First, young citizens learn about water consumption by doing some research themselves on their home water usage and sharing their findings with the class. Then, they do some brainstorming and devise a plan to reduce water consumption.

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. 

Your teenagers may have heard of fracking, but do they really know what it is? And could they debate the benefits and risks? Educate your environmental science class with a lesson about hydraulic fracturing, non-renewable energy...

After reading an article about irrigation on Canadian farms, learners participate in a discussion. They individually write an opinion paper about the surrounding issues. A lesson plan like this can be used in an earth science class when...

You've heard of farm to table ... but what about farm in classroom? Junior agriculturalists embark upon a two-week journey into the science of growing things. Based upon the classic terrarium in a two-liter experiment, the lesson goes...

Students create a compost cake. In this gardening and decomposition science lesson, students review and describe the "nutrient cycle." Students create a compost pile, measure and record the dimensions and temperature of the pile, and...

Students explore environmental care by participating in an Earth science activity. In this clean water lesson, students discuss what a watershed is, how they become polluted, and how it affects the overall quality of drinking water....

The surge in human population in the last 2,000 years, due in large part to better health care, has brought a surge in the demand for resources and in pollution. The graphics, photographs, and real-life examples in a thought-provoking...

An environmenta science unit includes three lessons plus a cumulative project covering the ecosystem. Scholars follow the history of the Ford Rouge Factory from its construction on wetlands and how it destroyed the...

How do we protect crops and protect the environment at the same time? Using reading materials, learners explore the history of the use of pesticides and biocides. They create a timeline and then explore the current practices.

Students explore the effect of environmental factors on ecosystems.  In this wildlife and ecology activity, students identify and describe the stages in a frog's life cycle. Students participate in a simulation demonstrating the...

Do young people have a role in social movements? Should they? The involvement of young people in the Dakota Access Pipeline is the focus of a resource that asks class members to examine letters written by native youths who oppose the...

Out of sight out of mind can be a dangerous habit. Learners investigate the life of food waste after it leaves people's homes and its impact on the environment. They complete a series of three activities that involve building a mini...

Students explore a variety of water-related careers. They compare specific jobs and the the education required, the training needed, salary, and job descriptions. Students research a chosen water-related career and interview a person in...

Students explore the environment by completing science worksheets in class. In this water conservation lesson, students identify ways water is used in our society and how we abuse the privilege. Students discuss methods to reduce water...

Students experiment to determine the best watering schedule to use when growing grass. In this grass watering activity, students examine rye grass seeds and discuss the role roots play in keeping grass healthy. They grow rye grass in...

Young scholars investigate water formations by creating a puzzle.  In this water properties activity, students create a giant river puzzle by drawing on large butcher paper as a class, then dividing the image up into many...

Young scholars discover dangers to human health by researching what's in our drinking water.  In this water purification activity, students discuss the conditions of water in undeveloped countries and why it is unsafe to drink....

Genetically modified crops—How do you feel about them? Here, explore the benefits and risks of GM crops to inform your opinion. 

Dirt babies are an excellent way to show young botanists the plant life cycle. They explore the functions and industry behind grasses before growing some of their own. Use the informational text here and consider implementing some...

High schoolers discover the dangers of landfills to our environment by investigating leachate.  In this environmental lesson plan, students create a model landfill experiment in which they observe the effect of rain on a landfill...

Second in a series of five lessons, this lesson encourages preteens to consider cities as urban ecosystems. First, they keep a food diary for a few days. They visit the Natrional Agricultural Statistics Service website for current data...

Students discover why soybeans are called the "miracle seeds." They make their own soynuts and share other foods made from soybeans. They create a bulletin board of soybean products.

Young scholars examine the history of farming. In this environmental farming lesson, students explore the web and complete a variety of activities in order to understand the necessity of local, sustainable, and small farms for the...