Beyond Benign
Water Bottle Unit
How much plastic do manufacturers use to create water bottles each year? The class explores the number of water bottles used throughout the years to determine how many consumers will use in the future. Class members compare different...
DiscoverE
Design a Folding Solar Panel
Solar energy is an amazing alternative ... but, not always particularly portable! Challenge young scientists to a folding solar panel build-off with an easy-to-execute activity. Scholars brainstorm around specific design needs, construct...
Serendip
Cells as Molecular Factories
Cells are both made of molecules and make molecules all at the same time! An exploratory lesson provides a means for scholars to research the components of cells made of molecules and also investigate the molecule-producing power of...
Curated OER
Map Your Area
Students map the geographic boundaries of a recycling program's service areas and include the location of buyers important to the program. They use this map as an aid in managing a school recycling program or project.
Curated OER
Reduce and Respect!
Students examine how to reduce trash to help the environment. In this environment lesson, students listen to the story, The Wartville Wizard, before thinking about how they can reduce trash. They decide why it is important to reduce...
Curated OER
Activity #5 Environmental Effects
Students explain the implications of particle theory of The Law of Conservation of Matter for problems of pollution and waste disposal. They describe, in terms of atoms and molecules, what happens to materials when they are dissolved or...
Curated OER
Reuse and Respect!
Students examine the concept of reusing trash to save the environment. In this environment lesson, students examine the definition of the word reuse, and apply it by finding ways to reuse trash in their school. They talk about what...
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INSECTS
Seventh graders select, collect, and classify various insects by constructing an apparatus from materials that aid in the capture and containment of the insect.
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GARBAGE 1: THE ROOTS OF TRASH
Students identify the various natural resources used to produce common items; to explain how people use science and technology to produce those items.
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From Trees to Paper
Sixth graders investigate logging and the process of paper making. In this forestry lesson, 6th graders analyze pictures of trees being processed into the paper they use everyday. Students solve and create math problems based...
Curated OER
All Wrapped Up
Students work in teams to identify and sort types of packaging used in food production. They consider ways to reduce the environmental impact of packaging and reflect how consumer choices play a role in trash production.
Curated OER
Stage 1: What is Going into the Bin?
Student can explain the difference between biodegradable and non-biodegradable. They calculate how much rubbish bags all their families together produce each week and then calculate how much rubbish their families produce during the...
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Think Before You Toss
Students sort a variety of trash items and determine thier sorting decisions.
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Cows, Worms, and Compost
Students study decomposition. For this decomposition lesson, students discuss the background information about decomposition. Students then complete the 'Chew It Twice' worksheet.
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Illegal Dumping
Students go on an outing and note garbage near picnic tables. They brainstorm ways to be involved with anti-litter campaigns and write letters to local officials.
Curated OER
Paper
Students study the process of creating paper. They read and discuss a flier and visit centers in small groups to study Paper Fun, Historical Paper, What Paper Is Made Of, and Homemade Paper. After visiting each center, they share the...
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Not In My Backyard: Siting A Resource Recovery Facility
Young scholars role play a town meeting in which a new resource facility could be built. They have time to question each other after all sides have presented.
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Diversity of Trees
Fourth graders explore the uses of trees, In this trees lesson, 4th graders discover the uses of trees and how we use them everyday. Students collect items and decide if they are made from trees, have a scavenger hunt for wood products...
Curated OER
Where does our trash come from?
Students interview the school custodian to get information about the trash found in the school community. In this trash lesson, students work in groups to analyze the content of a waste basket, see where the trash goes and...
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Snowy Night Snaps
Students use misprinted photographs donated from a photo processing company to create paintings of a snowy landscape at night.
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Chocolate Chipping Away at the Rock Cycle
Eighth graders identify the different types of rocks. In this earth science lesson, 8th graders compare and contrast rocks and chocolate cookies. They explain how materials are recycled beneath the Earth.
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Excavating Your Recycling Bin as a Fossil Record
Students explore how scientists examine the past and use rock layers with fossils to understand the past. In this excavation lesson students divide into groups and complete an activity.
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Earth's Recyclers
Middle schoolers work together in groups to report on different topics related to decomposition. They answer questions and share their answers with the class. They discuss any topic that is unclear.
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Invent a Backscratcher from Everyday Materials
Students explore the design process. They discuss why new products are made, examine backscratchers brought in from home and discuss why it is a useful device, and working with a partner draw and construct a backscratcher.