Curated OER
Wetland in a Pan
Students examine wetlands and what the effects of destroying them will do. In this wetland activity students relate the importance of wetland functions to their own needs.
Curated OER
Pea Soup Ponds
Middle schoolers perform an experiment where they learn how water can be polluted by algal bloom. They grow algae with different concentrations of fertilizers or nutrients and analyze their results.
Curated OER
Water and Land Ecosystems
Students investigate the differences between a land and aquatic ecosystem. They use the information in order to present it in an assessment. There are target questions that can be used to guide research, lead a classroom discussion, or...
Curated OER
Science: Microcosms in the Biosphere
In a series of lessons, examine the impact on humans by microcosms in the biosphere. Among the plans structured for students with different abilities and learning styles, are activities describing the symbiotic relationship, drawing the...
Curated OER
"Arsenic and Old Waste": Groundwater Activities Using Modeling
Students develop models of groundwater and pollution flow. They research information using the Internet and develop models of groundwater flow in Stella and Excel.
Curated OER
Marine & Aquatic Habitats Activities - Estuaries Are for the Birds!
Students recognize that birds act as indicators of pollution because of their sensitivity to environmental change, and role play the manner in which marine debris can be hazardous to waterfowl.
Curated OER
Eye On Conservation Drainage Basin
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.
Curated OER
Dripping Wet or Dry as a Bone?
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...
Curated OER
Activity #5 Soils-Permeability and Impurity Removal
Middle schoolers predict which types of soils would work best for keeping contaminants contained. They comprehend that in the past, landfills have been one major source of groundwater contamination. Pupils comprehend that placing and...
Curated OER
Holy Starbucks Batman
Students investigate caffeine as a potential new pollutant in a northwest river system. Effects of caffeine on invertebrates and salmon fry will be explored through field work and lab work.
Curated OER
Soil Runoff Challenge
Students find ways to decrease soil runoff for an African Village as a part of a Peace Corps project. In this soil runoff lesson, students play a soil runoff challenge online. Students complete online activities and view a slide show to...
Curated OER
Dissolved Oxygen and Temperature
Students are shown how temperature affects dissolved oxygen and they create a graph showing this relationship. They think about the adaptations of animals to live in different water temperatures. Students test four different water...
Curated OER
Legend of The Lorax
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...
Curated OER
What is Life? Demonstrations & Discussion
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...
Institute for Systems Biology
Introduction to Saline Environments & Microbial Halophiles
If you do not mind wading through unrelated headings (This is not for a physics or STEM course, as it states.) and content (The instructional activity opens with an article about neurology, not halophiles.), then you will find a valuable...
Curated OER
Waste Watchers
Energy-aware learners conduct an audit on their electricity usage by recording their electric meter reading and assessing the thermostat, light bulbs, windows, and water heaters in their homes. In class, they analyze results and discuss...
Carnegie Mellon University
How Power Plants Work 3
Double, double toil and trouble, fire burn and cauldron bubble! Find out what drives a turbine to generate electricity and whether or not it has an impact on the environment. A discussion and lecture is divided by a hands-on activity in...
Curated OER
Know Your Watershed
Students investigate the importance and the location of their own watershed by visiting and EPA website and also work in groups to create an action plan on how to protect their local watershed.
Curated OER
Birds, Baths And Oil Spills
Learners 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.
Curated OER
Phytoremediation
Students participate in a lab designed to facilitate the clean up and remove of substances ranging from heavy metals to dynamite. They focus on the remediation of copper. They discuss their results of this open ended inquiry experiment.
Curated OER
Lead Contamination In Our Environment
Students identify the sources of lead in their local community and how to prevent further contamination. As a class, they watch a video about the effects of lead on the body and use the internet to discover any new technology that can...
Curated OER
All Ears for Ecology
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.
Curated OER
Identifying Wetlands
Students describe three major categories of indicators that are used to delineate wetlands. In this wetlands lesson students visit a wetland and make observations then complete an activity using the soil.
Curated OER
Environmental Responsibility
Middle schoolers 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...