Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mini-Ponds

For Teachers 7th - 9th
In this mini pond worksheet, students create a mini-pond ecosystem with soil, water, and plant life. Students let their ecosystem sit for a day and they observe a sample the next day. Students identify all the pond water microorganisms...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sound Observations

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Students explore sound waves by conducting an experiment in class. In this sound frequency lesson plan, students utilize a tuning fork in class and identify which objects in class create different sound pitches on the fork. Students...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Digging the Earth's Crust

For Teachers 4th - 9th
Young scholars investigate the Earth's crust. In this geology lesson plan, students identify the materials made up of the Earth's crust and investigate the different kinds of soil.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Tongue Map

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Learners explore human anatomy by conducting a human senses experiment. In this taste lesson, students identify the main purpose of a tongue and how it enhances our eating habits. Learners utilize baking coca, lemon juice, salt and honey...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Traveling on the Sea of Gold: An Adventure in Japan Through Literature

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students explore the geography and culture of Japan through the story "Sea of Gold" by Yoshiko Uchida. They draw a travel poster of Japan, label a map of Japan, use chopsticks to eat Cheerios, read and discuss various books about Japan,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Teaching the Five Themes of Geography Through Picture Books

For Teachers K - 4th
Read the story Make Way for Ducklings and introduce little ones to the five themes of geography. Reread the story, while displaying transparencies to reinforce the five themes. In groups, learners view pictures and identify the themes on...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The History of Your Chicago River

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Young scholars examine the history of the Chicago River. In groups, they identify the problems of the watershed and develop possible solutions. As a class, they examine the importance of the river to the Chicago area by reading a story....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Six Plant Parts

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students create a harvest burrito out of fruit, flowers, roots, stems, and more. In this plants lesson plan, students go out into the garden and identify the 6 plant parts.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water Quality and the St. Mary¿¿¿s River Project Monitoring

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students list different parameters of water and explain how each is important to the balance of the St. Mary ecosystem. They identify the different instruments and explain what they test.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduction to Digestion: What Happens to a Hamburger?

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students explore the human body by analyzing how food is absorbed. In this food digestion lesson, students utilize health vocabulary terms by participating in a guessing game activity. Students discuss their own eating habits and conduct...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Skeletal, Skin, and Muscular Systems

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders explain the functions of various body systems. Using a concept map, 8th graders identify and explain the fuctions of the skeletal, skin, and muscular systems of the body. After completing their concept map, students...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Palette Knife Painting Inspired by the Works of Brian Rutenburg

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Students explore the works of Brian Rutenburg. In this art lesson, students create a work of art using acrylic paint and palette knives inspired by the works of Rutenburg. Students write about their artwork.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Heritage: Famous People of the West

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders investigate the impact of Brigham Young and Jim Bridger on westward expansion. They conduct research, develop a class information chart, and create a cartoon strip depicting what happened when Jim Bridger and Brigham Young...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Growth of Islam

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders gain insight into the daily lives of Muslims and to develop empathy for them by studying the Islamic world and creating presentations.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Race to Dominate the Known World

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students describe cause/effect relationship of a European country's need for resources, exploration, colonization, and settlement of different regions of the world beginning in the 14th Century, and role play representatives of assigned...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Your Body: A Bacteria Incubator!

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students use string, a petri dish, water, wipes, and other materials to collect bacteria from their body. In this bacteria lesson plan, students use ingredients to collect bacteria, observe it, predict what will happen over time, and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Do Foods Help Our Bodies

For Teachers 1st - 5th
Students investigate the specific elements found in food that keep us healthy.  In this healthy eating lesson, students identify proteins, carbohydrates, minerals, and vitamins as part of a healthy diet when consumed in moderation....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Hypoxia and the Dead Zone in the Gulf of Mexico

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students investigate the causes of hypoxia, the characteristics of a watershed, and how the actions and management practices of people can both negatively and positively affect aquatic ecosystems.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Storm Drain Dumping

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students conduct an experiment to show how water gets contaminated through neighborhood runoffs.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

These Lakes are Great

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Learners examine the Great Lakes Basin and water conservation. In this Great Lakes and water lesson, students study the location of the lakes before reading the book, The River Ran Wild. They discuss the associated vocabulary and in...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Secrets of the Ocean Realm - Survival in the Sea

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Pupils determine the sequential links in a marine food chain and identify the roles that various organisms play in this chain. Students develop charts as visual aids for illustrating marine food chains.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Oceanography

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders identify saltwater and freshwater habitats and the resources found in them. They compare and contrast the two habitats and discuss their findings. They discover the resources bodies of water can provide.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Interpreting Aerial Photographs

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students interpret aerial photographs. They view aerial photographs or satellite-produced images to locate and identify physical and human features. They study satellite images and label their images for bodies of water, clouds,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

United Kingdom

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers investigate the geographical features of the United Kingdom. They create a clay, playdoh, or salt and flour map of the region. The maps should be labeled with landmarks and bodies of water. They can also draw maps on...