Lesson Plan
UAF Geophysical Institute

Carbon Footprint

For Teachers 8th - 11th
Your young environmentalists can calculate their carbon footprint and discuss ways to reduce it with a worksheet about climate change. After reading a handout about what impact one's carbon footprint can have on the environment, kids...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Loss of Wetlands: Subsidence

For Teachers 2nd - 8th
Students observe subsidence and the effect it has on wetlands with a classroom demonstration. They think about the impact of global warming and the sea level and how it affects the marsh.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sea and Ice Salinity

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Learners conduct an experiment.  In this salinity lesson, students learn about sea ice, why it is important and how changing amounts can affect the sea.  Learners conduct an experiment to find out the effects of salinity on the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Pestilence and Plague

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students investigate various disease epidemics that have devastated the world population at different points in history and examine the diseases' effects on the countries they impacted.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Thermal Expansion

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Learners examine how thermal expansion of water can affect sea level. They conduct an experiment that demonstrates what happens to water levels when exposed to heat, record the results on a data sheet, and discuss the results.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Going the Way the Wind Blows

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students examine the cause and effect relationship between geography and ancient civilizations. After reading an article, they determine how new findings can help scientists examine the migration patterns of these civilizations. Using...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Time and Time Again

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Young scholars analyze the effects of time zone differences on how we function as a global community, focusing particularly on the turn of the millennium as a way for students to calculate time zone differences.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Can Peace Prevail?

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students examine terrorist attacks in Amman, Jordan, and consider how events like these affect the global war against terrorism. They write reflective pieces exploring their own opinions about terrorism and the state of current affairs...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Keeping A Watchful Eye

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students explore the use of satellite surveillance systems to track criminals. They consider how the use of this technology in law enforcement might affect them and write opinions on whether or not such a system should be adopted by...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A World Torn by Drugs

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students explore different drug issues that have affected international relations.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Front Page History

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students consider how current events are directly and intricately tied to past events, decisions and other influences. The island of Guam is used as a case study as the events of WWII have continued to affect the people of Guam today.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Arctic cleanup

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders examine pollution problems and how it affects the community.  In this arctic cleanup lesson students study ocean currents and how they affect pollution. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Environmental Issues in the Polar Regions

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
Students list environmental problems they are familiar with and check the ones they think affect the polar regions, and they research and answer questions about environmental issues affecting the polar regions. Students discuss their...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Using Mathematic Models to Investigate Planitary Habitablity

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Students examine how the sun's intensity affects the temperature on various planets. They determine whether or not these planets could be habitable. Finally, they factor in the average albedo of the planets to determine whether or not...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Volcano Above the Clouds

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students develop a travelogue to describe the distinct ecological regions of Mount Kilimanjaro. They describe the health issues that may affect climbers, and any necessary equipment or safety precautions that the team may need at each...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Impact of Acid Rain and the Greenhouse Effect on the Environment

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students study acid rain and complete several activities that show how it affects the environment. They role play members of the community involved in a major decision involving the protection of the environment.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Salmon Migration

For Teachers 1st - 4th
Students examine how salmon find their way to their home stream during migration.  In this migration lesson students see some of the different migratory challenges that salmon face and see how humans affect the migration by...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Biochemical Cycles: Recycling Carbon and Nitrogen

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students construct flow diagrams of the carbon and nitrogen cycle processes. They identify sequences in each cycle that are affected by human impact and present their research to the class.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Human Activity and Cllimate Change

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students perform activities to explore the affect of human activity on climates. They examine graphs of GHG emissions and their increases that are associated with human activity. Using a Global Climate Changing website, students explore...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Global Change — Change and Cycles Where Land, Air and Water Meet

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Students participate in an experiment to define a parts-per-billion solution. In this ecology instructional activity, students select a second substance to create a parts-per-billion solution and observe and record their results....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Warm is the Water?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students research how surface sea temperature changes throughout the year. They draw a time series of sea surface temperatures for each month of the year and a depth profile for a summer and winter month using an OceanExplorer Profiler...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Climate Watch

For Teachers 4th - 12th
Students participate in a national survey of biological indicators of climate change by gathering and submitting data on local plants and animals.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Kingship Rested in Peace

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students investigate, by decades, important events in Middle Eastern history, King Hussein of Jordan's influence on these events and how it affected U.S. foreign policy and produce a timeline representing the five decades in King Hussein...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Hi-Tech Volunteerism

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students examine their personal skills and strengths and connect them to specific volunteer possibilities in developing countries. Based on what they explore hi-tech venture philanthropy, students envision projects that affect global...