Curated OER
Protecting Natural Resources
Third graders recognize what our natural resources are and their importance. In this natural resource recycling lesson, 3rd graders understand why it is important to recycle and conserve natural resources. Students can explain how...
NASA
Cleaning Water
From their sweat to the water vapor in their breath, astronauts recycle every possible drop of water while in space. After watching a short video describing the different ways materials are recycled and reused in space...
Curated OER
Trash Talkin
Students investigate recycling at several scales, including local, state, national and global. They become aware of recycling, re-use, reduce efforts and policies. Students read the article Where Does Your Garbage Go. They look up where...
United Nations
Compost Monitor Training
What should go in the trash, and what can be composted? Guide your young conservationists through the process of composing their trash with a lesson plan about the different ways we can dispose of garbage. Using a trash bag with clean...
Curated OER
Crafting Models of Efficiency
Learners build and compare models of both an energy inefficient and efficient classroom. In this energy efficiency lesson, students creatively use recycled materials to build two separate classroom models. They factor in concepts such as...
Curated OER
How Do Our Attitudes Affect Waste?
Students conduct a survey of society's typical purchasing practices to determine the influence of packaging on consumer choices and to determine if consumers consider waste disposal and recycling when making purchasing decisions.
Curated OER
What Is Special About Polyethylene Food Storage Bags?
Students participate in an investigation in which they compare a polyethylene bag designed for recycling or disposal with a polyethylene food storage bag. Students use hexane to determine the differences between the low density...
Education Outside
Papermaking
Imagine recycling food scraps and using them to make paper. The directions are all here in a seven-page packet that details several paper-making strategies.
California Academy of Science
Composting: A Scientific Investigation: California Academy of Sciences
Garbage, recycle, compost: Does it really matter where we put our trash once we are done? By making detailed observations over seven weeks, kids will see which materials break down naturally to become a healthy part of the soil, and...
PBS
Cloud Clues
It's cloudy with a good chance of learning! An inquiry-based lesson begins with an exploration of transparent, translucent, and opaque materials. Young scientists then connect their learning to the different cloud types as they take the...
Colorado State University
What Is a "Convection Cell"?
Round and round in circles it goes! A hands-on activity has learners recreate a model of a convection cell. They watch as the difference in density of their materials creates a current.
Curated OER
Dreamcatchers
After reading a Native American legend about dreamcatchers, why not make some. This resource provides several good links that explain the legend of the dreamcatcher and step-by-step instructions for making them with the class. Tip: If...
Science Geek
The Hydrogen Bomb
Recycled Russian nuclear weapons provide 10 percent of the nuclear energy that the United States uses. The short presentation discusses the Teller-Ulam device. It provides a diagram of the parts as well as a description of the four...
Curated OER
Waste Management
Students set up a recycling program in their school. They first estimate the kinds and amount of trash generated and brainstorm ways to reuse the recyclables and create flyers explaining how their program will work at the school.
Curated OER
Household Hazardous Waste Identification
Fourth graders learn about reduce, reuse, and recycle and identify household hazardous products. Students learn about less hazardous alternatives and complete an inventory of hazardous materials in a typical household.
Curated OER
When Electronics Are No Longer Useful to Us: Disposing Responsibly
Students discover ways to recycle electronics. Through discussion and research, they identify ways in which electronics that are improperly disposed can be harmful to the environment. Students explore how to responsibly dispose of...
Curated OER
Save the Earth: It's Everyone's Home
Students explore how recycling helps save trees and protect the environment. In this environmental concern lesson, students color a handout of animals that live in forests. Students discuss how recycling paper can save trees and set up...
Curated OER
All I Want for Christmas is a Nice, Clean Earth
Students observe properties of items, determine time it takes for organic/inorganic items to decompose, identify differences/similarities between decomposition, identify practical uses in litter/garbage control, & establish reasons...
Curated OER
Upcycled Garment or Art Work
Young scholars explain the importance of recycling waste products. For this art lesson, students research different upcycled fashion designs and accessories. They design their own product and present it in class.
Curated OER
ESOL Environment and the World
Students examine a recyling bin and the many different items that can be recycled. They practice loading the recyclie bin and using the correct vocabulary to explain each item.
Curated OER
Protect for Safekeeping
Students observe the North Dakota quarter reverse and discuss its imagery and meaning. They define "endangered species" and "conservation." They read books about recycling and conservation. They complete a worksheet about recycling and...
Curated OER
Com-Post With Us?
Students discuss the importance of reducing, recycling and reusing materials to help the environment. As a class, they create a worm bin and observe how it turns material in to compost. They use the internet to research the...
Curated OER
Recyclign Quest
Students integrate the concept of recycling in to an aerobic activity. After being divided into two classes of students; recyclers and litterers, students participate in activities related to their designation. Students practice...