Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Working for Water

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Learners examine the ways that government works to help improve aquatic habitats. In this water habitats instructional activity students view a video and plan a school restoration project. 
Lesson Plan
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Lesson Plan: Global Warming

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore the concept of global warming. In this climate change instructional activity, students explore the provided links to PBS NOW sources and research the greenhouse effect and the effects of global warming. Students...
Lesson Plan
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Grandfather's Journey

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders explore world cultures by reading a children's story in class. In this Japanese heritage lesson, 3rd graders read the book Grandfather's Journey and identify the characters, setting and plot that takes place. Students...
Lesson Plan
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People for the Land: Native Americans in Iowa

For Teachers 4th - 9th
Young scholars identify Iowa's American Indian cultures and complete a research project for the topic. For this Iowa's American Indian lesson, students research read the background information about tribes in Iowa and complete a research...
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Digging Up The Facts

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students research environmental issues. In this environmental lesson plan, students use the Internet to research an environmental problem and list ten facts about it. Students write a summary of facts.
Lesson Plan
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Dreaming of Gardens

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students demonstrate ways to be an environmental philanthropist. In this philanthropy lesson, students read The Gardener and Just a Dream and compare the two books. Students discuss ways the characters demonstrated environmental...
Lesson Plan
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Ocean Careers Investigation

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Young scholars gather information about different careers of the Ocean Adventures expedition team.  In this career studies lesson students work in groups, read an interview with an Ocean Adventurer, and see the importance of working...
Lesson Plan
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"The Fog Horn" by Ray Bradbury

For Teachers 11th - Higher Ed
Students read Ray Bradbury's "The Fog Horn" and complete reading and vocabulary activities. In this reading and vocabulary lesson, students review the vocabulary for the story and take turns reading the story. Students discuss the story...
Lesson Plan
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The Ultimate Predator

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students listen to a lecture by the teacher about the "Ultimate Predator." They design a new "Ultimate Predator." Students present their creations to the class and attempt to convince their classmates that their predator is indeed the...
Lesson Plan
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Write a Space Poem

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Learners write a variety of space travel poems that will be used to compile a class book and draw their own rocket and half fill it with words associated with space travel and add design and color.
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Sea Turtle Savvy

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students explore sea turtles. They create paper plate sea turtles and brainstorm other organisms that live in the sea turtle's habitat. They role-play scenes from a nonfiction book, A Baby Sea Turtle's Journey. They play a game...
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HAPPY SOIL, SAD SOIL

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students will be able to identify the characteristics of healthy soil and unhealthy soil.Take the class outside to an area of thick grass near trees, if available. Compare the clothes people wear to the thin cover. Discuss the reasons...
Lesson Plan
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Rotten Truth

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students complete activities to study decomposition. In this decomposition lesson, students work in pairs to observe a decay buffet experiment. Students keep compost bag journals. Students define and discuss the process of decomposition.
Lesson Plan
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The Lifecycle of a Butterfly

For Teachers K
Students study the life cycle of the butterfly. In this butterfly life cycle instructional activity, students examine and discuss a large diagram of the four stages of the butterfly life cycle. They read books and access web sites that...
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Revolutionary Money

For Teachers 4th - 12th
Examine paper money from the American revolution! Historians study the paper bills and discuss the history of money. How has money changed over the times? Activities are included. 
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Reworking a Butterfly Garden

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders determine how physical and biological agents and processes form and affect the soil. They analyze soil properties. Students evaluate ways in which human activities have affected the earth's pedosphere.
Lesson Plan
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Sunshine and Shadows

For Teachers K - 3rd
Students measure their shadows early in the morning, record direction of shadow, make marks in ground with chalk or tape, measure with ruler, and record results. Students repeat process at noon, and then later in afternoon. Students...
Lesson Plan
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A Lion's Lair

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Students evaluate the likelihood that a particular animal lived in a particular habitat. They research and illustrate lion habitats to determine whether lions were likely to have lived in ancient Greece.
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And Now for Something Completely Different...

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students identify organisms that are typical a part of a hydrothermal vent. They examine why hydrothermal vents are short-lived.
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The Flat Stanley Project

For Teachers K - 3rd
Students read the book Flat Stanley. In this environmental stewardship lesson, students participate in earth-friendly activities based upon the book. This lesson includes ideas such as using recycled paper to make a "paper pal."
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The Barnum and Bailey Bartered Bride

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students focus on the study of The Bartered Bride by integrating the theme of the circus begin the lesson with a "KWL" strategy map on the Circus. Students are asked: What do you know about the circus?
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Marine Animals on the Move

For Teachers 8th - 10th
Students complete a project based on collecting satellite data aimed at finding connections between organisms and the environment. They create a final project working with a partner to share with the class.
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Survival in the Open Ocean

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students examine how scientists conduct pelagic research and identify pelagic predators as they study the open-ocean ecosystem. They discuss and conduct small group research of this environment in order to produce a presentation.
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Seasoning the School Year

For Teachers K - 2nd
Learners observe the changes a class tree goes through as the seasons change and record observations in journals. They investigate changes in the weather, changes in the length of the day, and how that affects people. They create...