Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Can You Catch the Water?

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students work together to construct a model of a water catchment basin. They survey water patterns and complete experiments to see where rain travels and collects. They discover how engineers design structures that help with drainage.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What's in the Water?

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students examine water data for up to a month and perform tests on the samples.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Fish Kills!

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students investigate a fish kill occurrence, the Lake Iluka simulation. They examine what would happen if a fish kill happened today in their watershed area? what type of problems it might cause? They also discuss in groups any specific...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Turning the Tide on Trash: Marine Debris Curriculum

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Seven pages of fascinating reading on marine debris preface the activities in this lesson plan. Four different activities are employed to simulate how the debris is distributed in the ocean and along beaches. Early ecology learners...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Groundwater Modeling

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students evaluate the effects of point and non-pointy sources of water pollution using a model. They assess human impact on water quality. Students build a model which represents an aspect of the hydrosphere and compare their model with...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Nutrients In Chesapeake Bay

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students perform pH and turbidity test to determine water quality. In this environmental science lesson, students analyze NASA database on chlorophyll-a in the bay. They explain how a small river area affects Chesapeake Bay.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Turning the Tide on Trash: Marine Debris Curriculum

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Six different lessons comprise this unit on marine debris. Science, language arts, social studies, and art projects make this an ideal interdisciplinary unit. The result will be well-informed future citizens who can help make a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Watershed Monitoring Module

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners explore the relevance of water quality monitoring in relation to a local wetland ecosystem. They conduct standard water quality tests using wet tests and CBL calculators and probes. Student record and interpret the results.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Save a Drop for Me

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students discuss the meaning of philanthropy and how it applies to people caring about the water supply. In this water conservation lesson, students explore possible water conservation activities and select a project. Students will...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Earth Day Unit Plan: Pollution in the Anacostia River - Biology Teaching Thesis

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders are able to explain that there are pollutants in the Anacostia River, what these pollutants can cause, and how to prevent further pollution. They examine the impacts that the pollutants of the Anacostia River could have on...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Atrazine Dilemma

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students understand how farming practices and the topography of a region can effect the health and safety of all living things. Students play a game which helps them understand how the chemical Azatrine has spread in the watershed.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rain Drops Keep Falin' On My Drainage Basin

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Pupils compile information about rainfall, lake elevations and releases of water from Tuttle Creek reservoir into maps, graphs and charts.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Salmon and Steelhead Restoration Project

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders review the needs of their community and salmon in a local creek. Using information they gathered, they design and implement a project to restore salmon and steelhead back to the local watershed. They identify threats to the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Understanding How Potatoes Grow

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders make a KWL chart and brainstorm what they need for the project of growing potatoes. They choose one potato and plant it in water or peat moss cups and choose a location in which meets the needs of the plants and make their...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Poseidon's Protectors to the Rescue

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore the concept of philanthropy. In this environmental stewardship lesson plan, students explore the Greek mythology story of Poseidon. Students write letters to Poseidon that address water pollution today and express how...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Simulating the Effects of Biodegradable Wastes on Dissolved Oxygen

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students evaluate the relationship between biodegradable waste and dissolved oxygen in water.  In this biodegradable wastes lesson students complete a lab activity in groups then analyze their results.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Design a Service Learning Activity

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Learners work together to design a service learning activity for their community that would benefit the Tijuana estuary. Using the internet, they research the elements of a service learning project and plan their's accordingly. They...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Natural Gardening

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students study the effect of pesticides on plants and insects. In this gardening lesson, students discuss the importance of insects. They define pesticides, evaluate their effectiveness and the problems they might cause. Students...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What is the Problem of Boston Harbor?

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students recognize the affects of technology on the environment. They examine data to determine methods to improve waater quality. A research paper is written to desribe recommendations for improving water in the future.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Teaching about Conductivity

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers explore conductivity and productivity in aquatic systems.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lake Superior Ecology Unit

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders research Lake Superior and its ecosystem. Students investigate the lake's cycles of mixing and stratification and how these cycles affect the biology of the lake. This lesson contains five days of activities.
Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Water Sheds and Water Quality

For Teachers 5th - 9th
Included here is a collection of activities to teach students about watersheds and pollution.
Lesson Plan
Utah Education Network

Uen: Water Pollution Graphing: Bugs Don't Bug Me

For Teachers K
Activity shows the link between land use activities within a watershed and water quality.
Unit Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Exploring the Environment: Water Quality

For Students 5th - 9th
A project based scenario where students research problems and come up with answers to a local water board's concerns over water quality in the watershed. Background information is accessible for the following topics: importance of water,...