Michigan Sea Grant
Wetlands
Wetlands may not sound particularly ornate, but they are as important as any habitat! With a hands-on activity, young scientists build a wetland model and observe its many functions in action. They discover the importance of wetlands to...
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Watershed Tourist
Learners recognize and categorize different bodies of water. In this watershed and water environments lesson, students "Follow the Water from Brook to Ocean." Learners define the different bodies of water and sort from smallest to...
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Air and Weather
Second graders study Earth's materials. In this air and weather lesson, 2nd graders note changes in the weather and examine tools that help us study the weather. Students analyze how changes in the environment make changes in the...
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Creek Detectives WISE On-line Research Community
Students investigate ways people cause harm to the environment. In this environmental lesson, students explore a case study on the Internet. Students explore all of the online activities and collect data for a presentation.
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Pets: Oh Behave
Students develop an understanding of how innate and learned behaviors and the environment determine behavior. They see how a variety of factors affects our pet's behavior-including species-specific traits, the environment, training, and...
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Speaking for the Trees
Students present a play based on The Lorax.In this environmental issues lesson, students read and discuss literature and complete activities pertaining to environmental stewardship.
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It Keeps Going & Going &...
Young scholars extend linear and directional patterns, identify patterns in classroom and community environments, create original patterns incorporating the senses of sight and sound, and operate video and recording equipment.
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Battery Power
Sixth graders examine how much energy they use in the form of battery power. They examine the cost of using regular vs. rechargeable batteries and examine the effect on the environment of the two types of batteries. They discover that...
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The Awful 8: The Play
Middle schoolers perform a play based on pollution. In this pollution science lesson, students perform a play about different pollutants and how it effects our daily lives.
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It's Everyone's Home
Students research environmental destruction. In this cause and effect lesson, students students gain an understanding of everyday things we do to harm the environment. Students work in groups to create a brochure that tells the...
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The Chips Are Down: A Natural Selection Simulation
Students, in teams, use different colored paper chips to represent prey and a piece of fabric as the environment.
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Wonderfully Wild Unit the four L's of Wildlife
Students appreciate the natural environment. In this "four L's" lesson, students observe, reflect and appreciate unique ecosystems and how they help sustain life. Students create posters with the four L's.
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Positively Paper
Students investigate recycling paper. In this recycling lesson, students explore different types of paper and recycled paper. Students match the correct paper to the recycled product.
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Positively Paper
Students explore the methods of recycling paper. In this recycling lesson, students follow the procedures listed to sort types of paper and make their own recycled paper from each type of paper.
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Where is Agriculture?
Students explore agriculture. In this agriculture lesson, students read "Where is Agriculture?" and discuss all the things that come from agriculture. Students discuss what they need to survive and give examples of agricultural products...
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Food Safety
Students recognize that safe food preparation is important to good health. In this food safety instructional activity, students participate in an activity students separate, clean, chill, and cook food safely. Students use Glo Germ...
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Repair, Reuse, Recycle
Students read "Joseph had a Little Overcoat" and explain why his clothing didn't go to waste. In this repairing, reusing, recycling lesson, students recognize by reusing objects they help the environment. Students write their ideas for...
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Current Groundwater Contamination Research
Students research the effects of groundwater pollutants on life. They name and describe 1 environmental factor that has an effect on our drinking water. Students read the Water-Groundwater and Pollution Article. They discuss and...
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Performing Well Under Pressure
Students study the physical properties of minerals and illustrate their functions. In this mineral lesson students construct models of some minerals.
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Out of This World
Fifth graders animate their own planets. In this solar system lesson, 5th graders use smartphones and the software, GoKnow Sketchy, to create images for presentations on their created planets that appear to be animated when played...
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Jobs and Places
Students explore where jobs can be done. For this geography and careers lesson, the teacher presents the idea that some jobs are location specific while other are not, then students consider a list of jobs and determine where each would...
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Sorting
Students understand that sorting helps find things at a later date. In this sorting lesson, students use a website game and sort the common items. Students sort folders and other classroom items. Students discuss how sorting helped them...
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Maps
Students investigate threee types of maps. In this algebra instructional activity, students idenitfy different maps and explore how they relate to the area keeping cllimate and topography in mind. They discuss maps used to navigate...
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The Community Forest
Fourth graders plant a tree. In this sustainable forestry instructional activity, 4th graders define community forest and brainstorm a location to plant a new tree on the school grounds. Students learn how to plant a tree and discuss...