Serendip
Changing Biological Communities – Disturbance and Succession
After cutting down a forest to make a farm, how long would it take the environment to turn an abandoned farm back into a forest? Scholars study this exact scenario while they interpret many charts and graphs of the changing ecosystems as...
Curated OER
Home in the Desert: Lesson for Use with This House is Made of Mud
Third graders examine how a family modifies their environment to create a home out of mud. They read the book "This House is Made of Mud" by Ken Buchanan, and write a description of their own home that compares the home of mud to their...
Curated OER
Plants and Animals
Seventh graders discover the interconnectedness of plants and animals in ecosystems. In groups, they create a food web and discuss the problems when one link of the chain is broken. To end the lesson, they set up a balanced environment...
Curated OER
Solid Waste and Recycling
Students demonstrate effects of waste on environment and ways of reducing it, observe how much packaging goes into bag lunches each day, and survey their families to assess awareness levels and household recycling practices. Lessons all...
Virginia Department of Education
Ecosystem Dynamics
Searching for an eccentric way to enhance lessons on ecosystems while ensuring pupils remain creative and motivated? Upon viewing The Lorax by Dr. Seuss, designated groups design and construct a pop-up book that depicts the specific ways...
Curated OER
Committing to Respect: Lessons for Students to Address Bias
Here's a guide designed to build safe, respectful learning environments, and to build understanding of the value of diversity through lessons packed with activities for specific grade levels.
Curated OER
A Contouring We Go
Students examine the built environment and infrastructures of their community by constructing contour equipment, using the equipment, and comparing their results to current topographical maps of the same area
Curated OER
Peace Corps Challenge Game- Water Quality
Students advocate for clean water. In this water pollution lesson, students play the Peace Corps Challenge Game, discuss the effects of polluted water and write a letter to the mayor of Wanzuzu highlighting the situation of the fish's...
Curated OER
Genetics
Comprehend that many human characteristics-all physical traits and possibly many personality traits-are determined by our genetic makeup. These activities demonstate that all physical traits are genetically determined, some evidence...
Wild BC
Is Climate Change Good for Us?
Is it really that big of a deal if the global climate undergoes a little change? Young environmentalists consider this very question as they discuss in small groups the impact of different climate change scenarios on their lives, their...
Forest Foundation
Fire in Our Communities - What Can We Do?
Learn about defensible space and renewable resources with a lesson about forest fires. After exploring the ways that humans have impacted the environment, kids conduct mock interviews about differing points of view in the conservation...
Institute for Humane Education
In Your Face: Reclaiming Billboards
Ads here, ads there, ads everywhere—but what do they communicate? Pupils discuss this topic and develop a list of personal values. They then work as creative directors at an advertising firm to create billboards that reflect community...
Curated OER
That's Predictable - Stream Side Science
Research the impact that changes in biotic or abiotic factors might have on an ecosystem. Debate for or against the changes and take action in the community. This resource ideally follows stream studies that young ecologists may have...
Curated OER
Peace Corps Challenge Game: Soil Runoff
Students examine the causes and effects of soil runoff. In this environment lesson, students look at ways in which soil runoff is controlled. Students then play a game and discuss how the Peace Corps deals with soil runoff in African...
Kenan Fellows
Assembly Required and the Design Process Too!
Do your part to make manufacturing more manageable. A capstone project challenges each group to identify and research a manufacturing process for a product. To complete the activity, they create a presentation for business and community...
Curated OER
Local Area - Is the Land Connected to Us?#144
Students examine how human influences have affected the Connecticut River Valley. They determine what a region is in relation to its human influences. They label the important human features of this region including dams, canals, and...
Curated OER
Essential Services
Students discuss necessary community services then complete a worksheet by filling in essential services, the needed inputs and outputs produced by fulfilling the service.
Curated OER
Community Map of The Giver
Middle schoolers read "The Giver" after finishing the unit on inventions and inventors. Using the information in the novel, they develop a geographic map illustrating the community in the story. They identify human and physical features...
Curated OER
World Geography: Smart Cities
Students are able to analyze how a variety of cities both in the USA and abroad have worked to improve human health and environment. They combine their prior knowledge of previous lessons and apply that knowledge to compare how each...
Curated OER
Social Studies: Our Town
Third graders examine all the features of communities, including an examination of their histories. They draw a mural that includes their community's unique features. Students also construct a replica of the main street of their town.
Curated OER
Everything's Coming Up Roses: Creating Beautiful Areas in Your Neighborhood
Learners study the history of Pennsylvania and the city beautification movement that originated in that state. In this community service lesson, young scholars study the city beautification movement started by Mira Lloyd Dock. Learners...
Curated OER
Take Me Out Of The Box: Revealing Stereotypes
Students investigate the term "stereotype", explain how stereotypes can detract from a safe and caring community and disprove at least one stereotype. They also explore stereotypes, acknowledge their dangers and research ways to break...
Curated OER
The Yesterday's Tomorrow Teacher's Guide
Young scholars explore the future and the importance of the past. In this futuristic lesson, students create a future city and identify traditions of their heritage that they feel should be passed on to future generations. They also...
Curated OER
Salt: White Gold
Students examine the importance of salt for trade routes and the economy of a community.