Curated OER
Wide Open Spaces
Learners examine the problem of groundwater pollution. In groups, they develop a solution to solve the problem of a local polluted water source. They also practice measuring the space between sediment particles and the rate of water flow.
Teach Engineering
Microbes Know How to Work!
Scholars harness the power of microbes with an engaging activity that uses yeast to break down sugar in water. Multiple setups of the same experiment lets learners determine which temperature results in the fastest rate of sugar...
Curated OER
WET Science Lesson #5: Pass the Salt Please! (How Road Salt Affects Wetlands)
As an anticipatory set, biologists listen to the story of Ruth Patrick, a scientist who used algae to detect water quality. They observe a demonstration of osmosis and diffusion. In their lab groups, they place Elodea stalks in...
Curated OER
Dangerous Air
Students investigate how pollution is a global issue. They locate the countries affected by radiation from Chernobyl, sequence the progress of radiation transport from Chernobyl and plot the pollution points on a world map, and read and...
Curated OER
Water Filtration
Students design a filtration system using three filtration materials. In this water filtration lesson, students conduct an experiment with their filtration systems. Students present their systems to the class. Group results are...
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Diseases
During a cholera outbreak, scientists presented two theories; one theory was based on miasma and the other on germs and contaminated water. The instructional activity looks at the scientific process for finding the real culprit.
Curated OER
Identifying Your Watershed
Students identify the watershed where they live and how it is related to their own water consumption. In this watershed lesson students locate their watershed on their town map. The students find the source of their water that they use...
Earth Day Network
Staying Green While Being Clean
Clean up the environment with a lesson plan that focuses on replacing hazardous cleaning supplies with green, environmentally-friendly products. Using a dirty patch of surface as a control area, kids clean other parts of various surfaces...
Henry Ford Museum
Human Impact on Ecosystems
An environmenta science unit includes three lessons plus a cumulative project covering the ecosystem. Scholars follow the history of the Ford Rouge Factory from its construction on wetlands and how it destroyed the environment to its...
Curated OER
Pollution Solution!
Students listen to the story "Clean Air, Dirty Air" by Lynne Patchett and discover the main types of pollution and how these affect their bodies. In this pollution lesson, students work in small groups to create a machine to prevent...
Curated OER
Down By the River
Students examine how watersheds work and determine the difference between point and nonpoint source pollution. They research management practices to reduce pollution and investigate how everyone can participate in reducing water pollution.
Curated OER
Treacherous Trash
Learners recognize the harmful effects people have on the environment. For this environmental lesson, students simulate water pollution clean-up by using tangled objects and untangling them in a cooperative group. Learners identify why...
Curated OER
Environmental Event: Earth Day Activities
Students identify solid waste and water pollution concerns. They discuss how to prevent water and air pollution as well. They describe any behaviors they have that would be considered environmentally irresponsible.
Curated OER
Earth Water Distribution and Water Consumption
Students explore the need for conserving fresh water and understand that it is a limited supply. In this water consumption lesson students participate in an activity and answer questions.
Curated OER
What's in the Water?
Students make a water sampler and use proper techniques to collect water.They write a essay explaining the inter-relationship of factors such as temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, nitrates, and phosphates in a lake that might cause a...
Curated OER
Ecologist's Activities
Students construct a model of a biome. In this ecology lesson, students use a shoebox, magazine pictures, paper, and string to create a model biome. Students glue the photos inside the shoe box and draw other objects, such as plants,...
Curated OER
Water Purification
Students develop an understanding and appreciation of water purification techniques and their implications for health maintenance.
Teach Engineering
Density and Miscibility
The liquids did not mix — so what do density columns have to do with it? The seventh part in a series of nine provides the theoretical explanation of why density columns do not mix. The lesson covers the topics related to mixing and...
Curated OER
The High Cost of Chemical Dependency
Sixth graders explore, analyze and study the effect and impact that humans have on the environment based on their choices as individuals, businesses and governments. They assess the balance between human activities and aquatic pollution.
Curated OER
Environmental Education/Water Pollution
Fifth graders play a game in which they list as many environmental issues or terms in alphabetical order. They brainstorm ways they can save the environment and create a mural that displayed research found from the internet and Encarta.
Curated OER
The Chemistry of Water / Industrial Waste at My High School
Students gain factual knowledge of the nature of industrial waste at on their school site. They gain process knowledge of the laboratory techniques and collection procedures for wastewater samples.
Curated OER
Erosion
Young scientists identify erosion, explain the causes of erosion, and name some techniques that can slow the process of erosion. Learners are divided up into groups of four and perform a simulation of soil erosion in class. The...
Kenan Fellows
Determining Stream Health by the Diversity and Types of Benthic Organisms
How diverse are the benthic organisms found in local streams? Using the information learned in previous lessons on identification of macroinvertebrates and on calculating stream index values, groups determine the health of local streams....