NASA
Mystery Planet
What can one learn about a planet based on a small surface sample? Learners will explore artifacts from a mystery planet and see what they can determine about the planet based on the evidence in front of them.
San Francisco Public Utilities Commission
Pesky Plastics: The Problem with Plastic
What can happen to the environment if plastic continues to pollute it? Learners read about the implications of plastic on health, water, and nature in a two-page reading passage. After they finish reading, they work on six comprehension...
Curated OER
Plate Tectonics - Electronic Scavenger Hunt
Students explore the attributes of plate tectonics. In this plate tectonics instructional activity, students use computers to access a plate tectonics scavenger hunt file and complete the required activities using their textbooks.
Curated OER
Make Your Own Trashasaurus Rex Sculpture
Students explore environmental awareness through reusing materials. In this environmental awareness lesson, students use trash to create a "trashasaurus," a large dinosaur sculpture made from waste. Detailed structure and papier-mâché...
Curated OER
Volcano Lesson Plan
Students describe the properties of volcanoes, and explain why volcanoes are important to the environment.
Curated OER
Annotating Change in Satellite Images
Students construct a movie using Landsat images to observe changes over time on Earth. In this satellite images lesson, students observe changes in land use over time and document one type of change they observe. They produce an...
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Exploring Energy with GIS
Students examine GIS technology as it is used to locate energy sources. In this GIS instructional activity, student access an assigned website to locate a series of lessons using the GIS software. They use the maps that are located on...
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Barnegat Bay Watershed
Students design a model watershed. In this watershed lesson, students learn the needed parts of a watershed and how they work. Students evaluate how watersheds effect communities.
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November Science
Students review that all people, plants, and animals live on Earth. They classify objects found in the environment as living or nonliving.
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Pond Ecosystem Field Trip
Students investigate the environment by participating in a class trip. In this pond ecosystem lesson, students define a list of vocabulary terms associated with ponds such as invertebrate and metamorphosis. Students attend a field trip...
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Living in Space
Students explore space science by viewing a video in class. In this astronaut lesson, students identify the living habits of astronauts by researching the NASA website and observing a space science video in class. Students participate in...
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Indoor Environment: A Magazine Publication Project
Students demonstrate knowledge of Indoor Air Quality by creating a class magazine. A link to order a free Action Kit from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is provided so teachers can build background knowledge. Performance...
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Generating Power
Young scholars construct a working model of a turbine and explain how water generates power. By the end of the instructional activity, they list the effects of Kingsley Dam on people, plans, and animals -- both positive and negative.
Curated OER
The Environment and You
First graders examine the human environmental impact and discover ways to lessen effects. They create a pollution damage flow chart and write down what they think Mother Earth might say. They create inventions from recyclable materials.
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Pump It Up
Students use water in a flask to simulate how oil is pumped or forced out of the Earth by pressure from natural gas or human machinery. In this oil lesson plan, students complete a lab packet and work in groups.
Curated OER
Compass Building Instructions
Students build their own compass following a given procedure. For this technology lesson, students explain how a compass is used in navigation. They trace the history of its development.
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The Climate Change Skeptic's Argument: Natural Solar Cycles or Human Activity?
Teachers explore patterns in sunspots and total solar irradiance to understand the counterpoint to the human effect of global warming. In this professional development tool, teachers work through a lesson on the sun's natural patterns to...
Curated OER
The Wonders of Bacteria
Learners explore the evolution and features of bacteria through a series of activities. In this biology lesson, students collect data and graph bacterial growth. They design a brochure about bacteria's role in society.
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Ecosystem Game
Students examine the ecosystem by playing a game. In this ecosystem lesson, students are put into groups of decomposers, consumers, and producers. Students create a list of animals that fit into each group and items that represent...
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Investigating Planetary Soils
Students study soil characteristics and identify properties of soils from different parts of the solar system. In this soil instructional activity students divide into groups, read soil descriptions, test and record soil samples.
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Tree Seedling Planting- My Relationship and Responsibility to our Forests
In this trees lesson plan, 4th graders read the book, A Tree is Growing and complete a KWL chart on how trees grow and how they are used. Students research the symbiotic relationship of humans and trees, create tree collages, plant a...
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Magnetism-Decode Encrypted Statements
Third graders solve a cryptogram by decoding a message written with wingdings. In this decoding lesson, 3rd graders solve a message related to magnetism. Students have notes about magnets once they've finished.
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Kyoto Protocol
In this environment worksheet, students read an article about setting up the Kyoto Protocol, an international treaty. They identify the meaning of human environment and what the Earth's greenhouse effect is. Students also explain the...
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The Magic of Solar Thermal: How the Sun Can Be Used to Heat Water
Learners 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.