Curated OER
Teaching the Tragedy of the Commons: Natural Resource Depletion
You can help your students understand resource depletion with simple activities that highlight the idea of the tragedy of the commons.
Curated OER
Have You Heard about the Clinton, New Jersey Story?
In this radon worksheet, students read about radon in the city of Clinton New Jersey. They compose a play about a family in Clinton New Jersey who is face with high concentrations of radon in their home and how they deal with it....
Pennsylvania State University
Learn, Protect, and Promote Water
A hands-on activity helps learners explore the water cycle. After discussing how they use water, classes discuss water pollution and then move into a simulation where 20 pupils move through the water cycle based on description cards.
Florida Department of Environmental Protection
Water, Water Everywhere
Water is one of the most precious resources on the earth. Explore water conservation, the importance of natural resources, and how water is used throughout the globe. Two complete activities along with discussion questions are used to...
Indian Land Tenure Foundation
Respect for Land
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...
Curated OER
Formal Letter Writing
High schoolers explore the appropriate language and format associated with a formal letter. They practice writing a formal letter concerning an environmental health issue. Students identify the strengths/weaknesses of a formal letter...
Curated OER
Soils
Young scholars apply knowledge of soil, environmental impacts, economics, multiple human demands, and use given data for a proposed scenario in making land use decisions. They debate land use issues and/or scenarios and discuss a case...
Curated OER
Reactor Incident
Students are introduced to Chernobyl incident and the resulting environmental health impacts they watch a PowerPoint presentation, read articles and discuss what they have gained from these sources.
Curated OER
Do We Need to Wear a Rainhat? Acid Rain: Causes, Effects, and Possible Solutions
Acid rain, and how it affects the environment, is the focus of this Earth science lesson. During the study, learners evaluate measures to reduce acid rain, and design an investigation to demonstrate the conection between a hypothesis and...
Curated OER
Climate Change Challenge: Earth Day
Students explore the concept of philanthropy. For this environmental stewardship lesson, students watch a video about state policies pertaining to greenhouse gas emissions. Students plan and carry out an Earth Day service project...
Curated OER
A world of oil
Students practice in analyzing spatial data in maps and graphic presentations while studying the distribution of fossil fuel resources. They study, analyze, and map the distribution of fossil fuels on blank maps. Students discuss gas...
Curated OER
Chernobyl
Students list some of the health effects of radiation exposure. They are engaged in a unit on nuclear power by demonstrating the potential environmental health risks involved.
Curated OER
Running Water
Sixth graders create products that feature the importance of water conservation. In this environmental stewardship lesson, 6th graders explore the water cycle and conduct on water usage. Students also research water pollution and...
Curated OER
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Water Resources
Students demonstrate how water quality and environmental health issues can be analyzed together, how hydrologic information can be built up, and how decisions can be made using GIS.
Curated OER
Dining Out With Fishes and Birds of the Hudson
While this lesson plan focuses on the birds and fish found on the Hudson River, it could be adapted for use in any classroom. Using a vocabulary list, learners explore the meaning of words like adaptation, habitat, barbel, and more....
Rainforest Alliance
Investments in Forest Carbon
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...
Curated OER
Environment Debate Game
Students participate in a role-play activity to discuss environmental problems on which they have previously conducted research.
Curated OER
Science: Generating Electricity
Eighth graders examine the various methods of generating electricity and explain their commonalities. They determine what is the most common source of energy and what are the potential environmental health hazards due to electrical...
Curated OER
John Muir in California
Fourth graders listen to key events in John Muir's life and plot locations on a California map. They discover that John Muir was an immigrant to California who encountered environmental problems and found solutions.
Curated OER
From Lake to Tap
Learners use the Internet to study how water is treated to make it safe to drink. They use a tutorial on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's website to gain this information. They complete a worksheet for the assessment portion...
Curated OER
Acid Rain
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.
Curated OER
Compare and Contrast Night to Life is Beautiful
After reading Elie Wiesel's Night, watching the movie Life is Beautiful, and researching World War II, class members write a comparison essay on the book and film. This includes a prior knowledge activity, discussion in whole and small...
Curated OER
Appearances Are Deceiving
Young scientists study creeks around their area to see how clean the water really is. One way to tell is by the invertebrate populations that are present. This lesson introduces a game which learners simulate a variety of species found...
Curated OER
Sound Busters
Fourth graders engage in a study of sound pollution at their school. After a class discussion on what noise pollution is, learners are asked if they think there are areas of their school or community where noise pollution is a problem....