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Watersheds and Wetlands
Learners simulate a chemical spill. In this watersheds and wetlands lesson, students build a watershed and observe what happens when it rains. Learners add wetlands to their watershed models and examine the effects of water pollution.
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Avalanche!
Middle schoolers explain that when forces on an object are balanced, the motion of object does not change. They describe how an object changes its motion when forces on it are unbalanced. They plan and conduct a scientific investigation...
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Geology/Earth Structure
Third graders examine the rock-soil cycle. They identify the steps and describe what happens. They also discover the three layers of soil.
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Creative Ways To Teach Evolutionary Concepts
Young scholars explore evolutionary concepts in cartoons and lab activities. They describe and explain evolutionary concepts featured in a cartoon and participate in laboratory activities.
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Identification of Wildfire/Structure Interfaces, Risk Assessment of Structures, and Risk Management
Students participate in a class discussion about wildfire and urban interfaces as well as risk of wildfire in the area in which they live. After reviewing a wildfire/urban interface fire safety checklist, a walking field trip is...
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Shadow Chasing
First graders observe and measure their shadows. They go outside at three hour increments during the course of a day. Each time students measure and record the length of their shadows. Students read books about shadows and discuss why...
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Using SWMP Data
Students are introduced to the SWMP system which tracks short-and long-term changes in water. Using this data, they plot and interpret the data on a graph to determine how human activities are lowering the water quality. They also...
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Transport
Students analyze wind barbs and determine which way the wind is blowing and how hard the wind is blowing. They access near real time wind data and pollutant animations to track the transport and destination of pollutants.
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Exploring Ecology
Students explore the basics of ecology through numerous hands-on and relevant activities. They participate in an online food chain demonstration, which explores food web dynamics. They dissect owl pellets, examine the prey's bones, and...
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The Great Volume Exchanger...or the Magic Matter Maker ®
Learners pour water into a "magic" box and examine how it comes out with a much larger volume of water. They, working in small groups, design a volume exchanger and explain its design to the whole class.
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Three-Hole Bottle
Students participate in an experiment with a 2-liter bottle. They develop their own hypothesis about what they believe will happen when certain items are tested on the bottle. They discuss results.
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Bell Live! The Great Lakes: A Superior Adventure
Students participate in a virtual field trip to Lake Superior. In groups, they perform experiments in which test the level of toxins and bacteria in the water. They also watch video segments life in the lake and discuss their observations.
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Water & Ice
Students investigate the properties of water. In this states of water lesson, students explore how water goes from liquid to solid and back to liquid again. Students use measurement, observation, and communication to describe the change.
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The Rock Cycle
Third graders, in groups, examine soil samples with magnifying glasses. They discuss the living and non-living things they find in their soild samples.
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Follow Spring's Journey North Recording Highlights of the Season
Students scan headlines on the Journey North News Updates each day to track the changes that spring brings as it comes to different areas of the United States.
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Stratigraphy and Cross-Dating
Pupils interpret archaeological strata using the law of superposition. They apply cross-dating to determine the age of other artifacts.
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Earth in the Hot Seat
Middle schoolers identify the different viewpoints on the issue of global warming. While watching a video, they take notes on the issues presented to them and answer questions about what Alaska, Peru and East Africa are doing to prevent...
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Insects A-Z!
Pupils use the Internet and other resources to find insect common names that begin with each letter of the alphabet. They write a brief description of each insect, focusing on what the insect eats and where the insect lives.
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Introducting the Concept of Medical Ecology
Tenth graders examine the effects of the breakout of the West Nile Virus. They make predictions on its origin. They develop and present an action plan to stop the virus from spreading.
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Biological Control of Purple Loosestrife
High schoolers examine the role of Purple Loosestrife in Illinois and Indiana rivers. In groups, they collect a wide variety of plants in a wetland and raise beetles in a controlled environment. They introduce the loosestrife into the...
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Effects of Ozone in the Air
Fifth graders learn how ground-level ozone is an air pollution problem. Students measure ozone levels and graph the results.
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Let's Catch Some Dirt From the Air
Students create "catchers" that collect dirt particles from the air. They observe the particulate matter that is collected from the air and discuss the effects and causes of air pollution.
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Up, Up and Away
Third graders are presented with the problem of: Do all liquids evaporate at the same rate? The lesson contains adequate background information for the teacher. They participate in a lab experiment in order to test the scientific...
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Mud Fossils
Learners create their own fossils in an activity using plaster of paris and a variety of objects which can be fossils, e.g. chicken bones, twigs, shells, etc. After making their fossils, they allow them to dry and discuss time and its...