Curated OER
Mining in Texas
In this mining and nonrenewable resources worksheet, students read about mining in Texas and simulate the extraction of nonrenewable minerals. They use cookies and their components to represent the minerals they will mine and they answer...
Curated OER
Natural Gardening
Students study the effect of pesticides on plants and insects. In this gardening lesson, students discuss the importance of insects. They define pesticides, evaluate their effectiveness and the problems they might cause. Students...
Curated OER
Oil Market Basics
In this natural resources instructional activity, students take a ten question quiz based on their knowledge of the oil market. This a multiple choice quiz.
Carnegie Mellon University
How Power Plants Work 2
In this second of three lessons on power plants, future engineers find out how we generate electricity and how coal-powered plants operate. They work in small groups to make electromagnet generators to light LED bulbs. A set of...
Curated OER
How Science Works: Natural Selection
Young scholars are introduced to the topic of adaptation and discuss how various animals adapt to their environment. In groups, they participate in a simulation in which they are selected based on criteria. They discuss the results and...
Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Survival of the Fittest - Variations in the Clam Species Clamys sweetus
It's not often that you come across a clever laboratory activity that is both imaginative and comprehensive! Using M&M's and Reese's peanut butter candies to represent two different clam species, young biologists test for "relative...
Curated OER
Fossil Fuels: Understanding a Nonrenewable Resource
Incorporate fossil fuel issues into your curriculum with these lesson plan ideas.
Curated OER
"Lettuce" Learn About the Water Cycle
Young scientists investigate the water cycle through a lettuce seed experiment. For this experiment, learners plant lettuce seeds inside of a ziplock bag in order to create a small greenhouse. They observe condensation and precipitation,...
Cave Creek Unified School District
Crusades and Culture in the Middle Ages
The Crusades sounds like a glamorous time period in the Middle Ages full of glory—but was it? Scholars find and review the truth of the Crusades' influence on the world through the resource. The study guides, separated individually by...
Curated OER
Classic Trash
Students investigate how trash is classified and the options to deal with it. In this trash and recycling instructional activity, students perform an activity to classify trash into organic, renewable/ recyclable, now...
Curated OER
In Search of Reused and Recycled
Students identify recycled and recyclable products by reading their packaging They understand the impact of solid waste on landfills and relate the idea of conserving natural resources to the importance of recycling and buying recycled...
Curated OER
Garbage 2: Recycling
Students apply what they have learned about throwaway products "and the valuable natural resources from which they're derived" by thinking about where garbage goes after they throw it out. They also examine their own ideas and habits...
Kenan Fellows
Renewable vs. Nonrenewable Energy Resources
Is one type of energy inherently good or bad? Young scientists explore energy resources in a week-long unit. After extensive research, groups create powerful position statements and presentations supporting their energy resource of choice.
Curated OER
Country Landform Brochure
Third graders create brochures that include landforms, natural resources and pictures of a country that has been researched or studied in class.
Council for Economic Education
The Economics of Income: If You’re So Smart, Why Aren't You Rich?
If basketball players make more than teachers, why shouldn't learners all aspire to play in the NBA? Unraveling the cost and benefits of education and future economic success can be tricky. Economic data, real-life cases, and some...
Curated OER
Fur, Feathers and Fins
Students examine the stages between growing the animal and buying it at the grocery store. In food system lesson plan students study the role that animal products have on nutrition and study animal agriculture.
Curated OER
Space Age Technology Comes to Earth
Students explore jobs related to agriculture. In this technology/agriculture lesson, students recognize the importance of natural resources and agriculture on the use of Range Rambler software. Students complete an experiment and a...
Curated OER
Digging, Smelting and Forging: But Why in Pennsylvania
Students examine the history of the iron industry in Pennsylvania. In this iron industry lesson, students learn about Israel Acrilius and his role in the iron industry. Students identify natural resources used in forging iron. Students...
Curated OER
Earth: Our Big Blue Marble
Students investigate Earth and its resources. In this Earth, space, and nature lesson plan, students collaborate to design presentations on the Earth, its cycles, and how humans have impacted the planet. Images, diagrams, and background...
Curated OER
Trees at Work... Just Look!
Pupils investigate the significance of trees. They collect magazine pictures of animals that live in trees, list products that are made from trees, collect twigs and create an item using the sticks, and bring in and discuss food from trees.
Cornell University
Bacteria Take Over and Down
Bacteria outnumber all other forms of life on Earth. Scholars observe the growth of bacteria in petri dishes to understand their role in maintaining good health. Then, they observe the growth of bacteria after they introduce...
Curated OER
Mexican Metal Tooling
Metal work can be a wonderful way to expose learners to Mexican folk art. This resource provides all the necessary steps for creating Mexican metal tooling with your art class. Images, web links, recommended books and products make...
Curated OER
Dental Health
Fourth graders investigate the types of habits that are necessary for good dental health. They use information provided from a variety of resources to make conclusions of the overall practice of dental hygiene. Then students produce a...
Curated OER
Soybeans: The Miracle Seed
Students discover why soybeans are called the "miracle seeds." They make their own soynuts and share other foods made from soybeans. They create a bulletin board of soybean products.