Curated OER
Water Wash
Students define watersheds, ground water and nonpoint source pollution. They describe how rainwater moves on the surface, as well as underground, as part of the water cycle. They recognize what flooding is as well as its causes.
Curated OER
Tracking Pollution - A Hazardous Whodunit
Students read a story problem about the issue of hazardous waste and pollution in a fictional town. In groups, they create a topographical map and predict how the water might flow and determine the place of contamination. To end the...
Curated OER
Ocean Pollution
Young scholars explore ocean pollution. In this ecology lesson, students view a video entitled This Pretty Planet and identify common biodegradable products. Young scholars participate in activities designed to simulate the...
Curated OER
Water: Where in the Watershed?
Students become connected to their watershed by exploring a local water body and mapping its features. They focus on how the local watershed fits into the larger scheme of the watershed.
Curated OER
Pollution Search
First graders identify forms of pollution and describe effects that various pollutants can have on people, wildlife, and plants; students describe relationships between various forms of pollution and human actions.
Curated OER
Acid Rain Environment Pollution
Students combine different materials to create chemical reactions. In this chemical reaction lesson plan, students will combine different materials to create chemical reactions and define these results as acids or bases. They will also...
Curated OER
Water Cycle
Ninth graders explore ways water moves through various reservoirs on Earth, examine how human activities change water cycle, investigate substances present in water that indicate human activity, and discuss how understanding water cycle...
Curated OER
How would an oil spill affect a Marine Sanctuary?
Students explore the concept of environmental stewardship. In this science instructional activity, students discover how scientists assess damages to the environment following oil spills. Students conduct a simulation of a public meeting...
Curated OER
WHO Wants Clean Water! Do You? Solving Conflicts Over International Water Rights Issues
Students examine the water rights on an international scale. In this social studies lesson, students research on a specific water rights issue. They write a paper about their findings and create a PowerPoint presentation which they share...
Curated OER
How Much Water is There?
Students investigate the amount of fresh water on earth and which water can be used for consumption. For this fresh water lesson plan, students calculate the amount of fresh water that can be used for consumption on earth. They use a 5...
Curated OER
Water, Weather, and the World
Young scholars in a special education classroom examine the role of weather and water in their lives. Each day, they add a symbol for the weather outside and identify the proper activities for the weather on that day. In groups, they...
Curated OER
The Magic of Solar Thermal: How the Sun Can Be Used to Heat Water
Students are introduced to how the sun is used to heat water. In this solar instructional activity students identify the different types of solar water heating and demonstrate how it works.
Safe Drinking Water Foundation
Ask an Engineer
A wrap-up to the unit, young environmentalists discuss and write about the difference in perspectives of a water keeper and water treatment engineer.
Curated OER
A Hiking We Will Go
Young scholars identify and describe examples of point source pollution. In this hiking lesson plan, students classify water pollution as either point source pollution or nonpoint source pollution. They listen to a story, take a walk...
Curated OER
Running Water
Sixth graders create products that feature the importance of water conservation. In this environmental stewardship lesson, 6th graders explore the water cycle and conduct on water usage. Students also research water pollution and...
Curated OER
Working for Water
Students examine the ways that government works to help improve aquatic habitats. In this water habitats lesson students view a video and plan a school restoration project.
Curated OER
Water Filtration
Students design a filtration system using three filtration materials. In this water filtration lesson, students conduct an experiment with their filtration systems. Students present their systems to the class. Group results...
Curated OER
Water filtration with Plants
Sixth graders explain how soil and plants effect contaminated water in nature. In this filtration lesson, 6th graders work in groups to test biofiltration units. Students determine which biofiltration units work best and how they...
Curated OER
Interpreting Statistics: A Case of Muddying the Waters
Is river pollution affecting the number of visitors to Riverside Center, and is the factory built upstream the cause of the pollution? Let your class be the judge, literally, as they weigh the statistical evidence offered by the factory...
Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Section Two: Why is Biodiversity Important?
Explore soil, genetic traits, natural resources, and pollution in a series of lessons that focus on biodiversity. Kids complete experiments to learn more about the importance of varied genes and organisms in an ecosystem.
Curated OER
Digital Video Lesson Plan: Brine Shrimp
Learners participate in classroom experiment to gain better understanding of type of environment brine shrimp can best survive. Students then explore effects of common saltwater pollutants on survival of animals in sea.
Core Knowledge Foundation
Taking Care of the Earth Tell It Again!™ Read-Aloud Anthology
A read-aloud anthology closely examines human impact on the Earth while boosting reading comprehension skills. Through stories, scholars examine the concepts of natural resources, pollution, garbage, and recycling and brainstorm...
Henry Ford Museum
Human Impact on Ecosystems
An environmenta science unit includes three lessons plus a cumulative project covering the ecosystem. Scholars follow the history of the Ford Rouge Factory from its construction on wetlands and how it destroyed the...
Curated OER
Contaminated Drinking Water
Students discover whether their senses can detect unsafe drinking water. In the water activity instructional activity, students follow procedures to determine whether their bodies can detect contaminated water.