Education Outside
Grow an Art Garden: Plant a Rainbow
After a reading of Lois Ehlert's Planting a Rainbow, class members plan a rainbow garden, research growing cycles of the fruits and vegetables in their section, and then plant and maintain the garden.
Chicago Botanic Garden
Historical Climate Cycles
Scientists use ice core samples to obtain temperatures of the earth from 400,000 years ago! The third of five lessons instructs pupils to interpret historical climate data to see changes over time. In part I, participants interpret...
NOAA
Ocean Currents
Go with the flow! The eighth installment in a 13-part series has earth science students dive in to the world's system of ocean currents. The interactive illustrates the different types and depths of currents, how wind and gravity...
Baylor College
Needs of Plants
What better way to learn about plant life than by creating a class garden? Young botanists start with a brief discussion about radishes before planting seeds and watching them grow. To determine the importance of water, sunlight, and...
Science Matters
Photosynthesis Play
Photosynthesis seems nothing short of magic: a little carbon dioxide and water, add energy, and poof, you get food! A thorough, collaborative lesson teaches youth the process of photosynthesis thanks to a skit they perform with a group...
Curated OER
The Moon Made Me Do It!
Pupils research lunar cycles and how it effects living organisms. In this investigative lesson students prepare written reports on the lunar cycles and the relationship between animal behavior and reproductivity then give an oral...
Curated OER
Water, Water Everywhere
Students observe and describe ways water is used in their homes and communities. They determine the source of their water. Students determine ways they can save and protect their water.
Curated OER
Traveling Nitrogen
Students demonstrate and understanding of the nitrogen cycle by taking roles and interacting with others in a simulation activity.
Curated OER
Carbon for the World
Learners explore the presence of carbon in the world. For this environmental stewardship lesson, students discuss the carbon cycle after they read assigned textbook pages. Learners also discuss biomass content in different parts of the...
Curated OER
The Insect Files
Students are provided with a physical description of the insect, in words and graphics, including body parts, special adaptations, color, and so on. They explore and report on all four elements of an insect's habitat: food, water,...
Curated OER
Materials, Let's Do the Life Cycle
Students examine environmental and social impacts of products that consumers buy. In this environmental stewardship lesson, students play a game that requires them to consider real costs of products. Students consider the environmental...
Curated OER
Building a Butterfly Garden
Students plant a garden which will become the habitat for butterflies as they go through their life cycle. In this life cycle lesson, students grow plants that attract butterflies and feed caterpillars in order to observe the entire...
Curated OER
How Much Carbon is Held by the World's Forests?
Seventh graders identify how much carbon is held by the world's forests. For this forestry lesson, 7th graders study the carbon cycle and discuss what role humans have had on climate change. Students write a one page paper on how the...
Curated OER
Fly Tying
Learners practice fly tying and explain water conservation efforts in Iowa. In this ecology, Iowa geography, and natural resources lesson, students identify basic equipment and material needed to fish, then tie flies. Learners name...
Curated OER
Pumpkin, Pumpkin
First graders understand that pumpkins grow slowly over several months. In this pumpkin instructional activity, 1st graders listen to the book Pumpkin, Pumpkin and recall the sequence of the pumpkin life cycle. Students create pumpkin...
Curated OER
Trees For Trout!
Fourth graders determine the impact of native forests, local clearcuts and local clearcuts and local reforestation projects on the survivablity of Rainbow Trout in their area. They record and document the stages of the trout throughout...
Curated OER
Photosynthesis: Trapping the Sun's Energy
In this photosynthesis worksheet, students learn how plants trap the sun's energy and the light-dependent reactions of photosynthesis which includes the Calvin cycle. This worksheet has 5 true or false, 6 fill in the blank, 2 short...
Curated OER
The Great Water Hunt
Students create a model of the land to water ratio in a large group and search for all the places water is used at their school while on a Great Water Hunt. They identify where water can be found and compare how much of world is covered...
Curated OER
What is Happening to Our Water?
Young scholars compare and contrast Wisconsin's water resources to that of Puerto Rico. They research books about islands, particularly the Puerto Rican islands. Student view illustrations of island ecology. They discuss the...
Curated OER
Station: Earth's Interior
In this earth science worksheet, students cut out each die pattern and the signs for each station. Then they assemble the dice by folding along lines and taping the edges together. Students also follow the written instructions for...
Curated OER
Thermal Pollution
In this pollution instructional activity, students read about thermal pollution and how hot water affects wildlife. Then students complete 1 short answer question.
Curated OER
Water/Agua
Third graders complete water activities including vocabulary, visualization and performing activities. They study water vocabulary words in both English and Spanish. They listen to a read aloud of Jane Yolen's, Letting Swift River Go,...
Curated OER
Driving Currents
Students conduct a variety of investigations to see how water, heat, and salinity affect the flow of the world's ocean currents,as well as, explore many factors that affect the flow of the world's ocean currents. They also describe in...
Curated OER
Earth Science
Students explore how water and waves erode the earth. In this erosion lesson students determine the processes of wave erosion and building.