Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Telling Our Own Stories

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Explore online profiles and social media with your middle and high school classes. Use blogs to inspire your class to craft a well-written, thoughtful response to a prompt you give.  A few example prompts are given. 
Lesson Plan
Green Education Foundation

How Loud is Too Loud?

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Ever wonder how loud a sound has to be to cause damage? Young scientists explore sound properties by researching decibel levels. They discuss how sound is perceived by our ears and our brains and why it can cause negative health effects...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

An Exploration of Cradle-to-Cradle Design Thinking

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Introduce cradle-to-cradle design thinking. Scholars first discuss the importance of natural laws and rights. They then use a variety of online and print resources to research eco-efficiency and cradle-to-cradle design.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water Cycle Reading and Writing

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Here is a great way to get pupils to express a scientific concept in a fun way. After hearing the story of Walter the Water drop and learning facts about the water cycle, the class will write a creative expository piece describing what...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Readings in Hudson River Natural History

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Reading and understanding informational text is a key element to understanding every discipline. Elementary learners read three different articles focused on various animals and habitats in the Hudson River. They answer comprehension...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Spaceship Earth

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students develop an understanding of our planet as a system by designing a very-long-duration space mission in which the life-support system is patterned after that of earth.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Protecting Natural Resources

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders recognize what our natural resources are and their importance. In this natural resource recycling instructional activity, 3rd graders understand why it is important to recycle and conserve natural resources. Students can...
Lesson Plan
Indian Land Tenure Foundation

Respect for Land

For Teachers K - 2nd
Youngsters examine how people show respect and care for the land. Specifically, learners see how the Native Americans truly did care for and respect the land, and still do so to this day! They also explore how they themselves can care...
Lesson Plan
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Curated OER

Acid Rain

For Teachers 4th - 5th Standards
Create a simulation of acid rain in your classroom with lemon juice and bean plants to help kids study the effects of pollution on plants. In addition, learners will listen to a story and write responses based on guiding questions.
Lesson Plan
Rainforest Alliance

Investments in Forest Carbon

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
One hundred metric tons of CO2 can accumulate in one acre of forest over time—that's a lot of carbon! In the activity, groups of middle school learners determine what makes forests important. They then solidify the concept by using a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Potential Consequences of Climate Variability and Change

For Teachers 1st - 12th
Learners analyze the impact of climate variability and change utilizing a broad span of topics over a wide range of grade levels. This three lesson unit is easily adapted for the various instructional levels listed.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Birds of a Feather Flock Together

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders identify all parts of an egg, and explore their importance to the life cycle of a chicken. Learners compare all sorts of birds and place them in categories based on what they look like. This five-day lesson effectively...
Lesson Plan
National Science Teachers Association

Hop into Action

For Teachers 3rd - 5th Standards
Young scientists find out what makes amphibians such unique and interesting animals in this simple life science instructional activity. After looking at pictures and discussing the characteristics of amphibians, learners...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Will There Be a White Christmas This Year?

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
Young scholars examine historical weather data, and create map and color key that illustrates the likelihood of a white Christmas in different locations across the United States.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water Cycle Reading and Writing

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
After listening to a story about the water cycle, learners create their own versions of this tale. This is a great way to have your class review the concepts of evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and runoff.
Lesson Planet Article
Curated OER

An Interdisciplinary Approach to Learning with Walt Whitman

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Use poetry as a mode for creating interest and cross discipline learning.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Recycled Paper

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders keep track of the amount of paper they consume on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis. The goal of the lesson is to have them all find ways to reduce the amount they use. Everyone creates recycled paper from old newspapers...
Lesson Plan
Polar Trec

Touring the Poles

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
Would you want to vacation in the Arctic or Antarctic regions? Scholars research both regions and produce a travel brochure trying to convince tourists to visit. The project focuses on the geography, climate, flora, fauna, and indigenous...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

World of the Pond

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Field trip! The class will review what they know about organisms that dwell in freshwater ponds, then trek down to the old water hole to collect specimens for examination. This includes several web links, useful tips, and an excellent...
Lesson Plan
Energy for Keeps

Renewable Energy Action Project: What's in Your Energy Portfolio?

For Students 6th - 8th
Uncover the renewable energy potential in your region. The activity outlines an approach to research current practices and trends. Learners conduct surveys to assess the attitudes of the local population and prepare a paper summarizing...
Activity
NET Foundation for Television

1850-1874 African American Settlers

For Teachers 4th - 12th Standards
Go West, young man! Scholars investigate the impact of African American settlers moving to the Nebraska territory, following the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska Act in the mid 1800s. Using primary sources, timelines, maps, and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Urban Ecosystems 4: Metabolism of Urban Ecosystems

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers discover that material and energy uses by a city come from outside the city boundaries. They realize that the pathway of these material is linear instead of cyclical as they are in natural ecosystems.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Urban Ecosystems 2: Why Are There Cities? A Historical Perspective

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers investigate the importance of food surpluses to the historical development of urban ecosystems.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

PASSENGER PIGEONS: NOMADS LOST

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers explore the concept and implications of extinction using the example of the Passenger Pigeon, once an extremely abundant species that was completely eliminated by humans.

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