Curated OER
Recyclers to the Rescue
Fifth graders examine the concept of the food chain and define producer, consumer, herbivore, carnivore, and omnivore. They draw a food chain for a mouse and discuss the different organisms involved in the chain, and conduct an...
Curated OER
PAPER RECYCLING
Learners examine the availability and use of important resources, people practice conservation. They explore the needs of an expanding human population, societies practice resource management and employ technology.
Curated OER
Recycling of Plastics
Students separate plastics according to their densities, develop a method for separation and identify variables in an experiment and a fair test, changing only one variable at a time for a fair comparison. After testing, they develop a...
Curated OER
Sandcastle Rooflines
Students research the architecture of Antonio Gaudi and his first buildings of Gothic architecture. Then they combine, texture, and paint recycled containers to construct a detailed castle. Students also fill in surrounding areas with...
Alabama Learning Exchange
Good Litter, Bad Litter
Which ones can be thrown on the ground? Discover the difference between natural litter and unhealthy trash, helping scholars by using several examples. Use the information here to give them a basic background, but also encourage prior...
Curated OER
Build an Outdoor Compost Heap
Students study how to create a compost heap. For this composting lesson, students create a compost heap. Students write an essay describing the process.
Curated OER
Lesson: Transformational Tapestries
Art can be found anywhere, even in the class recycle bin. El Anatsui is an artist that uses found materials to create two and three-dimensional art. Kids examine his techniques, discuss the differences between found art forms, and then...
Curated OER
How Will We Create a Future without Waste?
Many young people act globally by reducing, reusing, and recycling, Now they take it to the next level by upcycling. Middle schoolers design a proposal to eliminate waste by exploring the new material cycle and applying...
California Academy of Science
Where Do I Put My Trash?
Where does the trash go after you put it in the garbage can? The class discusses sustainability, recycling, compost, and landfills as they play as fun relay game. In teams, they race to be the fastest group to successfully sort...
Curated OER
Protecting the Environment
Students explain what biodegradable materials are and list examples of them. They design, with online partners' feedback and input, a product made of biodegradable materials and develop a marketing campaign to best sell their product.
Curated OER
Canvas Dinnerware
Take recycling to a new height. Learners use china or plastic dinnerware from thrift stores to create great works of art. They discuss great works of art, talk about techniques, and design their own piece.
Curated OER
Where is Away?
Focusing on where are garbage goes once we dispose of it, learners explore environmental concerns. Using a clear format, this activity leads learners through a discussion of waste reduction, recycling, and composting. Then, they discuss...
Curated OER
Garbage Plants
Students create plants out of garbage. They identify items that can be recycled and discuss natural resources. They share their creation with the class.
Curated OER
Soaring Towers
How tall can your tower get? Implement shapes, building strategies, teamwork, and prediction in this interactive tower activity. Learners discuss past experiences with stacking materials, recalling ways they kept it from falling over....
Curated OER
Puzzle Trees
Elementary artists use a collage and multi-media technique to create textured trees. They study the fall trees, discussing texture and what bare trees look like. They then use a variety of materials to create a textural piece.
Curated OER
A Master Production
Students create an "art garment" incoporating personal writings and found quotes with images of life and dreams on a disposable or recycled garment. This lesson includes scoring rubric.
Clean Up Australia
Why are Batteries Harmful to the Environment?
Open this activity by reading together about primary and secondary batteries (such as nickel-cadmium cells), problems they can cause in the environment, and how humans can minimize the damage. Afterward, little ones examine a collection...
Curated OER
Sculptures from the Skies
Fourth graders research the design of the aircraft used by the Wright Brothers at Kitty Hawk. They design a sculpture of aircraft using recycled materials.
Curated OER
What's Organic?
Young scholars discuss background information presented by the teacher and read dictionary definitions for the words "organic" and "synthetic." In this gardengin instructional activity, students complete a worksheet on the material....
Curated OER
Pop Bottle Flowers
Students make flowers from art materials. They use construction paper and paint to create a t-shirt with the flowers on it. They use a pop bottle to create the petals.
Curated OER
Tissue Paper Puzzle Art
Get creative and use a tissue paper collage to make wonderful window hangings for the classroom. You'll find the materials list, objectives, and instructions needed to complete this fun activity. This project encourages eye-hand...
Curated OER
Toothpick Sculpture
You'll be surprized at how much engineering, design, and creativity can go into a toothpick and a marshmallow. Learners make toothpick sculptures where they construct three-dimentional models by sticking marshmallows and toothpicks...
California Academy of Science
Energy: A Day in My Life
If only we could harness the energy of fifth graders, our energy problems would be over! The class discusses where different forms of energy come from and how we use them. They complete a chart of the activities that they do daily...
Curated OER
Stamp It!
Students explore environmental issues through art. In this stamp lesson, students use preconsumer waste paper and colored pencils to create rubber stamp designs. This is an environmentally safe lesson.