Curated OER
You've Got to See It to Believe It!
Fifth graders examine smog and particulate matter as two major visible air pollutants. They discover how the pollutants formed and how engineers work on visible air pollution. They design an advertisement for a hybrid vehicle.
Curated OER
Dirt Alert
Students explore the environment and effects of pollution. They participate in a "Dirt Alert" scavenger game to study vocabulary words. Students construct a soil simulator to visually illustrate the negative effects on the environment of...
Curated OER
Plants and Air Purity
Learners explore how green plants help improve air quality. They read an article and discuss the importance of air quality and its effects on the human body. They investigate by connecting hose to the top of a Bell jar and to a funnel....
Curated OER
You are the Microbiologist
In this lesson plan, students demonstrate comprehension of basic lab techniques by properly using these techniques in preparing a laboratory investigation, demonstrate synthesis of prior lab experiences by solving a new problem using...
Curated OER
A Tale of Two Reactors
Tenth graders role-play as members of the food chain. Sticky tables acting as polluting factors are introduced and members of different trophic levels suffer varying degrees of damage due to those pollutants.
Curated OER
Sectors? What Sectors?
Students develop a list why water is an endangered natural resource. They identify four sectors in society. They explain the responsibilities that each sector plays in conserving water.
Curated OER
Soil Runoff Challenge
Learners find ways to decrease soil runoff for an African Village as a part of a Peace Corps project. In this soil runoff lesson, students play a soil runoff challenge online. Learners complete online activities and view a slide show to...
Curated OER
Waste Not, Want Not
Young scholars consider the types of debris that litters beaches and conduct research on waste management. They then interview professionals in a particular field of waste management and write reports for a booklet about garbage and...
Curated OER
The Urban Heat Island Effect - Lesson 2 (Grade 5)
Fifth graders use the scientific process to examine how when various surfaces are exposed to similar environmental conditions, surface temperatures may vary. They conduct an experiment to show the relationship between surface and...
Carnegie Mellon University
Hydroelectricity
Use a simple PowerPoint presentation to introduce you environmental studies class to hydropower. Hold a debate about the pros and cons of developing this form of alternative energy. Power up your class with this simple lesson on a topic...
Curated OER
It's Really Heating Up in Here!
Students create and observe a greenhouse effect model and discuss the implications of global warming theory for engineers, themselves and the Earth. They discover that Global warming is becoming an increasing concern as we learn more...
Curated OER
Fossil Fuels: Facing the Issues
Young scholars explore energy by researching fuel usage on Earth. In this fossil fuel lesson, students define fossil fuels, the energy created by burning them, and the impact on the environment when using them. Young scholars conduct...
NOAA
What's New?
Biodiversity in some areas is more diverse than one might think. Using a two-day lesson plan, pupils consider the biodiversity of the Hudson Canyon and the characteristics of one organism. They begin with an analysis of the common...
Curated OER
Waste Watchers
Energy-aware learners conduct an audit on their electricity usage by recording their electric meter reading and assessing the thermostat, light bulbs, windows, and water heaters in their homes. In class, they analyze results and discuss...
Carnegie Mellon University
How Power Plants Work 1
First of three lessons, this is a great start to a unit on energy. As you demonstrate, learners discover different types of energy and how it is converted from one form to another. They then focus in on the generation of electricity by...
Carnegie Mellon University
How Power Plants Work 2
For 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...
Carnegie Mellon University
How Power Plants Work 3
Double, double toil and trouble, fire burn and cauldron bubble! Find out what drives a turbine to generate electricity and whether or not it has an impact on the environment. A discussion and lecture is divided by a hands-on activity in...
Curated OER
Renewable vs. Non-Renewable Resources
Here's a fine lesson on renewable and non-renewable sources of energy for your 5th graders. In it, learners list a number of natural resources on the board, then try to sort the resources into appropriate categories. This helps them to...
Curated OER
The Effects of Agricultural Fertilizer Runoff Upon Aquatic Ecosystems
Students measure the toxic levels of runoff and discuss the effects it would have on the aquatic system. In this runoff lesson plan, students answer questions to how runoff would affect the animals in an aquatic system.
Curated OER
Where's the Point?
Students examine runoff for the causes, the impact, and the solution. In this investigative lesson students construct a three dimensional model of a watershed and provide information of contaminated runoff to their audience.
Curated OER
River and Us (A)
Students define and demonstrate proper use of common good, preserve (as in clean water) and public good as applicable to clean water.
Curated OER
Happy the Fish
Students explore the ways in which people's actions affect fish. They discuss pollutants that are in the water. Students define the terms chemicals, cooling pond, and pollutant. They create a book about Happy the Fish.
Curated OER
Microbial Contaminants in Drinking Water
When presented with three unopened bottles of water, high schoolers are asked to tell decide which one is contaminated with a microbe. Students work in small groups and role play being a Microbiologist, a patient, or a recorder. The...
Curated OER
How Clean Is Our Water?
Students examine samples of water to determine its cleanliness. They visit a waste treatment plant and/or reservoir. Students explore what protects the water supply from contamination by chemical or organize pollution. They trace the...