Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI)
DNA Extraction
What does your DNA actually look like? Use simple materials with this experiment to find out! Geneticists of all ages can follow these instructions to extract their own DNA. For learners who are hoping to extend the activity, there are...
Curated OER
Feeding in the Flow
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has developed a tremendous library of ocean-themed lessons that can be used in a variety of science settings. "Feeding in the Flow" is one of those activities; Its focus is on...
Curated OER
Wildlife Conservation I
Focusing on the wildlife in their area, learners identify endangered and threatened species and what these animals need to survive. While this lesson involves animals in the Long Island area, it could be adapted for use with any area.
Center Science Education
Weather and Climate Data Exploration
Access local temperature data online, graph averages, and critique it. Learners listen to a scenario where weather and climate are confused, and then answer questions to differentiate the two. The lesson plan itself is compact, but there...
Curated OER
Composting With Worms
Third graders predict what happen in two (control and experiment) containers -- one with soil and trash, the other with soil, trash, and worms.
BBC
Coasts
Youngsters study the variety of ways that coastlines can be eroded. They do this by accessing a website, embedded in the plan, and answering questions found on the pages. This activity is meant to be done individually, so everyone in the...
Curated OER
Tree Cookies
Students identify heartwood, sapwood, and a tree's annual rings, infer from a tree's rings what damage or stress might have occurred in its life, and make a time-line of human history that coincides with a tree's rings.
Curated OER
Urban Ecosystems 4: Metabolism of Urban Ecosystems
Cities are compared to living, breathing, metabolizing organisms. Fourth in a five-part series of lessons, this one focuses on the flow of materials through a city. Links to interesting websites and images make your delivery of...
Curated OER
Watershed Protection
Young scholars explore environmental care by participating in an Earth science activity. In this clean water lesson, students discuss what a watershed is, how they become polluted, and how it affects the overall quality of drinking...
Curated OER
Mapping Where Animals Live
What type of reptiles live in New York State? This lesson gets the class thinking about what factors determine where particular animals live. They analyze the Hudson Valley environment, identify specific reptile and amphibian...
Curated OER
Mammal Mobile
Short but sweet. Younger learners will view images and hear about the characteristics that make-up mammals, they will then discuss why a particular animal is, or is not, a mammal providing specific details. They will then create a mammal...
Curated OER
Leaf, Tree and Prairie Study
Pupils are introduced to the topic of Botany and the process of photosynthesis. Using various habitats, they research the amount of destruction it is facing and how to solve the problem. They make a leaf booklet with leaves they find at...
Curated OER
Kindergarten-Respect Unit (Lesson Seven) Respect The Environment
Students review the concept of respect and that they should respect, not only themselves, but those around them. They comment on some example pictures in which the environment is NOT being respected and decide what should have been done...
Curated OER
Energy Efficiency Ambassadors
Definitely for high schoolers, this lesson is an open-ended exploration of energy efficiency. Groups of two to three junior environmental engineers design an experiment to test for efficiency. They prepare a full lab report and...
Curated OER
Blind as a Bat?
Imagine using your ears and voice to see. That is what bats do with echolocation. Demonstrate how echolocation works with this fun game for your classroom. Buzz, buzz!
Curated OER
WATER QUALITY FOR FRESHWATER ORGANISMS
Students use determination of dissolved oxygen and water temperature changes to determine the environmental impact from thermal pollution.
Curated OER
Physiological Adaptations
Students investigate the concepts of genetics and how it is tied to the variations found within different species and how it is tied to adaptations. They review the theory of evolution and factors found to help create variation. The...
Carnegie Mellon University
Bathtub Model
Using a colorful infographic handout and a guide sheet, hold a class discussion about how a bathtub can serve as a model for the greenhouse effect created by Earth's atmosphere. Participants will understand that as energy or matter is...
Curated OER
Conservation in Action
Students research the life and works of Rachel Carson. In this conservation lesson, students discuss environmental protection and why protection of wildlife is important. Students read a Rachel Carson Fact Sheet and work in groups...
Curated OER
Recycling and Waste Reduction
Students investigate recycling and waste reduction and its positive impact on the environment. In this environmental science lesson, students determine how and why materials are recycled. They apply their knowledge by making...
Curated OER
Recreating the Greenhouse Effect
Learners recreate the greenhouse effect. In this environmental science lesson, students gather materials and follow procedures to create the greenhouse effect on a small scale.
Curated OER
Recycling Activities
Students explain the importance of recycling. In this environmental science lesson, students classify materials as recyclable or not. They make posters that promote the benefits of recycling.
Curated OER
Predators Among Us
Students study environmental science. In this ecosystems lesson, students discover how humans have an impact on life in the coral reef. They watch video clips and work on small group activities. This lesson includes links to the videos...
Curated OER
Kentucky Coal, Reclamation and Subsidence
Young scholars read and discuss the information that they read on the "Kentucky Coal, Reclamation and Subsidence." They then answer questions in reference to the reading. Some questions that students answer are: What is reclamation?,...