Lesson Plan
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The Creation of an Imaginary Species

For Teachers 3rd - 9th
Students explore the characteristics that distinguish different forms of animal life on Earth which are the results of natural selection and adaptations to their environment. The creatures are created using a game and then drawn by the...
Lesson Plan
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Fossil Fuel Sources, Usage and Alternatives: What Are the Options?

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students examine the relationship between energy and the environment. In groups, they participate in experiments to discover the law of thermodynamics and the differences between potential, kinetic and mechanical forms of energy. They...
Lesson Plan
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Let's Heat Things Up!

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students build and evaluate simple models to understand the greenhouse effect. They explore the role of increased greenhouse gas concentration in global warming, and the implications of global warming theory for engineers, themselves...
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Fossil Inferences

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders use their knowledge about fossils to arrange fossil pictures in sequence from oldest to youngest. They explain how fossils can be used to make inferences about past life, climate, geology, and environments and discover...
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Native American Culture

For Teachers K - 3rd
Students read a variety of Native American Literature and discuss the main idea by answering critical thinking questions about the poem. Students use context clues to understand the feeling of the Native American culture about the Earth....
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Scientific Inquiry

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students create a poster. In this recycling instructional activity, students discuss pollution and the ways humans negatively affect the environment. Students describe examples of litter or pollution they have experienced. Students...
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Terrariums: A Look at the Living and Nonliving World

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders examine life in a terrarium and relate it to life in a larger environment. In this terrarium lesson, 3rd graders examine how living and non-living things work together by examining the changes in a terrarium. They make...
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Relating Maya

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students read about the bags that the Maya people made and about how reusing bags can help save our environment. For this environment lesson plan, students read and discuss conservation and observe pictures.
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Extra! Extra!

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students describe how plants and animals depend on each other. They see how living and nonliving environments change over time. They identify ways in which humans have changed their environment and the effects of those changes.
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Standard 4 Review-Human Impact

For Teachers 9th - 12th
In this human impact on the environment worksheet, students fill in the blanks to complete sentences about how humans have negatively affected the environment. They complete sentences about the actions taken to reduce and repair the...
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World Geography: Global Interdependence

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars are able to discuss the theory of climate change. They identify examples of how climate change impacts the earth's geo-spheres. Students are able to use the example of climate change to describe the interdependence of...
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Electronics: Wants or Needs?

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders determine how electronics negatively impact the environment. In this environmental lesson, 3rd graders read the article "Earth Friendly Waste Management", and identify how recycling impacts our environment. Students...
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Reasons for Seasons

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students model the tilt of the Earth as it orbits the Sun. They explain the meaning and characteristics of solstices and equinoxes. They explain that sunlight hits the Earth at different angles at different locations over the course of...
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How Does the Loss of Ozone Affect Our Climate

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Young scholars explore the greenhouse effect and what it does to the environment. They discuss if and how human behavior contributes to global warming and test natural materials for carbon content.
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Weather Investigation Through The Internet

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore the Earth's climatic regions and their characteristics. Using the Internet, they evaluate regional vegetation, agriculture, and population density. Students name and describe instruments that measure weather. They...
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Using Satellite Imagery to Discuss the Science Behind Brazilian Deforestation

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students can delve into earth science by using satellite imagery to learn about the deforestation of the Brazilian rainforest.
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Birds on the Move

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students observe the migrational path of the Swainson's Hawk from northern Minnesota to the southern portion of South America. They study the migratory path of the hawk and observe how the vegetation in a particular region of the earth...
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Biodiversity in an Estuary

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students investigate the biodiversity in estuaries. In this estuary lesson plan, students use Google Earth to explore the Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. They produce a biodiversity concept map and portray the life of a...
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It's Everyone's Home

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students research environmental destruction. In this cause and effect lesson, students students gain an understanding of everyday things we do to harm the environment. Students work in groups to create a brochure that tells the...
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Greenhouse Effect: Pop Bottle Experiment

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Students explore global warming by conducting a weather experiment. In this greenhouse gas lesson, students define the greenhouse effect and the impact on our ozone layer. Students utilize a soda pop bottle, floodlight bulb, thermometers...
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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.
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Got Plants

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders discover that all living things need food in order to live. In groups, they examine the interconnectedness between animals and plants. They identify which animals eat plants to survive and which animals eat animals that...
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Topography of Africa

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Learners study Africa's diverse landscape and investigate how these features impact the available water supply, food sources, and population distribution of the continent. They compare topographical features and their affect on each...
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Dinosaurs 1: Where Are the Dinosaurs?

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students study dinosaurs. In this dinosaur lesson, students watch a web based video about dinosaurs before discussing what they liked about the dinosaurs, telling about the sounds they heard, and explaining what the Earth looked like....