Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Indian Ocean Explored

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students examine the rich array of marine wildlife that lives in waters surrounding the Indian subcontinent. They explore the relationships among organisms in coral reefs. They explore environmental dangers to coral reefs and research...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Investigative Case: The Nancy Creek Challenge

For Teachers 9th - Higher Ed
Students examine a case study of fish kill in Nancy Creek and identify the environmental conditions that favor life in a fresh water ecosystem. They work in small groups to assess the situation and gather resources from various places in...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

TE Lesson: How Clean is that Water?

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students examine the factors the affect water quality, and allow for animals and plants to live. They look at how engineers apply water quality information when making stream modifications in order to ensure drinking water quality. They...
Lesson Plan
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Martian Earth Tours

For Teachers K - 3rd
Students study a variety of global wetland habitats, their similarities and differences. They examine the variety of life that such wetlands support and determine that many animals and plants are adapted to life in wetlands, that...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Natural Inquirer Ecosystem Article Lesson

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students discover new ways to preserve the ecosystem by completing graphic organizers.  In this environmental lesson, students read an article from the Natural Inquirer in small groups and fill out a graphic organizer based on the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Kure Waste Chase Game Lesson

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Students work together to identify marine debris. They explain the effect of the debris on various ecosystems. They draw different types of ocean currents as well.
Lesson Plan
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Something Fishy - Bioaccumulation of Mercury

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers explore the dangers of eating high levels of mercury and how small amounts of mercury in water accumulate in greater quantities in organisms higher in the food chain. They list the health of effects of high levels of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Earth's Biomes

For Teachers 10th
Tenth graders examine characteristics and animals of terrestrial biomes. In this Earth's biomes lesson, 10th graders view a PowerPoint, take noes, sort pictures, research biomes, and create a diorama of a biome for presentation.
Lesson Plan
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100 Things You Can Do to Save the Planet

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students examine the possible ways to recycle, reuse, and re-imagine products and objects in order to reduce pollution and waste on our planet. In this 100 things you can do to save the planet instructional activity, students take three...
Lesson Plan
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Voyage to Kure Viewing Guide

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students complete a worksheet while viewing a video about the oceans. They locate the oceans on a map and identify positive and negative ways in which humans have impacted them. They discuss any questions at the end of the lesson.
Lesson Plan
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Fossils Footprints Across Time

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students examine fossils to understand how they are formed and how they give information about geological history. In this fossil lesson, students research and write about fossils and make models of different fossil types.The PDF...
Lesson Plan
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Out on a Limb: Earth Day

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners understand the importance of trees to the environment and their community. In this Earth Day lesson, students discuss the value of trees and plan a project to plant trees. Learners understand the role of an environmentalist and...
Lesson Plan
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Repopulating Michigan's Waterways

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders identify the parts of an ecosystem and how communities change over time.  In this ecology lesson students formulate a habitat restoration plan.
Lesson Plan
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West Nile Virus Strikes Again

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Students examine the West Nile virus and how it is impacting an American Indian reservation,  In this virus lesson students devise a prevention plan for an Indian reservation to help limit the transfer of the West Nile virus.
Lesson Plan
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Introduction to Urban & Community Forestry: Why Do We Need Trees?

For Teachers 12th
Twelfth graders construct a timeline to show changes and trends in the future of urban and community forestry. In this forestry lesson, 12th graders discuss the importance of trees. They read a timeline and add future events to show...
Lesson Plan
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Sustainable Island Development

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Young scholars explain how the basic human needs of a large group of people can be met. They describe and evaluate alternative methods for providing water and food, producing electricity, handling wastes, and transporting goods and...
Lesson Plan
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Improving the Building Envelope System

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explain the different heat transfer mechanisms and how they influence the building envelope. They develop ways in which the building envelope can be improved and test hypotheses about building envelope designs.
Lesson Plan
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Improving the HVAC System

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students describe the components of an HVAC system and determine which factors influence how efficient the system can be. They work together to develop hypotheses about the systems and their cost effectiveness and efficiency.
Lesson Plan
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What Makes a Habitable Planet?

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Students list conditions necessary for humans to survive. They then mix yeast with a nutrient broth consisting of warm water and table sugar in a plastic bottle, capping it with a party balloon and compare the factors within the bottle...
Lesson Plan
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Let the River Run

For Teachers 6th - 9th Standards
Pupils examine deposits found in a river in this science instructional activity. They collect data of sediment deposit found in the Mississippi river, then graph and analyze their data using the TI.
Lesson Plan
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Identifying an Earthworm

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students navigate the Internet to learn to identify Earthworms. For this taxonomy lesson, students explore species of earthworms finding their characteristics and using photographs to identify the species. Students research information...
Lesson Plan
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Fishing

For Teachers K - Higher Ed
Students explore the techniques and basic needs of the fisherman.  In this fishing activity, students view a demonstration of the use of fishing equipment. Students research Iowa farm ponds and design a class mural from their...
Lesson Plan
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Discovering the Wetlands!

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Students name wetland plant and animal life.  In this ecosystem lesson students go birdwatching and interpret native plants through art. 
Lesson Plan
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Blame It On El Nino

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students understand what the weather phenomenon El Nino is and what causes it. Students recognize how remote sensing technology can detect and predict El Nino. Students discover how El Nino effects weather conditions throughout the globe...