Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Send in the Clouds

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Young scholars culminate a study of the water cycle by following step-by-step directions to make a three dimensional cloud. On the model, they draw a diagram of the water cycle and label it, and add a written report they completed in a...
Lesson Plan
Nuffield Foundation

Nitrogen-Fixing Bacteria in Root Nodules of Leguminous Plants

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Fixin' to add a great resource to your plans? Scholars perform an experiment to investigate nitrogen-fixing bacteria from plant roots. Along the way, they learn about the concepts of symbiosis and mutualism.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Water Cycle

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students study the water cycle. In this water cycle instructional activity, students examine how the water cycle works, what its functions are, and how to diagram it.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water Cycle Boogie

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students explore the water cycle. They learn the "Water Cycle Boogie." Students create hats to represent the different parts of the cycle and learn hand motions to go with the words of the song. Students practice singing the song and the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Nitrogen Cycle-Stream Side Science

For Teachers 6th - 8th
A thorough background and nitrate sampling lab sheet are provided to share with your young scientists. After discussing the nitrogen cycle with the class, you will break them into small groups and show them how to use their inquiry...
Lesson Plan
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Chicago Botanic Garden

Greenhouse Gas Emissions — Natural and Human Causes

For Teachers 5th - 6th Standards
What impact do humans have on greenhouse gas emissions? What are the natural causes of these gasses? Thanks to the carbon cycle, carbon dioxide eats away at the earth's atmosphere with the intensified help of humans. Young scientists...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water Conservation

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Open learners' eyes to the challenge of finding safe drinking water – something we often take for granted in our country. The PowerPoint presentation includes images, graphs, diagrams, and even a video to stimulate discussion on how we...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

It's Clean, Fresh and only Three Billion Years Old - Water!

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students engage in a lesson which explores the wate cycle. They get to see some very entertaining video, do fun hands-on activities and gain a better understanding of evaporation, condensation, precipitation and collection.
Lesson Plan
Desert Discoveries

The Sonoran Desert

For Teachers 3rd
Elementary schoolers study the geographic location of the Sonoran Desert. They pay close attention to the characteristics of the plants and animals found in this desert environment. The student handouts embedded in this plan are...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Study of Your Domestic Water Supply

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students create a diagram that traces the path of a raindrop from its source into the water supply for their house and back to the environment. They also diagram the processes that occur in a sewage treatment and water treatment plant.
Lesson Plan
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Curated OER

Teaching About the Hydrosphere

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders are introduced to the Earth's hydrologic system including the cycling of water in the atmosphere and the movement of water on the surface of the planet using the Great Lakes watershed as an example.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Transpiration

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students explain the function of the hydrologic cycle and demonstrate how transpiration rates can be experimentally changed.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Creating the Water Cycle

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students create a terrarium to examine the stages of the water cycle. In small groups, they plant and water a seed in an enclosed plastic container. Each day they diagram and write observations of the terrarium using water cycle vocabulary.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rain, Rain, Where Did You Go?

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Students study the water cycle including condensation, evaporation, and precipitation. In this water cycle lesson plan, students watch a video and access assigned web sites to investigate the water cycle. They complete an experiment with...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water, Water, Everywhere and Always on the Move

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students create their own water cycle in a terrarium. In this water cycle lesson, students research the water cycle and complete a worksheet using the Internet. They create a water cycle of their own in a jar with stones, sand, soil, and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ecology 5 - Carbon and Oxygen Cycles

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students construct their own diagrams outlining the pathway of carbon and oxygen in our atmosphere. They listen to a lecture on the carbon cycle while drawing an example of the carbon cycle on the board. Students comprehend that CO2 is...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Water Cycle

For Teachers 4th - 7th
Students research the water cycle and identify main vocabulary associated with the water cycle. They build and observe a closed system model that demonstrates the water cycle in action.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Water Cycle and Watershed

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students summarize the steps in the water cycle. In this earth science lesson plan, students create a skit, song or poem showing the various components of the cycle. They identify the different watersheds in their area.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Butterfly Life Cycle

For Teachers K - 2nd Standards
Focused little scientists will flitter their arms back and forth across the room with excitement as they learn the life cycle of a butterfly and how living things grow and change over time.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Domestic Water Supply Case Study

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students follow the cycle of a raindrop from its source into the water supply for their houses and then back to the environment. They draw and, properly label and explain a diagram of a water treatment plant and a sewage treatment plant.
Lesson Plan
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Chicago Botanic Garden

Greenhouse Gas Emissions – Natural and Human Causes

For Students 7th - 9th Standards
Part three in the series of seven has pupils discussing the different greenhouses gases, learning about the carbon cycle, and then watching a short video about the carbon cycle. Based on their knowledge, individuals complete a greenhouse...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Oceans

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students use their prior knowledge to being their examination of the water cycle. In groups, they complete an experiment in which they can see water evaporating and coming back to the ground. They discover the ocean's water evaporates...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water Filtration

For Teachers 6th - 8th
As an example of nature's water filtering system, young ecologists conduct an experiment in the lab. They construct a funnel out of a plastic bottle, fill it with specified layers of materials that simulate layers of soil, then run muddy...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water -- Here, There and Everywhere

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students compare quantities of water. In this water lesson students examine the hydrologic cycle looking for the amount of fresh water that is available. Students use information from charts and diagrams.