmates. In this natural resources lesson, students define a watershed and identify where large ones are located within the United States. Students utilize cups,...
Curated OER
Insect Conservation
Learners make a diorama. In this insect activity, students review what they know and what they need to know about insects. Learners define conservation, discuss why it is important to conserve insects, and make an insect diorama.
Curated OER
Paper or Plastic: Exploring Renewable Resources.
Learners discuss, develop, invent, and implement a plan for making informed personal economic decisions about renewable resources.
Curated OER
Natural Beauty: Looking Sharp
Students create covers for their "nature journals" using watercolor techniques and the artistic ideas of color, depth, and focal point. This instructional activity can be used in the Science or Art classroom and meets national standards...
California Academy of Science
Conservation Island
Why not walk in the footsteps of Teddy Roosevelt and become a conservationist? After discussing issues and reasons for animal extinction, the class creates their own conservation plans. Each small group is given mock data regarding a...
Curated OER
Classroom Conservation
Fourth graders suggest ways paper and other natural resources can be used and recycled in the classroom. Students conduct a investigation into paper use and make distinctions among observations, conclusions (inferences), and predictions.
Curated OER
Fly Tying
Students practice fly tying and explain water conservation efforts in Iowa. In this ecology, Iowa geography, and natural resources lesson, students identify basic equipment and material needed to fish, then tie flies. Students name...
Curated OER
Junk Mail
Third graders consider the impact of junk mail on our natural resources and landfills. They collect their families' junk mail for a week and explore ways to reduce junk mail, and write a book that explains the importance of trees in our...
Curated OER
Water: Our Most Important Beverage
Third graders complete a KWL chart on what they already know about water and what they want to know. As a class, they participate in an activity in which they discover the amount of drinkable water on Earth and are introduced to the...
Curated OER
Where Do Things Come From?
Second graders examine the recycling process. In this recycling lesson plan, 2nd graders discuss the reasons for recycling and create storyboards to show where a specific material comes from. Students complete a worksheet as a follow-up...
DiscoverE
Build a Watershed
What's the best way to learn how watersheds work? Build one! Combining engineering, the water cycle, and ecology concerns, the activity is the perfect fit for an interdisciplinary unit. Teams construct a model watershed with simple...
Curated OER
Making Recycled Paper
Students explore the advantages of recycling paper. In this environmental lesson, students produce recycled paper by ripping up paper and putting it into a blender with water to create a mixture. Students use their recycled paper to...
Curated OER
Running Water
Sixth graders create products that feature the importance of water conservation. In this environmental stewardship lesson, 6th graders explore the water cycle and conduct on water usage. Students also research water pollution and...
Curated OER
When Are We Wasting Water
Students study water conservation. In this water conservation lesson, students participate in a water conservation experiment. Students discover how to conserve water while washing their hands.
Curated OER
High School EcoHouse Curriculum
How has the level of carbon dioxide changed over recent years, and what is contributing it? Groups work together to research and present their findings in a creative way. Also built into the lesson plan is a visit to a sustainable house,...