Lesson Plan
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A Tale of Two Wetlands

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Students observe 2 separate wetlands (following downloadable worksheets) and record 10 similarities and 10 differences between them. Then they present their recommendations to the class who roleplay the government's wetland conservation...
Lesson Plan
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Worms, Nature's Recyclers!

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Students study what worms need to survive in different environments. They study how worm composting improves soil and reduce waste. They discuss composting techniques and present a puppet show about a worm's life.
Lesson Plan
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What's Wetland Allelopathy?

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Young scholars study plants and what they need to thrive and survive. They make plant extracts from chosen wetland plants and test their allelopathic effects on the germination rate, radicle growth, and hypocotyl growth of test seeds of...
Lesson Plan
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Fossil Fuels: Facing the Issues

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Learners explore energy by researching fuel usage on Earth. In this fossil fuel lesson plan, students define fossil fuels, the energy created by burning them, and the impact on the environment when using them. Learners conduct pollution...
Lesson Plan
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Green Buildings Virtual Tour

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students fill out a worksheet after researching green buildings by taking a virtual tour. In this green buildings lesson plan, students use Google Earth to research green buildings.
Lesson Plan
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River Run Through It

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
With vocabulary lists, worksheets, and more, this lesson sets learners on an exploration of the Hudson River area. They read an essay about the area, analyze a relief map of New York State, and complete a worksheet.
Lesson Plan
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What is the Rock Cycle and Its Processes?

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Geology beginners examine three different rock samples and determine their origin by their characteristics. By making and recording observations, they become familiar with features of igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rock types....
Lesson Plan
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Living Things Experience Diverse Life Cycles

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders will study and explain the meaning of growth, development, and life cycle. They describe how plants grow and develop and observe an animal to show how it grows, changes, and reproduces throughout its life.
Lesson Plan
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A Tour Down the Hudson River

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students discuss how the Hudson River is an ecosystem made up of both biotic and abiotic factors. They view the PowerPoint the Journal Down the Hudson River. Students become aware of where the Hudson River begins and ends, the plant and...
Lesson Plan
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Zebra Mussel Population Simulation

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students are taught how to format and enter data into an Excel spreadsheet. They make a graph, and interpret graphed data. Students discuss the possible impacts of zebra mussels on the Hudson river. They graph zebra mussel data.
Lesson Plan
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Soil: Food Mapping

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students examine the concept of food mapping . In this agriculture lesson, students explore food and agriculture systems in the United States in the past and today. Students complete food mapping activities.
Lesson Plan
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Oil Well That Ends Well

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Focusing on the effect of oil spills on the environment, learners conduct experiments to explore this issue. First, they create an ocean environment using materials provided. Then, they make a simulated crude oil substance from vegetable...
Lesson Plan
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Urban Ecosystems 4: Metabolism of Urban Ecosystems

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Cities are compared to living, breathing, metabolizing organisms. Fourth in a five-part series of lessons, this one focuses on the flow of materials through a city. Links to interesting websites and images make your delivery of...
Lesson Plan
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Analyzing Soil Samples

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Young scholars grow grass or radish seeds in this experiment, which takes three to four weeks to complete. They become familiar with basic soil analysis techniques, as well as, explore the importance of analyzing soil samples.
Lesson Plan
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Recycling-Taking it Easy on the Environment

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students review the garbage/landfill graphs included with the lesson. They discuss the information on the graphs and discuss which garbage products come from their homes. Students collect examples of over packaging to share with class...
Lesson Plan
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"What If The Earth Were Made Of Sand

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine the most common characteristics of clay and sand, and to understand how the properties of these materials affect the erosion of the landscape and the formation of the many landforms. They explore clay and sand through...
Lesson Plan
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Class Presentation on Coal

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Did you know that coal was formed from plants? After being assigned a coal-related topic, groups gather, organize, and present information about this energy source. The presentations should include visuals like graphs, charts, tables,...
Lesson Plan
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Kindergarten-Respect Unit (Lesson Seven) Respect The Environment

For Teachers K
Students review the concept of respect and that they should respect, not only themselves, but those around them. They comment on some example pictures in which the environment is NOT being respected and decide what should have been done...
Lesson Plan
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Protecting Philippine Reefs

For Teachers 4th - Higher Ed
Students watch a slide show about the Philippine Reefs to explore the topic of fish populations. In this reef and fish population lesson, students watch a slide show about fish populations and how the Peace Corps works...
Lesson Plan
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March of the Polar Bears: Global Change, Sea Ice, and Wildlife Migration

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students study global change and how these changes impact wildlife.  In this polar bears  lesson students analyze maps and data to understand climate change. 
Worksheet
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Adaptation Worksheet

For Students 9th - 12th
Adaptation or acclimation? Young ecologists determine which is being exemplified in twenty questions. When teaching about adaptations, make sure to talk about acclimation, a short-term learned response to a change in the surroundings....
Worksheet
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Moldy Jell-O

For Students 9th - 12th
Mini mycologists plan an experiment to determine what affects the growth of mold on gelatin. A list of available materials is provided, but the procedure needs to be designed by the lab group. A data table is also provided in...
Lesson Plan
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Should Soil Be Sterile?

For Teachers 2nd - 12th
Students determine if the sterilization of topsoil is beneficial to seed germination and plant growth. They grow plants alongside control groups, make and record observations of plant growth and measure plant biomass.
Lesson Plan
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River Study

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students study physical features of a local stream. They study how to identify water features on topographic maps.