Curated OER
Global Climate Change
Second graders investigate the effect of melting glaciers to sea level. In this earth science lesson, 2nd graders simulate the process in the lab by conducting an experiment using ice cubes and clay. They explain the consequences of...
Curated OER
The Little Ice Age - Understanding Climate and Climate Change
Fourth graders receive data about tree ring records, solar activity, and volcanic eruptions during the Little Ice Age (1350-1850). From this data, they draw conclusions about possible natural causes of climate change
Chicago Botanic Garden
Causes and Effects of Climate Change
Wrap-up a unit on global climate change with a lesson that examines the causes and effects of climate change. Learners fill out a chart that represents what they think causes climate change—natural and human-based—and what they think...
Deliberating in a Democracy
Recycling
How often have you passed by a recycling container in your school? Scholars research the issue of recycling in the ever-changing global world. Using documentation and video evidence, they form their own opinions on recycling and how it...
Curated OER
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
Does Climate Change Exist? Healthy Skepticism? Debating the Truth, Evidence, and Certainty of Climate Change
Students study climate change and the arguments of scientists that it exists. For this climate change lesson students complete a class activity and answer questions.
National Wildlife Federation
Is It Getting Hot in Here, or Is It Just Me?
Currently, only 2.1% of global warming is felt on continents, while over 93% is felt in the oceans. The fourth lesson in the series of 21 on global warming is composed of three activities that build off one another. In the first...
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
No Fossils in This Fuel
Yeast and sugar go beyond the pantry and into a fuel experiment. Use these common baking ingredients to assist your class in creating ethanol, a natural fuel. Pupils observe the process and gather information to elaborate on the...
Curated OER
Air: Fuel For Thought
Students consider the impact of vehicle use in their family and brainstorm viable alternatives to this use. They calculate the total emissions for their family cars during the week, then compare those totals with Hybrid car totals.
Curated OER
Exploring Alternative Energy Sources
Students research the amount and kinds of energy that are produced and consumed in the United States, including the limitations of this kind of consumption. They research and create a display to teach classmates about a specific...
Curated OER
In the Global Ballpark
Students examine reasons for and against American baseball teams playing in international exhibition games by debating pros and cons of the issue from the perspectives of designated personas.
Curated OER
Class Eco-war
Young scholars debate environmental issues. In this global issues lesson, students listen to lectures and conduct research on global climate change and discuss methods to sustain the global environment.
Curated OER
Energy and Me: What is My Responsibility?
Students investigate energy and their impact on the environment. In this environmental lesson plan, students will conduct a series of three activities that will help in their understanding of energy and how we use it.
Curated OER
Crossing Borders:The Globalization Debate
Young scholars explore the concept of globalization. In this globalization lesson, students determine the benefits and costs of globalization as they participate in a simulation and complete worksheet activities.
Curated OER
Horrific Hurricanes
Students study hurricanes and how scientists predict them. In this hurricane lesson students read an article on hurricanes, complete an activity and take a quiz.
Curated OER
The Greenhouse Effect
Seventh graders investigate the temperature change in open and closed containers. In this earth science instructional activity, 7th graders relate this lab activity to greenhouse effect. They create a line graph from data collected in...
Curated OER
Be Considerate of Others
Students explore the environment by participating in an outdoors activity. In this nature appreciation lesson, students discuss how to minimize their human imprint when experiencing nature. Students conduct a nature walk and plan out an...
Curated OER
Evidence of Climate Change
Sixth graders examine climate change in the state of Colorado. In this climate lesson, 6th graders watch 2 video clips regarding the topic and research the subtopics- snow pack, precipitation, temperature, forest fires, river flow,...
Curated OER
Chilling Out
Students determine the breakdown of worldwide energy consumption by various sources. After reading an article, they examine recent research in the area of alternative energy sources. Using the internet, they research the forms of...
Curated OER
In the Forecast, a Flurry of Concerns about Snow
Students consider the effects of climate change on snowfall and how a lack of data in snowfall collection impair climate change research. They, in groups, investigate different effects of snowfall and make recommendations to lobbyists.
Curated OER
The Coffee and Conservation Connection
Students explore the connection between low cost coffee and wildlife conservation. Students working in groups devise a marketing campaign for a new brand of coffee, grown in a less environmentally damaging way.
Curated OER
Historical Climate Statistics
Are we getting hotter? Let’s look at a sample locality where historical records exist and see what we can find out. Here is an activity that has young environmentalists plotting the average winter temperature in England from 900-1900. It...
Curated OER
Costa Rican Ecosystems
Learners read about the Cloud Forests in Costa Rica and then answer critical thinking questions about how to prevent loss in this forest and how to slow down global warming.
Curated OER
Earth Day
Students examine evidence on Global Warming and then analyze the impact of their school community on the environment and propose ways to lessen our impact on the environment. They have access to a total of six articles for their...