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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sunlight and Warm Air

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students examine the different ways heat can be felt.  In this radiation and conduction lesson, students recognize that the sun radiates heat. Students conduct three experiments to find how the sun warms the Earth and how that heat is...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Analysis of Atmospheric Conditions for a High Mountain Retreat

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students examine the relationship between altitude, atmospheric pressure, temperature and humidity at a particular location. They practice science and math in real world applications. They write reports detailing their scientific...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What Makes a Home "Energy Efficient"?

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students research and report the costs and benefits of making their own homes more energy efficient. In this energy conservation lesson, students explore energy efficient technologies and design over several days. They complete a home...
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Lesson Plan
Alabama Learning Exchange

Scrapping the Biomes

For Teachers 5th Standards
Fifth graders investigate biomes of the earth. In this biomes lesson, 5th graders explore eight different biomes which include the tropical rain forest, deciduous forest, grasslands, and taiga. They design an artistic scrapbook that...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Worms: Nature's Recyclers

For Teachers K - 5th
Students explore vermi-composting. For this vermi-composting lesson, students listen to the story Diary of a Worm and discuss the parts of a worm. They create worm bins and add organic food for the worms to recycle. 
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rock-A-Bye Pendulum

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders analyze the effects of force on an object in motion and its relationship to a change in speed. This lesson uses a pendulum to demonstrate the principle.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Electronics: Wants or Needs?

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders determine how electronics negatively impact the environment. In this environmental instructional activity, 3rd graders read the article "Earth Friendly Waste Management", and identify how recycling impacts our environment....
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Land Use and Lawmaking in California

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Students investigate the laws of using land.  In this California Government lesson, students examine the many uses of land in California and find an environmental issue they care about.  Students write a letter to a politician based on...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rain On

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders explore evaporation and condensation. In this water cycle lesson, 4th graders investigate their surroundings for real-life examples of evaporation and condensation. Students conduct various experiments.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Basics:Life Science

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore concepts in life science using segments drawn from Discovery Channel. In this life science lesson, students participate in discussions about the food chain. Students create a poster to illustrate a predator and prey...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Candy DNA Model Lesson

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
Students explore DNA structure using materials such as Twizzlers, small colored gumdrops and/or toothpicks.
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Lesson Plan
Messenger Education

Look But Don’t Touch—Exploration with Remote Sensing

For Students 5th - 8th Standards
Mars is home to the tallest mountain in our solar system, Olympus Mons. For this set of two activities, learners review geologic land formations through the analysis of aerial maps. They then apply this knowledge to aerial maps of...
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Lesson Plan
Consumers Energy

The Cost of Electricity

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
How much is your toaster costing you every day? Young environmentalists calculate the monetary costs of household appliances based on their average consumption of wattage.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Wildlife Variety Show: Biodiversity In Illinois

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders write a short report in first person about any plant or animal found on a list of Illinois species. They become the character of the plant or animal and give a short report describing the plant or animal.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Impervious Surfaces

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students comprehend impervious surfaces. They recognize the problems caused by impervous surfaces. Students observe how land use can influence impervious surfaces. They chose four of the seven basic land surface, students draw a picture...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Carve That Mountain

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students investigate major landforms (e.g., mountains, rivers, plains, hills, oceans and plateaus). They build a three-dimensional model of a landscape depicting several of these landforms. Once they have built their model, they act as...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Einstein's Big Idea

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students investigate the concept of the Einstein's Theory of Relativity while conducting research using the internet and following the outline of the objectives to guide the information search. The lesson includes background information...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Challenge to Deliver Insulin

For Teachers 5th - 9th
Students study the types of diabetes and why insulin is important.  For this diabetes lesson students build molecular models and create a healthy lifestyle plan. 
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Making A Compass

For Teachers 4th
This interesting science instructional activity is about the compass. Students make a compass out of a magnet, sewing needle, cork, and a glass dish. The instructional activity includes both a pre and post-test for the students to take,...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Our Savage Planet in the News

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students explore extreme earth phenomenons. In this savage planet instructional activity, students explore and report on various types of severe weather and earth phenomenons using the Internet, a word processor, or other multimedia device.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Puzzling Planets

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students examine the concept of a solar system. In this research based lesson, students compare a star and a planet. They explain the requirements for life in a biosphere.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Marine Debris and Me

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students study the environmental issues that pertain to the marine environment. In this research ocean landfills lesson students come up with alternative means of disposal. 
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Taking a Stand: Pros and Cons of Forest Fires

For Teachers 7th - 10th
Students explore the pros and cons of forest fires. In this science instructional activity, students research the ecological implications of forest fires. Students record their findings in journals and compose a persuasive e-mail to...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Renewable and Nonrenewable Resources

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students identify renewable and nonrenewable resources. In this earth science lesson plan, students construct a T-chart of renewable and nonrenewable resources.