Learners examine the relationships between plants, animals, and the environment in ecosystems. They sort animal cards, collect natural materials from the schoolyard, and record an ecosystem web in the form of a poster.

The theory that adding iron to ocean water may increase phytoplankton ability to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere is examined. The Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute is monitoring conditions off the California coast to...

Upper elementary and middle schoolers examine how the clearing of rivers such as the Red River helped to boost the Arkansas economy of the mid-1800's. They listen to a story called, "Mary and the Red River Raft," then conduct research on...

Examine a slug? Of course, what else would a 2nd grader do with it? Pupils use clues and go on a slug hunt, read a slug story, or make a cooperative group mural of a slug's habitat. While older learners catalog slugs, go on a slug hunt,...

Use this lesson in your classroom for a quick and easy way to review animal habitats. Young children use magazine clippings, pictures provided, or other resources to create a collage depicting an animal habitat. This is a great way to...

Young scholars summarize the "Tri-County Project" section of the nebraskastudies.org web site using a scavenger hunt.

Students investigate how the loss of soil, a valuable natural resource, affects their lives through loss of productive land to grow food, loss of coastal land mass, and poor water quality from runoff. They design a project to keep soil...

Young scholars evaluate the hazards of naturally occurring events. After watching a video concerning safety hazards, students work in groups to discuss the safety issues involved in taking a trip to a mountainous region. ...

Students in groups, map quadrants of the area around the school and make predictions about the direction of waterflow and zones of accumulation that will occur when it rains. Then when it does rain they check to see if their prediction...

Students participate in an activity in which they demonstrate how the evaporations of water from the oceans results in fresh water in the form of rain. They create a saltwater solution in a flask and boil the water until most of the...

Fifth graders explore why people live in certain regions of the United States. They investigate information on specific metropolitan areas such as temperature, population, natural resources, precipitation and landforms. In groups, 5th...

Young scholars investigate the effects of industry on natural features. They discuss the industrial revolution, and create a drawing of a river with one half illustrating pre-industrial revolution time, and the other half representing...

Third graders use a literature study in order to investigate how organisms effect an ecosystem. They are asked questions about change taken from the book. Students also take a nature walk to make field observations.

Second graders examine the characteristics of plants. As a class, they brainstorm a list of items plants need in order to survive. In groups, they complete various experiments in which they discover the functions of the parts of the plant.

Students compare the difference between needs and wants. In this needs vs. wants lesson, students play a sorting game with picture cards, depicting illustrations of survival needs and material things. Students sort the picture cards into...

Students compare the ponds, lakes, and reservoirs of Kansas.  In this geography lesson, students use Google Earth to research the different ponds, lakes, and reservoirs in Kansas.  Students will discover that many of the bodies...

Students explore renewable and nonrenewable resources. In this ocean preservation lesson, students use KWL charts to understand ways the ocean is important to our daily lives. Students create a poster or wirte a letter to someone...

Learners explain how the basic human needs of a large group of people can be met. They describe and evaluate alternative methods for providing water and food, producing electricity, handling wastes, and transporting goods and people....

Students explain how the basic human needs of a large group of people can be met. They describe and evaluate alternative methods for providing water and food, producing electricity, handling wastes, and transporting goods and people....

Students identify the processes that shape our rivers and form our lakes. They participate in hands-on and multimedia activities as they discover and apply the river-cutting processes of water.

In this Zimbabwe worksheet, students read an article and examine a map of Zimbabwe and then respond to 11 short answer questions regarding the economy and geography of the country.

Fifth graders use a real life scenario of the wetlands to gather information on creatures of the habitat.  In this wetlands instructional activity, 5th graders research the interdependence of organisms in a healthy habitat. Students...

Wetlands may not sound particularly ornate, but they are as important as any habitat! With a hands-on activity, young scientists build a wetland model and observe its many functions in action. They discover the importance of wetlands to...

Students complete a worksheet while watching a film about whales. They examine the human impact on whale migration and identify adaptations the whale has acquired in able to survive. They discover how global warming has effected the...