Curated OER
Castles and Cornerstones
Students become familiar with the style of architecture of medieval times. In this architecture lesson plan, students design a model of a medieval castle including its cornerstone. Students understand scale in their representation.
Curated OER
Goldfish Bowl
Young scholars discover proper pet care by creating a home for a fish. In this pet responsibility lesson, students create a goldfish bowl by cutting a plastic jug in half and decorating it with markers and stickers. Young...
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How Long Does Trash Last
Learners work in cooperative groups to estimate how long trash lasts in a landfill. They study environmental consequences of not recycling and use graph-making software to create a graph that illustrates the lifespan of trash items...
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Leprechaun Dust
Learners make "leprechaun dust" in this short art lesson using Jello instant pistachio pudding, small jars, milk, and spoons. Ideal for celebrating St. Patrick's Day with early-elementary students. Can be combined with the reading of a...
Education Outside
Natural Dye Tie-Dye
Up-cycle, or reprocess waste materials, into colorful tie-dye clothing or banners with an activity that uses fruits and vegetable juices as dye sources.
Newspaper Association of America
Cereal Bowl Science and Other Investigations with the Newspaper
What do cereal, fog, and space shuttles have to do with newspapers? A collection of science investigations encourage critical thinking using connections to the various parts of the newspaper. Activities range from building origami seed...
Sir Peter Blake Trust
Learn About Leadership
Sir Peter Blake was an award-winning New Zealand yachtsman who was killed by pirates in 2001. Scholars learn about his leadership qualities in a fun lesson that combines games, writing, and discussion. Pupils also reflect on ideas of...
Curated OER
Egg Carton Buggy Mobile
Craft paper, string, and clean egg cartons are used to create super cute bug mobiles. Included are instructions and images to assist you in guiding your class through the process of making these very cool mobiles. The project would be a...
Curated OER
Art Studio
Students collaborate with their classmates to create a sculpture with the provided materials in order to cultivate fine motor and social skills. In this collaborative art activity, students work in small groups to design the pedestal and...
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Pick It Up!
Students investigate recycling by creating receptacles that can hold trash or recyclable items. For this graphic design lesson, students encourage their classmates to help save the environment by using a recycling receptacle they...
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Don't Forget the Three R's
Learners encourage one another in recycling. In this environment and art instructional activity, students create a new recycling bin that would help people in remembering to recycle.
Curated OER
"Eggs-hibit" Students' Egg-Carton Art
Students follow instructions and exercise creativity as they take an old egg carton and a few other easy-to-find art supplies and create "eggs-quisite" art! In addition, they recycle an every day egg carton into art.
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Aluminum Can Drive
Second graders complete a recycling project to clean-up their school. In this service project lesson, 2nd graders assess their campus for litter, set up a recycling project, clean up their campus, and recycle the trash. Students also...
Curated OER
The Landfill Loafers Meet the Wise Buys
Fourth graders demonstrate an understanding of recyclable materials, what proper disposal of these items is and which waste materials can be recycled. Students engage in a simulation/role play that increases their understanding of...
Curated OER
Edward Burtynsky's Ship Breaking
Seventh graders view Edward Burtynsky's artwork that represents ship breaking. They view images of recycling, the water cycle, rusted metal, and ships to determine factors that threaten the existence of a particular habitat of an...
Curated OER
Fashion Forward, Fashion Functional
Students consider the implications of waste. In this waste streams lesson plan, students learn what waste streams are and identify their impact on the environment. Students also recycle waste materials to create functional objects.
Curated OER
Packaging
In this environmental awareness lesson, students discuss packaging and the importance of using recycled materials in their packaging. Students bring in all sorts of items from home, and brainstorm ways that those items could have been...
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Life Science- Useful Waste
Fourth graders explore the topic of waste and recycling. In this useful waste lesson, 4th graders classify objects and sort them into most usable and least usable categories. Students complete an activity sheet and have a discussion on...
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Taking Charge of our Earth and its Resources
Students identify natural resources, discuss conservation and protection of them, and identify how pollution is harmful to the environment. Seven lessons on one page.
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All Wrapped Up
Students explore packaging. In this cross-curriculum lesson, students bring in samples of food packaging and identify the packaging as natural or manufactured.
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Sojourner Model
Sixth graders explore the concept of Sojourner. In this visual arts lesson, student create a model of Sojourner using recyclable or "junk" materials. Students are encouraged to experiment and problem solve to find what works...
Curated OER
Waste Minimization and Protecting the Environment
Pupils study the amount of waste produced and its effects on the environment. They discuss food, money, and energy and how their waste effects others. They read a play to explore how waste is produced and create a collage of materials...
Curated OER
Everything's Connected
Students explore how trash decomposes. In this ecosystem instructional activity, students discuss new vocabulary words, such as producers and consumers, and think critically to answer how landfills work.
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Where Is Away?
Students explore ways to dispose of trash. In this lesson, students discuss where trash goes when it leaves their house and other inappropriate ways to dispose of trash. Students brainstorm ways to produce less waste.