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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Louisiana Purchase

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students use maps to locate and describe the area purchased by the Louisiana Purchase. In groups, they write a letter to Thomas Jefferson in which they evaluate the topography, climate and geography of the land. They determine the land's...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Defining Drought

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine the hydrologic impacts of drought. They look at drought from a variety of prespectives. Students first focus on the scientific definition of drought, including weather patterns, water cycles, water requirements by plants...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Healthy is the Wetland?

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Learners explore wetlands. In this ecology lesson, students visit a wetland site and collect data about the wetland functions. Learners record their results and use the data recorded to rate the wetland site on its function.
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Physical and Human Geography Review Worksheet and Study Guide

For Students 6th - 9th
In this geography skills activity, students respond to 30 short answer questions pertaining to physical and human geography.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Save Our Soil

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students explore the need for good farm land and reasons for the disappearance of agricultural areas. They brainstorm environmental friendly decisions and soil conservation. In their community, students explore new land developments...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Who Works in This Forest?

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students examine the variety of jobs that are related to working in the forest. Information on the different jobs is provided in this lesson plan for the teacher to share with the students. The students create a collage using magazines...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Estuarine Habitats

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders study the important habitats, flora, fauna, and physical factors of coastal habitats. They compare the aquatic habitats to terrestrial habitats by researching and completing tables with the information.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Indiana Tornado Project

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students become familiar with the use of GIS for research, natural phenomena in Indiana, and analyzing collected information.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Site vs. Situation: Location! Location! Location!

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students examine places with a similar latitude to Alabama, and discuss the importance of a location's site versus its situation. They analyze maps, create a chart, and write a paragraph on the difference between site and situation.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Chemistry of Coal

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students investigate the chemistry of coal. This lesson serves as a review of conservation of mass, simple reactions and equation balancing. During the lesson, students research chemical components of coal, as well as environmental...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Chemistry of Killer Coal

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students research chemical components of coal, as well as environmental health impacts of mining and burning coal. They discuss conservation of mass as it relates to combustion of organic compounds.
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Handout
A-Z Animals

A Z Animals: Reference: Habitats: Urban Areas

For Students 9th - 10th
Find out how urban ecosystems sustain plant life and wildlife.
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Handout
Science Struck

Science Struck: 12 Types of Ecosystems

For Students 9th - 10th
Describes twelve kinds of ecosystems.
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Website
PBS

Pbs Teachers: The Urban Explosion

For Students 9th - 10th
Describe the environmental problems created by rapid development of urban areas, and identify solutions for dealing with problems caused by uncontrolled urbanization. Explain the importance of urban development plans for dealing with...
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Website
PBS

Bill Moyers Reports: Earth on Edge

For Students 9th - 10th
PBS presents this report by Bill Moyer on the current state of the earth. Information is provided on each of the planets ecosystems as well as ways to get involved. You are even able to access portions of the program that was aired.
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Unit Plan
Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University

De Paul University: Center for Urban Education: Changing the Ecosystem: Q & a [Pdf]

For Teachers 4th
"Changing the Ecosystem: Q & A" is a one page, nonfiction, reading passage about how the loss of the prairie to farming and population growth impacts the ecosystem. It is followed by questions which require students to provide...
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Unit Plan
Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University

De Paul University: Center for Urban Education: Changing the Ecosystem [Pdf]

For Teachers 8th
"Changing the Ecosystem" is a one page, nonfiction, reading passage about the disruption in the food chain due to habitat loss and pollution and the results of that disruption. It is followed by questions which require students to...
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Unit Plan
Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University

De Paul University: Center for Urban Education: Prairie Ecology [Pdf]

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
"Prairie Ecology" is a one page, nonfiction passage about the tallgrass prairie ecosystem and how it works using three animals: the skipper butterfly, ground squirrel, and the bison It is followed by an open-ended question which requires...
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Lesson Plan
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Ecology at Work

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students learn how rooftop gardens help the environment and the lives of people, especially in urban areas. They gain an understanding of how plants reduce the urban heat island effect, improve air quality, provide agriculture space,...
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Lesson Plan
Nature Conservancy

The Nature Conservancy: From America's Rainforest to America's Desert

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
On this virtual field trip, teachers will help their students travel to the lush, rain-soaked splendor of the Olympic Peninsula and explore the urban watershed of Seattle. Next, they will head to Arizona's dry, desert landscape and take...
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Graphic
Other

Alberta Environment: Wetlands: Webbed Feet Not Required (Poster) [Pdf]

For Students Pre-K - 1st
A detailed color poster of a wetlands environment. The background shows an urban area as well as farmers at work, both potential threats to a wetlands ecosystem. It is meant to accompany a unit by the same name.
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Website
Other

American Forests

For Students 9th - 10th
Promotes the benefits of maintaining a sustainable future for American forests. Outlines initiative to fight urban sprawl and its negative effects on the environment.
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Lesson Plan
Better Lesson

Better Lesson: What Kind of Animals Live on Farms?

For Teachers 9th - 10th
A lesson on sustainability of urban farms in particular in New York City. Students learn how to apply sustainability principles to environmental problems. Students will look at the need for sustainable farming practices that maximize...
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Lesson Plan
Better Planet Productions

Earth Care: Let's Convince Council! [Pdf]

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Urban building developments and even the construction of parks result in the removal of trees. Students will investigate the issues around a development scenario. They then present an argument to the class, who pose as a town council,...