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Talkin' Trash (All About Landfills)

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Students investigate the types of waste created by people and identify various options for trash disposal. They read and discuss a handout about what a landfill is and the different types of trash, match types of trash with the proper...
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Plant Needs

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students explore the needs of plants.  In this plants biology lesson, students work in groups to perform an experiment with tomato plants.  Each group records observations in a journal, takes pictures, and interprets the...
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And Just How DO You Kill A Weed?

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explain chemical, cultural and biological weed control methods. They design and conduct an experiment to simulate a weed control method and explore various ways to prevent weed dispersal.
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Slingshot Characterization Experiment

For Teachers 6th - 11th
Students set up and conduct a scientific experiment to demonstrate data collection. In this scientific process lesson, students complete an activity with the specific objective of using a slingshot to fire a t-shirt into the crowd at a...
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Endangered Relationships

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students study the interrelationship between the horseshoe crab and red knot. In this ecology lesson, students explain why several species became extinct. They research about endangered species found in their region.
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Micro-Ecosystems

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students create a sustainable, self-contained ecosystem in a ten-gallon aquarium.
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Campus Habitat Improvement Plan

For Teachers 8th - 11th
Students work to improve a plot of land. They assess the needs of the environment and formulate a plan. They plant trees and gardens, build bird boxes, construct waterholes. etc.
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Water Pollution Prevention and Conservation

For Teachers 8th - 9th
Learners examine how to conserve water. They also discover how to prevent water pollution. They examine the Earth's water distribution as well.
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Energy Conservation

For Teachers 8th - 9th
Students discuss the different uses of energy. They examine the consumption percentages to do household tasks. They discover ways to reduce their energy consumption.
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Erosion by the Wind

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders simulate wind driven soil erosion by using paper confetti to demonstrate the movement of the soil. They write about three examples of soil erosion found in their community.
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How Much Is Too Much? How Little Is Too Little?

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students perform a series of experiments which show that plants require nutrients in certain quantities. They also cooperatively read materials on the nutrient requirements of plants, fertilizers, composting, and soil management, and...
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Waste Management

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Learners investigate the amount of trash they generate, the problems that result and possible solutions.They complete four activities regarding household trash, biodegradability, packaging, and recycling.
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Trash! How Cities Work: Dealing with Garbage in the US and India

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students identify how different cultures deal with the challenge of trash. Read an excerpt from a chapter book based on real life written from the Southern Indian perspective. Describe the life of a street child in Southern India....
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Species Charades

For Teachers Pre-K - 2nd
Students identify endangered species. In this endangered species lesson, the teacher leads a discussion about endangered species, then the class plays a game of charades to pantomime animal behavior.
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Investigating Factors That Affect Rate of Enzyme Action

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students explore the properties of enzymes. In this chemical reaction lesson, students explore enzymes through a Web-quest and investigative study. Students will collect and summarize data and create a class presentation. This lesson is...
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The Grand Canyon

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students investigate how dams help and hurt the ecology of an area. In this Grand Canyon lesson plan, students research the Glen Canyon Dam and why it flooded in 1996. Students create a pros and cons list about dams and...
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The American Prairie

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students design an animal.  In this prairie lesson, students learn about physical and behavioral adaptation, locate the Great Plains on a map, and design an animal that would be perfectly adapted for life on the prairie. ...
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Penguins: Sensitive Indicators

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students examine how penguins are affected by climate change.  In this climate change lesson students research the impact of climate change then create a poster to call awareness to it.
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Marine Protected Areas (MPA)

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders explain the purpose of MPA's. In this biology lesson, 9th graders identify MPA's in Southern California. They simulate coastal sampling using candy from two buckets. Students analyze their results and share it with the class.
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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...
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Supermarkets, Sustenance and Sustainability

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students investigate jungles and the people who depend upon them.  In this sustainability lesson, students research wild life conservation and discover the importance of a jungle to Amazonian people.  Students create a group...
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Sea to Sky

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students investigate the Earth's major landforms and how they occur, and how engineers apply this knowledge for the design of transportation systems, mining, and measuring natural hazards. They listen to a teacher-led lecture, match...
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Water Pollution Hot-Spots

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Pupils complete internet research in small groups to identify types of water pollution, spotlight water pollution hot-spots, and design a plan for water prevention.
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Erosion Explosion

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders explore soil erosion. Through a class discussion, they examine soil conservation methods. Given a potted plant, 9th graders observe the effects of erosion when water is poured over the soil. Students brainstorm terms...