Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Water Cycle

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students are introduced to the components and importance of the water cycle. They are shown how groundwater moves using a model. Students list 9 places on earth where water is found. They define the terms cycle and water cycle.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water Filtration

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students explore, analyze, study and demonstrate the procedures that municipal water plants may use to purify water for drinking. They cover the clean water processes of aeration, coagulation, sedimentation, filtration and disinfection.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rivers that Flow from the Continental Divide: The Journey of Two Rivers

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students explore river routes. In this social studies lesson, students trace the route of a river from its source and discuss the Continental Divide. Students draw the route the river takes and name the states it flows through. Students...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Clean Energy: Hydro-power

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students read about and discuss renewable and non renewable energy and identify how a dam produced energy using hydro-power. In this water energy lesson plan, students look at diagrams and pictures of water energy technology.
PPT
Curated OER

Jeopardy - Earth Sciences

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Questions about water, weather, geology, astronomy, and the scientific process make up this Jeopardy game. It is a pretty well-rounded set of slides, although you may want to be aware that a few of the questions are specific to the state...
Handout
National Institute of Open Schooling

Environmental Concerns

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
Every year, more than 14 billion pounds of garbage is dumped into the oceans of the world, most of which is plastic and toxic to ocean life. Lesson 32 in the series of 36 focuses on environmental concerns, specifically pollution. Under...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water Pollution

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students explore the causes of water pollution. In this environmental lesson, students conduct experiments with natural filtration systems.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Day in the Life of Bottled Water

For Teachers 1st - 6th
Young scholars research natural resources. In this environmental lesson, students define what a natural resource is and explore the life of a single-use water bottle. Young scholars create a waste-reduction plan.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Natural Resources: Getting a Fair Share?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore the impact of human behavior on key components of the environment, examine how theirn own personal decisions have added to the problem, and explore possible solutions to the current ecological crisis.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Our Space Station Earth

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students discover ways to preserve the Earth's resources. For this natural resources lesson, students investigate how many gallons of water the average American uses per day and then total their estimated usage. Students discuss the...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Alternative Energy Resources

For Students 7th - 8th
In this alternative energy resources worksheet, students identify the ore that is commonly used in nuclear power plants and how it is processed. Then they determine the reaction that occurs when uranium atoms are split. Students also...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water Quality Tests Explained

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students define all eight water quality parameters and list at list one source for each of the eight water quality parameters. They determine how each of the eight parameters affect river ecosystems.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Naturally Speaking

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Learners identify the Earth's natural resources and classify them as renewable or non-renewable. They simulate the distribution of resources and discuss the fairness and effectiveness of the distribution. They identify ways that they use...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water - Planning for the Future

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers explore and examine the increases and/or decreases for water user groups: irrigation, municipal, manufacturing, steam electric power generation cooling, livestock, and mining. They utilize percentage changes during their...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Natural Features as a Resource

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Young scholars identify resources provided by nature for basic human needs. In this natural features lesson plan, students discuss the various regions of the United States. They explore one region in depth and complete activities that...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Week 3: Pollution Source and Effects

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Lab groups set up an experiment to observe what happens over time in collected pond water when fertilizer, representing pollution, is added. This website does not include student lab sheets, but background information, materials, and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Leach Out and Touch Someone

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Young scholars discuss how groundwater becomes polluted. In groups, they design and create models of groundwater pollution sources. They demonstrate to the class how the water may become contaminated from local and nonlocal pollution...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Farmers - Caretakers of the Land

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students explore resource management, specifically farming. After reviewing vocabulary words, groups of students explore what is conserved by each practice. They compare and contrast responses. Students describe farming procedures which...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Let the River Run

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Young scholars explore the environment by reading a story in class. For this water formation lesson, students define environmental terms such as rivers, streams, gulf, oceans and lakes. Young scholars read the story A River Ran Wild and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Environmental Studies: The Power of Wind

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Investigate the prospect of wind as a renewable resource. Second and third graders make a pinwheel, answer critical thinking questions, and then attempt to use wind power to wind string. I would be more apt to use this activity in a 1st...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Contain Yourself: Changes Over Time in the Use of Containers by Native Americans

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students investigate how Native American containers changed over time and how the use of pottery changed their lifestyle. They create a pottery container.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Matter of Survival

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders dance with inspiration from wild animals. In this creative movement lesson, 4th graders watch a video clip and then move like an animal might move in their natural surroundings.
Lesson Plan
Carnegie Mellon University

Nuclear Energy

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Extensive background material, clear objectives, and more are provided to help you teach an introduction to nuclear power. Learners will be able to explain how nuclear power is generated and how it compares to coal-created power. Provide...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Parched! No Water, No Town

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students discuss the benefits of water conservation. Given a data sheet, they document their water usage over a specified period. Water usage data is graphed and analyzed. Students discuss ways in which they can conserve water.