Curated OER
Nature Art
In this nature art lesson, students take a nature walk and collect items with different sizes, textures and colors. Students use the items they collect to make a collage.
Berkshire Museum
Backyard Rocks
You don't have to travel far to learn about rocks, just step outside, pick up a stone, and begin investigating. After taking a class walk around the school grounds collecting rocks, young scientists practice their skills of observation...
PreKinders
Colors of Nature
The colors of nature are the most beautiful and vivid colors in the world. Show kids the ways that colors are striking and changing throughout different habitats with a set of images that feature two animals or plants for each color.
Curated OER
Living vs. Non-living
Students go on a nature walk and observe and discuss the living and non living things they see in the ecosystem. In this living and non living lesson plan, students complete a connecting string activity to simulate an ecosystem.
Curated OER
Detectives in the Landscape
Fourth graders explore landscapes. In this landscape instructional activity, 4th graders investigate different elements of landscapes. Students design a visual presentation using photographs taken during a nature walk.
Brooklyn Children’s Museum
Volcanoes!
Give young geologists an up close and personal look at volcanoes with a series of hands-on earth science lessons. Whether they are investigating the properties of igneous rocks, building their own volcanoes, or making fudge to model the...
Curated OER
Human or Natural?
Young scholars explore nature by participating in a class lab activity. For this human vs. nature lesson, students examine a group of items in their classroom and discuss whether they were created naturally or have been altered or...
Curated OER
Branching Art From Nature
Learners construct an art piece from nature. In this visual art lesson, students use objects from the environment (petals, leaves, and stones) to create a unique art piece.
Curated OER
Forces That Shape the Earth: Wind, Water and Erosion
In this forces of nature worksheet, students read a 2 page article on the forces of nature and answer 4 detailed comprehension questions about the forces of nature on Earth.
Cyberwise
Good Digital Citizenship Outdoors
It's easy to miss the beauty of nature when one's focus is on technology. Don't make that mistake with help from a two-page reference sheet that provides eight tips for staying present when exploring the world around you.
Curated OER
Nature: Planting Terrariums
Learners observe and experiment using a terrarium. In this scientific lesson plan, students build a nature terrarium. Learners then observe their terrarium over a period of time to discover what makes the plants grow. A science...
Curated OER
Rosie's Walk
Students use maps and globes to locate and describe locations, directions and scale. Using the maps, they identify man made or natural features of different environments. They practice using geographical terms to describe a specific...
Curated OER
Find the Rocks
Students gain appreciation about the geology around them. They navigate the schoolyard using a map. They create a list of what people use rocks for. They mark location of rocks on their maps.
Curated OER
Hazards: Fifth Grade Lesson Plans and Activities
After comparing earthquake and volcanic hazards to one another, fifth graders take a closer look at damage associated with a volcanic eruption. They then create a simulation of mudslides due to a volcanic eruption. Using different...
Curated OER
Wonderfully Wild Unit the four L's of Wildlife
Students appreciate the natural environment. In this "four L's" instructional activity, students observe, reflect and appreciate unique ecosystems and how they help sustain life. Students create posters with the four L's.
Curated OER
Smile...you're on Insect Camera!
Students study insects. They go on an outdoor insect outing and look for insects in a variety of places--in the air, under rocks, on leaves, in water, etc. They record information about the insects they find, including habitat, weather...
Curated OER
Lesson Plans Using Objects Found In Nature
Students create works of art using "found objects" such as bark, leaves, sand, and shells.
Curated OER
Weathering and Erosion
Fourth graders take a look at the effects of weathering and other geologic activities found in the environments in which they live. Along with a guided geologic walk outside of campus, there is also an effective in-class demonstration of...
NOAA
The Incredible Carbon Journey: Play the Carbon Journey Game
Class members explore the carbon cycle in the final installment of the 10-part Discover Your Changing World series. They play a simulation game where they walk through the steps carbon takes as it cycles through the different layers of...
American Museum of Natural History
Create a Coral Reef
Scholars create a diorama to showcase a vibrant coral reef. Six steps walk pupils through setting up the diorama box, crafting four different types of marine life, and putting it all together.
Curated OER
Where in the world is the Hydra Electron?
Walk your class through the journey water takes once it leaves your kitchen sink, all the way through the water cycle. Demonstrations support your lecture. This plan is thoroughly written, but ideally you would follow it up with water...
Curated OER
Do You See What I See?
Second graders view a teacher-created terrarium, and complete a KWL chart. They discuss what they can see, Students go on a nature walk and compare the schoolyard to the terrarium, discussing the roles of rocks, plants, soil, and water...
Curated OER
Fieldwork: Horizons Under Ground: Digging Through Wetland Soil
Learners study the different soil types and describe the different soils in various environments. In this soil lesson students walk to a reserve and discuss what they saw.
Curated OER
Mystery Creek
Fourth graders are introduced to the Riparian Ecosystem. They define the following terms: riparian and riparian ecosystem. Students take a trip to the creek, where they make observations about the environment around them. They are...