Learning to Give
It's Never Too Late: Air Quality
What are the causes and effects of pollutants on the quality of the air we breathe? Groups research emission standards, emission controls, career opportunities in the area of air quality control, and things government and individuals can...
National Library of Medicine
Your Environment, Your Health: The Great Debate—Bottled Water vs. Tap Water in Our School
Should bottled water be sold in schools, or should they only provide tap water? The summative unit in the six-part series encourages scholars debating this topic. The lessons teach how to build an argument, how to gain background...
NOAA
Communicate!: Create a Unique Message About Climate Change
Scholars use their communication skills to express their take on climate change in the ninth installment of the 10-part Discover Your Changing World series. They create ways to deliver their messages on a specific aspect of climate by...
Curated OER
Skin Cancer Investigation: A Multi-Component Project
Students compare the perceived and actual risks of getting skin cancer, while looking at ways to minimize these risks. They may have very little grasp of the severity of the threat of skin cancer or be unaware of the increase in the...
Curated OER
Assessing Risks for Inhalation and Ingestion of Pollutants
Young scholars use a hypothetical scenario to investigate inhalation of an airborne pollutant and ingestion of a waterborne pollutant. They work in pairs, investigating differences in overall exposure to contaminants by calculating...
Curated OER
Reptiles and Amphibians
Introduce your class to various reptiles and amphibians. They will meet and identify a representative from each of the four major reptile families, then learn about and discuss reptile characteristics. Next, they will identify and...
Curated OER
World of the Pond
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...
Curated OER
In Katrina's Wake
You will need to go to the National Center for Biotechnology Information website to obtain the article, "In Katrina's Wake." Have your class read it and examine maps of where toxic chemicals were located in Louisiana at the time,...
Curated OER
Taking Action
Students use the net they make to dip macroinvertebrates at or below the surface. The flat side of the net allows pressure on the substrate so that organisms do not escape under the net. Two students hold onto the handles and submerge...
Curated OER
Big Boats Up The River
Using boats along in the Port of Albany as the focus, learners practice adding single-digit numbers and interpreting data. This lesson plan comes with the worksheets, resource links, and other materials to make it a worthwhile experience.
Curated OER
On the Trail of the Blue Crab
Third graders read the article "Blue Claw," discuss crab migration, and look at a map of the Hudson River. They complete a worksheet where they must use subtraction to determine the distance migrating crabs travel.Web links, article, and...
Curated OER
Exploring the Hudson in 1609
Learners follow the journey of Henry Hudson down the river with his name. Using journal entries and maps, they learn about its exploration. They use maps to identify stages of the journey, and practice converting distances into miles.
Curated OER
Mapping Where Animals Live
What type of reptiles live in New York State? This lesson gets the class thinking about what factors determine where particular animals live. They analyze the Hudson Valley environment, identify specific reptile and amphibian...
Curated OER
Biology of Bats
Your class will love exploring animal conservation through this instructional activity on bats. Learners discuss the importance of bats in the ecosystem and talk about the different types and their characteristics. As a follow up, a...
Curated OER
The Layers of the Rainforest
Fourth graders identify the different layers of the rainforest and distinguish between the plant and life forms that go along with each layer. They access websites imbedded in this plan and answer questions and draw pictures of plants...
Curated OER
Chart Making for Navigators
Young scholars discuss the importance and function of nautical maps for sailors. They, in groups, take soundings of a simulated bay in a shoebox and develop a nautical chart that enable them to navigate the shoebox safely.
Curated OER
The Hudson's Ups and Downs
Even rivers have tides. Older elementary schoolers will discuss the Hudson River and how weather, water craft, and the ocean cause tidal fluctuation. They will examine a series of line graphs that depict tidal fluctuation, then analyze...
Curated OER
You Are What You Eat: Chemical Residues and Consumers
Students determine how evidence gained from a simulated test for the presence of pesticide residues can be used to determine risk. They use peas to simulate pesticide residue testing.
Curated OER
Mammal Mobile
Short but sweet. Younger learners will view images and hear about the characteristics that make-up mammals, they will then discuss why a particular animal is, or is not, a mammal providing specific details. They will then create a mammal...
Curated OER
Meet the Animals
The class will examine a series of live or stuffed animals in order to learn how different animals survive in distinctive habitats. As they examine each animal, they will be asked a series of critical thinking questions geared at getting...
Curated OER
THE BUSINESS OF CLEAN AIR
Students determine that air pollution control is caused by a combination of market incentives and government regulation. They realize that businesses exist to make profits for their owners and that governments make rules for individuals...
Curated OER
Environment -- Unit on Globalization and the Environment
Young scholars examine the effect of human activities on the environment. They discover issues that are causing problems around the world. They participate in a debate using their own research.
Curated OER
Lead Contamination Scenario
Learners are introduced to a scenario, and students use an inquiry-based learning module to generate questions, draft a research plan, and generate possible solutions. They create a dossier on each of three identified cases.
Curated OER
Genetically Modified Food
Young scholars work in teams to develop a presentation and handout representing a particular point of view in a genetically modified food debate. They synthesize their knowledge of food, food contamination, nutrition, and their issues,...