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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Environment and You

For Teachers 1st
First graders examine the human environmental impact and discover ways to lessen effects. They create a pollution damage flow chart and write down what they think Mother Earth might say. They create inventions from recyclable materials.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rubber Duckies and Ocean Currents

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students explore marine life by conducting a rubber duck experiment. In this water currents lesson plan, students practice identifying latitude and longitude coordinates on a map and define the currents of major oceans. Students discuss...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Microbes in Long Island Sound

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students discover the harm and benefits of microbes. In this biology lesson, students explore water, nitrogen and carbon cycles. They investigate the factors affecting bacteria growth.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Stream Table

For Teachers 3rd - Higher Ed
Students explore channelization, riparian habitats and soil erosion to find out about  the aquatic habitats in Iowa. In this aquatic habitats lesson, students define important terms and read an article about pollution.  Students complete...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduction to Restoration Lesson

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers explore how pollution and invasive plants disrupt the ecosystem.  In this restoration lesson plan students list materials that pollute wetlands, how people can keep them clean and ways in which invasive plants establish. 
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Protecting Holy Cows

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students study the interrelationships of organisms and their environments. They study ecological communities and determine what is necessary for survival. Students discuss and answer questions concerning a group's biome, habitat, food...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Clouds

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Students explore clouds.  In this weather lesson, students identify the steps in the water cycle, define condensation and evaporation, and relate this information to cloud formation.  Students perform a cloud experiment, predict weather...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Wetland in a Pan

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders build a watershed from various materials. In this life science lesson plan, the students will be able to change the design of their watershed to see the changes in the way the water will drain. Each group will be able to...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Don't Trust Your Eyes

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Pupils brainstorm a list of possible actions that they could do to protect the water resources from pollution. They create hypotheses and conclusions by completing experiments and observing different pollutants.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water Quality and Temperature

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Students are led through three activities to explore the effect of temperature fluctuations on the growth and survival of aquatic plants, clams, and shrimp eggs.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

All Messed Up

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Young scholars begin the experiment by mapping and calculating their school parking lot. They calculate the volume of water falling on the lot and map the route the water runoff takes. They discuss the roles that humans play in affecting...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Remove Pollutants from Water

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students examine how to remove pollutants from water to create clean water.  In this boiling water lesson students complete a lab activity that purifies water. 
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Underground Pollution

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders construct their own aquifer. They discover how water travels underwater and identifies sources of underground pollution. They record their observations and discuss the results.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Snow vs. Water

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students fill three cups with snow. They record the height of snow in each cup, and allow the snow to melt. Students measure the height of the water in each glass or cup, and record their results on the worksheet. They answer questions...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

FRED the FISH

For Teachers 1st - 12th
Young scholars engage in the study of the human impact on environmental systems (specifically rivers). This instructional activity enhances Students' exploration of a variety of themes or topics.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Best Management Practices for Water Quality

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders examine best management practices for water quality.  In this water quality instructional activity, 4th graders explore unused land to identify areas of runoff, erosion, and effects of water flow.  Students discuss logging...
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Lesson Plan
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Teach Engineering

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch

For Teachers 7th - 9th
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is one of several garbage patches around the world where garbage accumulates naturally. As part of a GIS unit that combines oceanography, environmental science, and life science, class members investigate...
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Lesson Plan
Chymist

How Do We Affect the Quality of Our Atmosphere

For Students 9th - 12th
Explore the makeup of the earth's atmosphere. Using the set of specific experiments, pupils examine the main elements and compounds present in the atmosphere. Their study extends to investigate the effects of atmospheric pollution such...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water: P.O.V's Borders Picture Project

For Teachers All
Through the use of digital cameras, this lesson shows students how to document how water is used in their local communities and explore how those uses impact the local environment.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Survivor!

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students play a game in physical education class to examine how a deer survives. Using nature as a guide, they discover how it is constantly changing due to weather, food, water, pollution and predators. They discuss the characteristics...
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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...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Water Dilemma

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Students read about and discuss the importance of easily available, clean drinking water. They participate in a role play scenario in which only one drinking fountain in the school has potable water.
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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...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Analyze the Results

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students conduct water tests and sample macroinvertebrates from a nearby source to make a general determination about the overall quality of water. They use worksheets and analyze data as part of a larger unit.