Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Global Water

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students collect data on their household water use and calculate how many gallons of water a person uses per day. They investigate how students in different parts of the world get their drinking water.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Industrialization of the American Landscape

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers summarize the three sectors of industry and how these sectors applied to the Industrial Revolution. Students apply their skills in research and note-taking, as well as vocabulary building through web organizers. High...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Marine Debris

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students will perform experiments to examine if debris will float, or blow in the wind. They discuss the effects of these characteristics on marine debris.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Outdoor Survivors

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders complete a survey to decide what are most popular plants among the class. They test the water quality in a nearby pond. Studnts test the quality of soil samples taken from their homes. Different plants are moistened with...
Lesson Plan
Carnegie Mellon University

Renewables Workshop

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Youngsters examine resource maps to find out which states are using solar and wind power and discuss as a class various other renewable energy sources. They use a provided data table to record pros and cons to each technology, build and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Where in the World? Biomes of the Earth

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students research a biome.  In this biomes of the Earth lesson, students discuss what they already know about ecology and view pictures of different biomes.  Students work in groups to research a different biome.  Students...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What is Life? Demonstrations & Discussion

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Display seven items for your biologists to consider. Are they living or non-living? How can you tell? This is a simple outline of what you can display and questions that can be discussed as this topic is explored. One way to use this...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Local Environmental Issues: Pollution

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders discuss the ways in which human interaction with the environment and production of waste products contribute to pollution. Through a pollution demonstration, they explain how various groups of plants and animals can be...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water Quality

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Students are presented with a hypothetical situation to investigate the water quality of the James River. They are given data to analyze and put into the graphic organizer that is included to help solve the problem. The lesson includes...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Testing the Waters

For Teachers 1st - 4th
Students explore water in depth through discussion, research, and experiment. Students apply map skills to locating particular regions of the world as they relate to water. Students predict water quality based on information researched...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Surprise of the Blue Water

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students become aware of factors that effect drinking water quality and how this could effect the health of their school environment. Students compose a business letter reporting their school water quality results to an appropriate...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Tale of Two Reactors

For Teachers 10th
Tenth graders role-play as members of the food chain. Sticky tables acting as polluting factors are introduced and members of different trophic levels suffer varying degrees of damage due to those pollutants.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water Walk

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Learners conduct a visual survey to discover information about local land use and water quality; document their findings by mapping and profiling the water body; and use this initial investigation to raise questions about local land use.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Wetland in a Pan

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students examine wetlands and what the effects of destroying them will do.  In this wetland lesson students relate the importance of wetland functions to their own needs. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Oily Oceans

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Pupils are read a book about oceans. They participate in an experiment discovering the effects of oil on water. They discuss different types of pollution and how they can be prevented.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Eye On Conservation Drainage Basin

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students are able to describe the importance of wetland vegetation. They describe the impacts human activities have on water systems. Students compare and contrast the effect of different soil types on water filtration.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Environmental Education

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders examine how their choices affect the environment. They identify different types of pollution and its source. They ask questions to end the lesson.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Clouds

For Teachers K - 4th
Students recognize the three main types of clouds. In this clouds lesson, students create a cloud mobile to understand clouds.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Frogs Losing Ground

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore an exhibit through an interactive program on frogs. They can listen to the different sounds frogs make and the different types of frogs. They search for the types of frogs they find in their local area.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Primary Energy Sources Pros and Cons

For Teachers 4th - 12th
Students explore the different types of renewable and nonrenewable energy sources. In this earth science instructional activity, students discuss the pros and cons of each type. They conduct a variety of experiments on renewable energy.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Who's Down the Well?

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students identify several sources of contaminants to groundwater. They discuss the movement of possible contaminants through that groundwater from outside sources. They describe how environmental engineers analyze contaminants to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Iona Wastewater Treatment Plant Field Trip

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Young scholars go on a field trip to the Iona Wastewater Treatment Plant and learn about sewage, waste, and pollution. In this treatment plant lesson plan, students also complete collection samples of quadrats.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Birds, Baths And Oil Spills

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Students examine effects of an oil spill on birds and animals that inhabit marine or freshwater ecosystems, and simulate procedures used by rescue workers who rescue and rehabilitate birds and other animals coated with oil.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Report of Shop, Factory, Mill or Industrial Establishment

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Students examine the pollution survey created in response to the Public Health Laws of 1903, and compare/contrast polluting factory discharges in 1903 to those allowed today. They analyze the report survey, complete a worksheet, and...