Howard Hughes Medical Institute
The Anthropocene: Human Impact on the Environment
Will human existence define an epoch? Many scientists think we are in a new epoch, the anthropocene, defined by humans and our impact on the environment. An online interactive demonstrates the immense impact humans have had on every part...
Curated OER
Endocrine Disruptors in Our Drinking Water: Should We Be Concerned?
Young scholars investigate the different hormone contaminants in the water supply. In this math instructional activity, students analyze data tables and graphs. They demonstrate exponential growth and decay using frog populations.
Curated OER
Interpreting Statistics: A Case of Muddying the Waters
Is river pollution affecting the number of visitors to Riverside Center, and is the factory built upstream the cause of the pollution? Let your class be the judge, literally, as they weigh the statistical evidence offered by the factory...
Royal Society of Chemistry
Structure of the Earth
What lies beyond the ground beneath our feet? Young geologists learn the four main layers of Earth with an engaging puzzle set. The interactive illustrates each layer, and users must place them correctly before they can progress to the...
Curated OER
Letter of Complaint
Learners analyze this letter of complaint to the city council by answering nine short-answer questions. They examine author's purpose, word choice, claims, rhetorical questions, and general observations. There is a focus on constructive...
Sargent Art
Protect Our Marine Life
Encourage water conservation and boost art skills with a hands-on activity that challenges young painters to create a scene highlighting marine life. Using oil pastels, scholars draw an underwater scene and write a tip for viewers to...
Curated OER
Heavy Breathing
Learners investigate asthma and air quality, and then map or graph the incidence of asthma by county and air quality information by county in the state of Maryland. They attempt to see any correlations and note any limitations of the data.
Curated OER
Washing Air
Students observe a model of a wet scrubber. They discuss this and other methods of pollutant recovery. They discover how engineers use this information to protect the environment.
Curated OER
Solar Cars
Students research the causes and effects of air pollution. Using the internet, they examine the specific effects of carbon dioxide on the environment and discover the benefits of using solar power. In groups, they build a model of a...
Curated OER
Mass Transit
Students explore the world of mass transit and how it affects their community as well as how it attempts to reduce our pollution mass. Included as well are the environmental and social factors relating to mass transit. They read and...
Curated OER
Tower Building Challenge- Budgeting
In this tower building and budgeting learning exercise, students attempt to meet the goal of building the tallest free standing structure on the smallest budget. They build the structures with straw, paper clips, and masking tape which...
Curated OER
Benefits of Indoor Plants
Students diagram a plant. In this Science instructional activity, students explore the concept of photosynthesis focusing on the oxygen production. Students calculate the amount of plants needed to filter the air in their classroom.
DiscoverE
Build a Watershed
What's the best way to learn how watersheds work? Build one! Combining engineering, the water cycle, and ecology concerns, the activity is the perfect fit for an interdisciplinary unit. Teams construct a model watershed with simple...
Curated OER
Interstate Relations
Your class might be clear on how the federal government relates to states, but what about how states relate to each other? Challenge your students with this worksheet, which could function as a review activity or as a quiz. Questions...
Curated OER
Gulf Oil Spill Fill-In
In this Gulf oil spill instructional activity, students examine an article regarding basic facts about the April 20, 2010 oil spill and then respond to 25 fill in the blank questions. A word bank is provided.
Curated OER
My Hometown
Students identify the basic requirements needed for survival and identify the resouces needed for survival that are found within their own community. They use craft materials to create a model of it and then. create a color key to...
Curated OER
Active Lifestyle Challenge
Students, in groups, choose from a list of alternatives for recreational activities, transportation options, nutritional choices and other opportunities people have in their lives to make decisions which either benefits or has a negative...
NOAA
Marine Policy
Save the oceans! The 22nd installment of a 23-part NOAA Enrichment in Marine sciences and Oceanography (NEMO) program focuses on laws and marine policy. Pupils take part in an activity investigating fisheries stock data.
Teach Engineering
Optimize! Cleaner Energy Options for Rural China
What are the trade-offs when looking to get the most benefit from an energy source? Small groups compare the cost-to-emission levels of several energy sources by looking at the information graphically. The groups utilize this information...
Teach Engineering
Chromatography Lab
Groups use alcohol and chromatography paper to separate the color components of black ink. The purpose of the activity is to allow the class to become aware that mixtures exist in hidden places.
DiscoverE
Water Sampling
What is the best way to test water quality? Using plastic bottles, scholars create monitoring sensors to test water quality. Creating three different sensors allows individuals to measure water quality at different water levels.
Teach Engineering
Get the Word Out at McDonald's!
To get the word out that the Great Pacific garbage patch (GPGP) contains millions of pounds of non-biodegrading plastics, individuals research the GPGP and write an article for a newsletter. Researchers present their facts in a way that...
Amnesty International
Human Rights and Service Learning (Part 1)
What better way is there to teach about human rights than by seeing them firsthand? Introduce your class or club to the spirit of service through a myriad of service project ideas. First in a series of human rights instructional...
Curated OER
An Underground River
Seventh graders describe how water flows through the ground, what an aquifer is and what soil properties are used to predict groundwater flow. They consider the affects of pollution on groundwater supplies and write a letter drawing...