Curated OER
Environmental Responsibility
Young scholars discuss the importance of recycling and preventing pollution. In groups, they complete mini-studies on various environmental issues and evaluate different consumer products. They use global warming data to determine the...
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Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs
Fourth graders participate in an activity which introduces them to common types of precipitation. They examine "Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs" through a teacher read aloud and make a weather pamphlet.
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Generating Power
Young scholars construct a working model of a turbine and explain how water generates power. By the end of the instructional activity, they list the effects of Kingsley Dam on people, plans, and animals -- both positive and negative.
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WorldWatcher Project: Global Warming Project
Students conduct lab activities, computer visualizations, and other various forms of research in preparation for a role-play activity in which they assume the identities of advisors to various heads of state on the subject of global...
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The Interdependence of Birds and the Great Salt Lake Ecosystem
Tenth graders participate in the "Checks and Balances" game. This game lets them experience the interdependence of oragnisms specific to the Great Salt Lake. They recieved informaton about food chains, food webs, trophic levels various...
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Do the Elephants Need Sunscreen? A Study of the Weather Patterns in Etosha
Learners analyze the weather patterns in Namibia. They create a graph of the yearly temperatures and use the internet to gather information. They discuss how the weather goes in cycles in the area.
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Forces of Nature: The Challenges of River Travel
Students examine how river travel affected the Lewis and Clark expedition. They define gravity, slope, and velocity, conduct a river formations experiment, complete an activity sheet, and watch a video about Lewis and Clark.
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Rockets on a Shoestring Budget
Learners, operating under simulated budget constraints, build pop-rockets and launch them. Working in pairs, they complete budget worksheets and use their "Blast Off Bucks" to pay for the construction. They then redesign their rockets...
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The Sonoran Desert
Little learners examine a map of the southwestern United States and identify the Sonoran Desert. They locate different cities and rivers, determining whether or not each is found within this special ecosystem. A student handout is...
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Science: Not just Gold
Learners articulate a possible relationship between arsenic and gold deposits in a written statement using data to substantiate the relationship they describe. They use real data to determine the source of the arsenic in the drinking...
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Wind
Students complete activities to study wind intensity. In this wind study lesson, students discuss wind speed and direction. Students then build a kite and windsock to help them study wind intensity. Students learn to use a wind meter for...
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Rainy Day Hike
Students develop awareness about the water cycles. They identify the watershed in which their school is located. They explain the role the schoolyard plays in the watershed.
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The Very Hungry Caterpillar
Second graders watch a video about Eric Carle before listening to his story entitled, The Very Hungry Caterpillar. They notice how the caterpillar eats its way through the days of the week and they examine the life cycle of the...
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Trout Life-Cycle Booklet
Students write books about trout, completing one page per life stage.
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Geology Activities: Rock Making
Students create their own gems using a simple experiment and learning process in class.
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Understanding the pH Cycle within the Aquarium
Students discuss places they have been where the air seemed hard to breathe. They discuss if they could "see" the humidity or smell. Students discuss ways this might relate to the fish in the aquarium. The teacher introduces pH and how...
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Growing Tomatoes From Seed Activity
In this growing tomatoes worksheet, students plant tomato seeds in February, and follow their growth through the summer break. They observe and investigate the plant growth from seed to plant.
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Carbon Creating Activity
In this carbon worksheet, students follow directions and use marshmallows and toothpicks to made carbon dioxide and glucose molecules. Students do this to see how carbon changes as a result of photosynthesis.
NOAA
The Dead Zone
The fifth installment of a 23-part NOAA Enrichment in Marine sciences and Oceanography (NEMO) program defines dead zones and how they form. Pupils then examine data from the Gulf of Mexico to determine dead zone formation.
It's About Time
Environmental Impacts and Energy Consumption
As scientists prove environmental impacts of using coal as an energy resource, do you think Santa regrets giving out so much of it? Through a demonstration of acid rain, pupils learn what makes it, where it occurs, the impact of it, and...
Dr. Panda
Dr. Panda's Veggie Garden
Friends arrive at the farm and aspiring agronomists help the farmer to grow what the friends want. With adorable animation and charming background music, little ones practice virtual gardening and farming while developing cognitive...
Polar Trec
Drawing Diatoms like Ernst Haeckel
Why do scientists rely on drawings rather than just photographs of their research studies? The lesson plan introduces drawings of microscopic organisms and the importance of accuracy. Young artists draw organisms and learn why focus and...
Learning Games Lab
Nitrogen in Pollutants
Responsible farming is important for maintaining natural resources. Eager scientists complete a WebQuest to explore what happens to nitrogen when it enters the soil. They learn about the chemical makeup of nitrogen-based molecules and...
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Fresh Water From the Oceans?
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...