Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Aquatic Ecosystem Exploration

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students visit a local stream, pond, creek, or river and collect macroinvertebrates. They sort macroinvertebrates and identify each species using a dichotomous key. Students decide on trophic levels and construct a possible food web for...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What If There's No Light?

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
students discuss the importance of light and the consequences of living without it. Using a plant as a demonstration, students predict and observe what happens to a plant when it does not receive enough light. In groups, they experiment...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Hudson Valley Rocks

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students identify each of the rocks provided and locate where in the valley they are found. They explain why the rocks came to be as they are in each location. In addition, they relate the exercise to how the Hudson Valley's geologic...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Glacial Groundwater

For Teachers 6th - 11th
Students study glacial deposition and groundwater in Dutchess County, new York. They identify the permeability rates in different glacial deposits and relate this information to ground water capacity of sediments found in Dutchess...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Fossil Fuels: Facing the Issues

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students explore energy by researching fuel usage on Earth. In this fossil fuel lesson, students define fossil fuels, the energy created by burning them, and the impact on the environment when using them. Students conduct pollution...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Our Environment

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Students examine the world's environmental dilemmas and create project depicting how to improve the environment. They study ten endangered species.
Lesson Plan
Carnegie Mellon University

How Power Plants Work 1

For Teachers 7th - 12th
First of three lessons, this is a great start to a unit on energy. As you demonstrate, learners discover different types of energy and how it is converted from one form to another. They then focus in on the generation of electricity by...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Clouds and Your Imagination

For Teachers K - 5th
Students study and illustrate clouds. In this cloud study instructional activity, students study clouds and then illustrate what they see. Students use their imaginations to interpret images from the cloud picture they drew.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Groundwater Pollution Site Assessment

For Teachers 4th - 7th
Students study how a geologist examines a hazardous waste spill using an actual site. They use site data to map the spill, find its source and determine how fast the spill is spreading.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Evaporation and Condensation

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Learners explore how temperature effects the processes of evaporation and condensation and how the air may be polluted  by the evaporation of certain compounds.  In this temperature lesson students complete a lab and a worksheet.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Study of the Effects of Ethanol and Heavy Metal Chemicals on the Development of the Zebrafish Embryo

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students are exposed to the dangers of alcohol abuse through the study and experimentation of alcohol on zebrafish embryos. This exercise can be used to demonstrate the effects of ethanol, cadmium, and lead on embryological development.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Urban Heat Island Effect - Lesson 2 (Grade 5)

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders use the scientific process to examine how when various surfaces are exposed to similar environmental conditions, surface temperatures may vary. They conduct an experiment to show the relationship between surface and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Hazardous Chemicals in Your Neighborhood

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers examine the effect of hazardous chemicals on humans. They discover how the chemicals are cleaned up and the facilities in their neighborhood. They identify federal and local agencies that oversee environmental hazards
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Legend of The Lorax

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students explore ecosystems. They read or listen to Dr. Seuss' The Lorax to draw conclusions and make predictions about the environmental impact and use of resources. They write poems about real forests and the wildlife which inhabit...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Clean, Green Power

For Teachers 1st - 4th
Students explore and discuss alternative energy sources, and identify disadvantages of current fossil fuels.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

All Ears for Ecology

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders research to see the effects that air pollution has on where they live. They explore improper dumping of waste run-off, air pollution, and water pollution.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

TIES MSEE Sensor Lesson Plan

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students explain how a sensor works. In this technology instructional activity, students determine the air quality around their school. They record observations and share results to class.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Building a Healthy City (Final Project)

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students construct a scaled model of a city that provides for the economic and cultural needs of a community while maintaining high quality air and water to protect the public health. They articulate, in a presentation, the locations of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Acid Rain

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Young scholars perform experiments to determine how different acids cause acid rain. They measure the pH of the water to calculate the water's acidity. They discover how acid rain dissolves rock materials.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Dripping Wet or Dry as a Bone?

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students use a sponge and water model to explore the concept of relative humidity and create a percent scale. They define humidity and saturation, build a simple humidity/saturation model, collect, predict and interpret data, and create...
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

Global Change- Earth as Home

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students create their own environment. In this environmental protection lesson, students pretend they are the owners of a tropical island. They create jobs for the citizens and develop the island as a model environment.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Global Resources: What Will You Do with Your Power?

For Teachers 9th - Higher Ed
Students examine the human impact on natural resources. They read and discuss an article, evaluate nations regarding their environmental problem-solving, develop a presidential speech on the environment, and conduct a natural resources...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

SAVE OUR EARTH

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Learners research current environmental problems in order to develop and deliver an oral presentation. The presentation persuades the audience to act on the student's point of view on the issue.