Clean Up Australia
Why are Batteries Harmful to the Environment?
Open this lesson plan by reading together about primary and secondary batteries (such as nickel-cadmium cells), problems they can cause in the environment, and how humans can minimize the damage. Afterward, little ones examine a...
Pulitzer Center
Exploring Downstream: Water Resources
The lack of clean water is a life-threatening plight for millions of people around the world. Through an extensive WebQuest, young environment or social studies classes compare our water availability to that of the cxitizens of Ethiopia,...
Forest Foundation
Fire in Our Communities - What Can We Do?
Learn about defensible space and renewable resources with a activity about forest fires. After exploring the ways that humans have impacted the environment, kids conduct mock interviews about differing points of view in the conservation...
Cornell University
Field Day: Be an IPM Detective
Become a pest detective! Individually or in small groups, scholars scout the land to discover which pests—plant and animal—inhabit it, determine whether the pests are endangering the environment, and summarize their findings.
Curated OER
The Risk-Benefit Factor Challenging Our Environment
Seventh graders examine the factors that are contributing to the degrading of the Earth's environment. In groups, they analyze the types of hazards when dealing with pests and give an example of each. For each situation given, they...
Beyond Benign
Daphnia Bioassay LD50
De-icing materials may have a harmful effect on our environment; have your class perform an experiment to test the nature of these effects. Scholars monitor the survival rate of a sample of daphnia as the concentration of a de-icing...
Rainforest Alliance
Who Takes Care of the Maya Forest Corridor?
Who keeps animals safe? Who keeps us safe? Discover the helpers that make learning and growing possible through a medley of activities that focus on habitats—ours and those in the rainforest. Scholars are asked to identify one...
Pulitzer Center
The Global Water Crisis
High schoolers examine the "quiet crisis," the lack of clean water, by reading articles and viewing video clips. They discuss the situations in Ethiopia, Yemen, Kenya, and Nepal. There are two options for the lesson, but one of them...
Curated OER
How to Handle and Dispose of Household Products Safely
Learners engage in the study of household cleaning products, how to read the labels and how to use them safely and also how to properly dispose of the containers when they are empty. They read the labels and determine if the products...
Carnegie Mellon University
Introduction to Climate
Begin a full lesson on climate change by demonstrating how carbon dioxide gas contributes to increased temperatures. Be aware that pressure inside the antacid-containing bottle in Activity 2 may cause the lid to fly off; keep viewers at...
Safe Routes to School
Pollution & Evolution
Bring together a study of two major scientific topics with a lesson plan on the relationship between pollution and evolution. With the help of a PowerPoint presentation, hands-on activity. and class demonstration young scientists...
Curated OER
Moebius Strips
Students make Moebius strips and use them to demonstrate the interconnectedness of an environment. They explore the natural cycles (water, oxygen/carbon dioxide, carbon, nitrogen) within the environment. They describe how the cycles are...
Curated OER
Pollution
Young ecologists investigate some of the many ways that human activities adversely affect the environment. After identifying the main types of pollution (air, water, soil), 3rd graders fill in a Venn Diagram by pasting cut-out pictures...
Curated OER
Animal Electronic I.D.
Students discover ways to keep the animals in our environment safe by examining electronic I.D. tags. For this animal safety lesson, students participate in a role-playing activity in which they are monitored by an electronic I.D....
University of Southern California
What's the Catch?
There must be a catch! A comprehensive lesson looks at ocean fishing concerns through a set of five hands-on activities. Learners become aware of the risks of seafood contamination and factors that have affected the ocean environment.
Curated OER
How Can We Help?
Students explore ocean animals and their environments. In this environmental stewardship lesson plan, students read a story and discuss the environmental needs of animals. Students think of ways to help clean up the environment and to...
Curated OER
Skin: The Behavior and Health Connection
Students explore how personal behavior can affect health, especially the health of your skin. They become better aware of how their personal behavior and the environment can have a considerable impact on their health in general. Students...
Curated OER
Is My Business Your Business?
Students examine how businesses practice sound waste management. They discuss how to plan a business, identify how to make the least impact on the environment in planning a Kool-Aid stand, and complete Business Costs Worksheets for the...
Curated OER
Solid Waste Recycling
Learners plan a "no garbage" lunch and hold a classroom contest to sort grabage into what can and what can't be recycled. They assess the importance of reducing the amount of garbage in the environment and set up a book recycling program.
Curated OER
Local Hydrologic Cycle
Learners draw the water cycle as it occurs in their community. For this water cycle lesson, students observe demonstrations of sublimation and infiltration. They also use photographs or their own drawings of their...
Curated OER
Keeping Our Pets Safe in an Emergency
Students participate in a service learning project to benefit the members and animals in their community. In this animal welfare lesson, students review emergency preparedness. Students discuss animal safety in an emergency. Students...
Kenan Fellows
Sustainability: Learning for a Lifetime – The Importance of Water
Water is essential for life—and understanding the importance of clean drinking water is essential in understanding sustainability! Show your environmental science class the basics of water testing and treatment through a week-long...
Kenan Fellows
Making Connections with Water Quality
What's in your water? And, why is water quality so important? Enhance your class's level of water appreciation through a lesson that demonstrates the necessity of water quality. Environmental enthusiasts explore the EPA's Clean Water...
Curated OER
Urban Safari: A Walk on the Wild Side
Learners discover the urban ecosystem through a series of activities. They explore both the biotic and abiotic factors of the urban environment.