Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Down, Dung and Dirty

For Teachers 5th - 10th
Students observe the changes seen in succession and the biodiversity of a community through its species richness and evenness. They create a dung culture in a clear plastic cup from horse, goat or cow dung then observe the numbers of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Gifts from the Sea

For Teachers K - 3rd
Students discover the oceanic food chain.  In this healthy eating lesson, student investigate the fish we eat and the food the fish eat.  Students discover what ocean animals eat seaweed and what everyday foods we eat that also...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Saving the Sandhill Cranes

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore environmental awareness by participating in movie making. In this endangered species lesson, students discuss the problems dealing with sandhill cranes at a nearby beach and the impact our environment is having on them....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Adapting to Seasonal Changes in the Environment

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders discuss how plants and animals, including humans, adapt to climate and seasonal changes. They research the Colville people, and create dioramas that represent life during different seasons for Colville people.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Pollution Solution- Taking Care of the Environment

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Students examine the biodegradability of different brands of toilet paper in a hands-on activity. Through this activity they also discover the steps of the Scientific Method and use new terms such as hypothesis, procedure, observation,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Organisms and Their Environment

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students explore Earth's biosphere. In this biosphere lesson, students participate in group activities regarding biotic and abiotic factors, population density, and species' habitats.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

And the Rains Came Down: A South American Rainforest

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Young scholars examine the characteristics of a South American tropical rainforest. They analyze maps, develop graphs, listen to the book, The Great Kapok Tree, and create a rainforest mural.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Changes in Attitude about the Role of Woodlands

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students investigate the historical forest cover in the United States in 1873. They study a map of 1873 and analyze changes in attitudes about the environment that have taken place in the United States.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Farmer Cares for the Land

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students identify cause and effect relationships in issues relating to agriculture and the environment.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Awful 8: A Play

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers perform a play that presents the causes and effects on people and the environment of the eight major air pollutants.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Engineering and the Senses: Smell

For Teachers K
Students define the sense of smell. In this smell sense lesson, students review their five senses and define the importance of smell. Students practice smelling and identifying items in bags. Students discuss the importance of smell to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Making Connections, Linking Population and the Environment

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students find out that all habitats have a carrying capacity. They explore how the world's human population has grown markedly in the 20th century, and that humans impact environmental health. Students investigate that people can and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Reuse and Respect!

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students examine the concept of reusing trash to save the environment. In this environment activity, students examine the definition of the word reuse, and apply it by finding ways to reuse trash in their school. They talk about what...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Engineering and the Senses: Hearing

For Teachers K
Students explore the sense of hearing. In this 5 senses lesson, students consider how humans and animals use the sense of hearing along with their other senses. Students discuss the body parts responsible for the 5 senses and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Yeast Cells and their Environment

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students study the scientific method and explore how to design an experiment.  In this investigative lesson students explore and hypothesis an experiment then carry it out to find the results. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mystery, Myth, and Wonder: The White Elephant

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars examine the role of the elephant in the culture of Thailand through many different class activities based on a PBS program "The White Elephants of Thailand with Meg Ryan". Students also look at the impact of technology on...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Exploring the USA and the World with Cartograms

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students investigate cartograms in order to explore the different countries on Earth. In this world geography lesson, students use the Internet to analyze data on different cartograms. Students compare data, such as population density,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Environment or Economy?

For Teachers Higher Ed
Students develop counterarguments to John Mizzoni's article on business sustainability. In this economics vs. environment lesson, students present examples of greenwashing and support them with rationale. They also discuss whether...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Biological Pump

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Young scholars use the Internet to analyze the function of a biological pump and how it reacts to various changes in the environment.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Energy in a Clean Environment

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students examine the efficiency of each alternative energy source as well as what limitations exist in terms of extracting the usable energy. They determine which energy source is most effective to the economy and the environment in the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Organisms and Their Environment

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students observe elements of a local ecosystem and gain an understanding of what elements make up an ecosystem.  In this ecosystem lesson students create a class food web that shows the interactions among the elements of the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Shoreline Seining and Sampling

For Teachers 8th - 10th
Students investigate ecological systems and the cause and effect relationship between humans and the environment by using the prey items of Ospreys.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Zen and the Design of Homework Desks

For Teachers 11th - Higher Ed
Learners investigate zen. In this design lesson, students use ideas from zen to create a study area. Learners understand how different environments affect work habits. Students research how learners in other countries study and write...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Ice Age

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers study the ice age and the causes of it.  In this Ice Age lesson students examine why those animals became extinct and complete activity sheets.