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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Careers With an Aquatic Emphasis

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students are introduced to careers with an aquatic emphasis. They take a self-evaluation test on what they enjoy in school to determine which career is right for them. They listen to people in the field discuss what their job is like.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

This Land Is Our Land

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students research federal land holdings. They explore how those lands are used. They map these lands and design their own legends. They discuss whether or not the land is being used accordingly.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Redesign the Rover: Mars Research Year-Round

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars discuss the solar system, the planets, periods of orbit and revolution.  In this space activity students discuss the importance of the study of Mars and brainstorm ideas on how NASA might solve its Rover design...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Taking Action

For Teachers 5th - 9th
Students use the net they make to dip macroinvertebrates at or below the surface. The flat side of the net allows pressure on the substrate so that organisms do not escape under the net. Two students hold onto the handles and submerge...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Recycle Alphabet

For Teachers 1st
First graders recognize words associated with recycling. In this environmental lesson, 1st graders go through the alphabet and think of words associated with recycling that start with a letter. Students create a recycling ABC book.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Composting

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Using 2-liter bottles, junior ecologists create composting tubes in which they place nitrogen-rich and carbon-rich materials. They observe what changes occur over two weeks' time. Provide more specific direction to your class as to what...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Recycling-Taking it Easy on the Environment

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students review the garbage/landfill graphs included with the lesson. They discuss the information on the graphs and discuss which garbage products come from their homes. Students collect examples of over packaging to share with class...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Here Today. . .Gone Tomorrow

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Students observe that there are threatened and endangered bird species in Illinois, why they have been given this status and how it relates to endangered species on a worldwide basis. they participate in the Project WILD "Oh, Deer" or...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Soil Investigations

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students examine the basics about soil.  In this soil lesson students describe the physical properties of soil and explain what soil profile is. 
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Earth is a Changin'

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students view examples of different types of erosion. In this erosion lesson, students discuss the different types of erosion and how erosion changes Earth. Students explore erosion and the effect it has on engineering.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Hoot: Vocabulary: Magic Squares

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Define words with numbers in a fun vocabulary activity. Using words from Hoot by Carl Hiaasen, learners use a grid to match words and their definitions, and to find the magic number that is the same when the numbers are added from...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Agriculture - It Doesn't Just Happen

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders examine the role of the US Department of Agriculture. For this United States Agriculture lesson, 6th graders create maps with sites and specialty areas. Students create a presentation on the topic they were given to...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Second Time Around

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students explore how items can be reused. In this recycling activity, students present skits about reusing materials and brainstorm products that can be reused at home, school and in the classroom.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Fan 3: Sort and Color!

For Teachers K - 1st
Young scholars explore the concept of recycling. For this environmental stewardship lesson, students discover how to recycle and compost. Young scholars complete an activity that requires them to sort recyclable items.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Raptors: Senses and Influences

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers compare the traits of humans to raptors.  In this senses and beneficial traits lesson students create a newsletter and compare raptors to aircraft. 
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Worksheet
Curated OER

The Concept of Energy

For Students 7th - 10th
For this energy worksheet, students read about the discoveries of Galileo and how different philosophers contributed to our understanding of energy. Then students complete 4 short answer questions.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

In the Wild

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders examine the concept of ecology and how animals are suited to their habitats. In this animal adaptation instructional activity, 3rd graders identify a variety of plants and animal species that live in a Beech forest.Students...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Population Dynamics (Lesson 2)

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students discuss the importance of population growth rates. They examine mortality and survival curves and participate in an experiment. They record their observations and discuss.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

All About Aluminum

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students examine the metal aluminum. In this metal properties lesson, students experiment to distinguish between aluminum and other metals. Students assess how aluminum is created and recycled.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ecology: Factors Influencing Animal Populations

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students assess the factors affecting animal populations. Working in groups they define specific vocabulary terms and complete several activities from "Project Wild."
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Monomer and Polymer Chemistry

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explain monomer/polymer chemistry of starches and sugars.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Energy and the Environment

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders define alternative energy form, design models which show how the energy source can be used, and explain the purpose of dams.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Earth's Ecosystem: Seven Major Biomes

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students discuss the different types of ecosystems and the composition of biomes. Working in groups, they define various related terms and make posters of them. Then they explain their posters to the class.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Drinking Dirty Water

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Students consider the importance of clean drinking water. They conduct a taste experiment with water, adding incremental drips of salt and vinegar to determine at which point it doesn't taste drinkable.