Lesson Plan
Curated OER

River Research

For Teachers 5th - 9th
Students use the internet to research the streams and rivers found in Illinois. Using the information, they identify and describe the rivers and streams along with the physical characteristics of a river ecosystem. They share what they...
Lesson Plan
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Rollin' on the River: The McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers take a close look at the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation system. They study how the Army Corps of Engineers built and monitor the system. Learners discover how a lock and a dam work, and study three benefits of...
Unit Plan
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Unit 2: Global to Local: Understanding My Place in the Hydrosphere

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
What does the ground around your home have to do with water pollution? Young ecologists learn about their local watershed and create their own cause-and-effect models of the hydrosphere.
Worksheet
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K12 Reader

Water Carves the Land

For Students 4th - 5th Standards
What affect do bodies of water have on the world around us? Kids can find out by reading this passage. After reading, they answer five questions related to the text.
Lesson Plan
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Environment: Rivers of Destiny

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students investigate the results of human intervention with the Mekong. Mississippi, and Amazon rivers. After watching a video about the status of the three rivers, they complete experiments demonstrating the effects of erosion and...
Lesson Plan
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Nutrients In Chesapeake Bay

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students perform pH and turbidity test to determine water quality. In this environmental science lesson, students analyze NASA database on chlorophyll-a in the bay. They explain how a small river area affects Chesapeake Bay.
Lesson Plan
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Sedimentary Rocks

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Sedimentary rocks are the building blocks of this geology lesson. In it, learners discover what sedimentary rocks are and how they form. They understand the differences between the major sedimentary rock varieties and learn what types of...
Lesson Plan
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Evaluating an Illinois Earthquake

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Young scholars develop awareness of occurrences of earthquakes in Illinois and their past and potential future damage, and examine distribution of earthquakes in central U.S. regions.
Worksheet
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Fourth Grade Science

For Students 4th
In this science worksheet, 4th graders answer multiple choice questions about coastlines, electric cars, the food chain, and more. Students complete 25 questions.
Lesson Plan
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The 1927 Flood

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Upper elementary and middle schoolers examine the Great Flood of 1927 in the state of Arkansas. They each prepare an oral report about this flood and the huge impact it had on the economics of that time. Additionally, learners research...
Lesson Plan
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Where in the World Is All the Water?

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students investigate the distribution of the earth's water. They conduct a demonstration of water distribution, and create a pie graph to display the results.
Lesson Plan
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Fluoride in Durango's Water-Helpful or Harmful?

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders complete several activities in their quest to find out about the addition of fluoride to city water. First, they create a guide sheet to help organize notes. The next two steps involve taking notes through guided practice....
Lesson Plan
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The Mussels Are Coming

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students work together to identify and describe the various types of mussels. Using a color-coded system, they plot the arrival date of zebra mussels in North American waters. They discuss the increase in their population with the class.
Lesson Plan
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Mighty Macroinvertebrates

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders identify the names and features of macroinvertebrates found in Turtle River.  In this ecology lesson students use digital microscopes and take pictures of invertebrates. 
Lesson Plan
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Water Management in Florida

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students discuss water management. They examine the water management districts in their area. They complete an experiment in which they role-play a water management manager.
Lesson Plan
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Microscopic Water Life

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students use a light microscope to observe the organisms living in a sample of ocean or fresh water. Students create a drawing of the organisms that they observe. Students then discuss the different body plans of the organisms and the...
Lesson Plan
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To Drink or Not to Drink?

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders compare water conservation issues as they impact the past, present, and future in Nevada. In this water conservation lesson, 2nd graders perform and ice experiment to comprehend water collection differences. Students...
PPT
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Chesapeake Bay

For Teachers 4th - 8th
The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States. Explore its origins, organisms, and contributing rivers with this PowerPoint. It opens with several slides of general information on the formation of estuaries, then it...
Lesson Plan
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Water: On the Surface and in the Ground

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Pupils explore the differences between surface water and ground water. They collect data using maps and graphs and investigate a Texas river basin and a nearby aquifer. They complete a written report including maps and data regarding the...
Lesson Plan
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Fish In a Bottle

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Students work together to build their own fish ecosystems. As a class, they share their prior knowledge about catfish and use a diagram to label its body parts. They record their observations of the ecosystem and determine what they...
Lesson Plan
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Floodplain Modeling

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Learners simulate the impact of fluctuating river volumes on structures and landforms. They experiment with table top-sized riverbed models and water. Students consider how human design can help mitigate the effects of a flood.
Lesson Plan
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Evaluating an Illinois Earthquake

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students examine the frequency of earthquakes in Illinois. They discover the distribution of earthquakes in the Midwest. They also practice reading measurements from the Richter scale and Mercalli Intensity scale.
Lesson Plan
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Working for Water

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Learners examine the ways that government works to help improve aquatic habitats. In this water habitats instructional activity students view a video and plan a school restoration project. 
Lesson Plan
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Carve That Mountain

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students investigate major landforms (e.g., mountains, rivers, plains, hills, oceans and plateaus). They build a three-dimensional model of a landscape depicting several of these landforms. Once they have built their model, they act as...