Students build a water filtration system. In this water quality lesson, students work in groups to construct water filtration units that can purify contaminated water. This lesson is part of a larger unit on water quality.

Sixth graders explain how soil and plants effect contaminated water in nature.  In this filtration lesson plan, 6th graders work in groups to test biofiltration units. Students determine which biofiltration units work best and how...

Students create a model estuary. In this modeling estuaries lesson, students identify characteristics and mix water of varying densities. Students form a hypothesis, conduct an experiment, and analyze the results.

Students participate in an oil spill simulation and how to clean it up. In this oil spill lesson plan, students also calculate the cost of the clean up of an oil spill.

Learners investigate their environment by completing an in-class experiment.  In this ecological lesson, students define the roles of dams and how electricity is created by them.  Learners utilize plastic jugs, sand and tap...

Students explore the ecosystem by conducting a ziploc bag experiment. In this recycling lesson, students identify decomposer organisms in our environment and how they speed up the recycling process. Students utilize a ziploc plastic bag,...

Students create flubber glaciers. In this glacier dynamics lesson, students experiment factors that may affect glacier speed. Factors include slope, ice temperature, and basal conditions. Students develop hypothesis, conduct experiment,...

Students explore winter adaptations and glare. In this winter weather lesson, students discuss the season of winter and how animals and plants adapt to the changing weather. Students discuss the glare off snow and make goggles for their...

Students explore the weather system by analyzing water properties. In this precipitation lesson, students review weather related vocabulary terms and discuss how rainbows are created by light hitting droplets at the right time. Students...

Students visit the park to observe signs of spring in the forest and pond environments.  In this field trip lesson, students explore the park for various items

Third graders investigate how some extinct organisms resemble organisms that are still alive today. They watch and discuss the Magic School Bus video about fossils, then create clay fossil imprints, matching the imprints to plaster of...

Young scholars experiment to determine the effect of light on cyanobacteria movement. They graph the data of the experiment for further analysis. They watch a time-lapse video of cyanobacteria motility at a NASA website.

Students examine how water changes state, from a liquid to a solid.  In this water instructional activity students study the water cycle and how temperature and pressure effect it. 

Students determine with math concepts how much plastic pollution is affecting marine life. In this plastic pollution lesson plan, students collect scientific data from a field trip to a water treatment plant.

Students describe the different methods used by MBARI researchers to study the ocean.  For this ocean lesson students research the Internet and use the information they find to write in their journal. 

Students make an anemometer, barometer, and wind catcher to see how wind and air pressure are related. In this wind lesson plan, students use these tools to measure the wind speed.

Learners observe water samples and measure the samples' water quality. Learners develop their own criteria for measuring water quality and test for temperature, acidity, oxygen levels, turbidity, conductance, sediment and hardness.

Students explore the causes of water pollution. In this environmental lesson, students conduct experiments with natural filtration systems.

Students investigate the environment by participating in a class trip. For this pond ecosystem lesson, students define a list of vocabulary terms associated with ponds such as invertebrate and metamorphosis. Students attend a field trip...

Students play a fishing game. In this food supply lesson students regulate their fishing in a game about over-fishing. The students identify resources that could be extracted from that biome.

Students apply satellite tagging data to investigate questions related to open-ocean animals, their habitats, and their migratory behaviors. They determine how physical or biological factors determine organism behavior using a data...

Students create a pamphlet, brochure, handout, or poster about a career in the marine sciences. In this marine science lesson, students use the Internet to research a marine science career. They create a printed media item to share with...

Students go on a field trip to the Iona Wastewater Treatment Plant and learn about sewage, waste, and pollution. In this treatment plant lesson plan, students also complete collection samples of quadrats.