Lesson Plan
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Taking From the Giving Tree

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Young scholars explore the ways in which various American cities negotiate the protection of their "green infrastructure," gaining a broader understanding of proposed and enacted legislation as it relates to preserving and planting trees...
Lesson Plan
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Federal and State Laws on Hazardous Waste

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students examine how laws on hazardous waste is developed and enforced. They work together to discover how statutes are passed as well. They complete an activity to end the lesson.
Lesson Plan
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The Awful 8: The Play

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers perform a play based on pollution. In this pollution science lesson, students perform a play about different pollutants and how it effects our daily lives.
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Wood You Believe: Wood Products

For Teachers 5th - 8th
In this wood products lesson plan, students walk to a forest near their school where they sit by themselves for a few minutes and quietly observe their surroundings. Students brainstorm wood or wood by products, discuss everything we get...
Lesson Plan
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I See a Coyote

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students role-play coyotes looking for natural resources.  For this natural resources lesson, students examine the relationship between animal life and the environment.  Students play a game that demonstrates how natural...
Worksheet
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How Many Hats Does a Farmer Wear

For Students 2nd - 4th
In this farmer worksheet, learners make a spinning wheel to describe the jobs of a farmer. Students create 1 wheel with 8 different jobs for a farmer.
Lesson Plan
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Fishing

For Teachers K - Higher Ed
Students explore the techniques and basic needs of the fisherman.  In this fishing lesson, students view a demonstration of the use of fishing equipment. Students research Iowa farm ponds and design a class mural from their...
Lesson Plan
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Hula Hoop Biodiversity

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students determine the biodiversity in a variety of different areas. They record everything they can about their site- including drawing a picture of all the different plants they see in their hula hoop, in the circle on their page.
Lesson Plan
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Pond Succession Mural

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers recognize that natural environments are involved in a process of continual change, and create murals showing three major stages of pond succession. They review the idea of succession (the orderly, gradual, continual...
Lesson Plan
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Acid Rain And Plants

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students observe the effects of acid rain on plants. They simulate an experiment using vinegar or lemon water. They observe the impact of acids on plants and recognize how acid rain can affect the environment. They examine their plants...
Worksheet
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Radon Gas in the Basement: A Radiation Hazard

For Students 8th - 10th
In this radon gas worksheet, students read about the harmful effects of radon exposure over time. They use a map that shows radon gas zones to answer 3 questions about exposure to the gas and the amount of radiation that humans get from...
Lesson Plan
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Adopt a Species!

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students identify endangered species. In this animal science instructional activity, students research endangered animals and create a fundraiser to "adopt" an endangered species.
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It's Not Easy Being Green

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students complete a unit that focuses on their school's waste production. They conduct a litter survey, collect the waste produced in their classroom for a week and generate a waste-audit, and identify how their school can minimize...
Lesson Plan
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Junk Mail Overload!

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students discuss the "junk mail nuisance" with the teacher and share their opinions on the problem. Students collect a week's worth of junk mail, bring to class and complete a chart about the amount and weight. Students then complete an...
Lesson Plan
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Macroinvertebrate Sampling

For Teachers 8th - 10th
Students identify macroinvertebrate species to investigate ecological systems and the relationship between humans and the environment.
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Minnesota Ospreys and Migration

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students explore the route that Minnesota ospreys follow during spring and fall migration. They describe the important ecological characteristics of the places that ospreys pass through during their migration. They determine where...
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Monitoring Aquatic Ecosystems Lesson Plan

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students perform an experiment to test the quality of the water in a marsh.
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Global Warming

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students examine how human produced emissions of carbon dioxide contribute to global warming. Using the internet, they research the future effects of global warming on the Earth. In groups, they discover ways to reduce daily energy...
Lesson Plan
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High School Marine Science at its Best: Research Collaboration

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students formulate a more accurate understanding of the true nature of scientific research and the challenges and rewards of field investigations.
Lesson Plan
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Rainforests of Madagascar: Role Playing and Decision Making

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers examine reasons for deforestation and become familiar with Madagascar and its culture, while describing biological and abiotic components of a rainforest, and looking at aspects that must be addressed to resolve the issue...
Lesson Plan
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Wacky Water Critters

For Teachers 4th - 9th
Students visit a local creek or stream. They collect water samples from the creek and observe and sort the "water critters" they find in the sample, observing smaller organisms under a microscope if necessary. They identify each organism...
Lesson Plan
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Understanding the Indoor Environment: Vocabulary Development

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students acquire new vocabulary by reading an assigned text and determining the meanings of  unfamiliar words.  For this vocabulary development lesson, students acquire strategies to use in a small group as they decode meanings...
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"Mother Earth" -- Present

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students examine the Native American belief of "Mother Earth". They read stories from Native American authors and reflect. They illustrate this concept through art and haikus.
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Ground Level Ozone

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students analyze real-time data and predict the level of ground ozone in their home city. They measure the level of ground ozone, submit their data to an online collaborative project, and create a web page presenting the dangers of...