Curated OER
Polar Biomes
Second graders research the animals, climate, and plant life in both of the Polar regions. They explore a variety of websites and complete a WebQuest. Students complete a chart, view a PowerPoint presentation, and answer true/false...
Curated OER
The Coldest Continent
Students use the internet to conduct research on the continent of Antarctica. As a class, they review the continent's climate and the reasons behind the cold temperatures. After reading an article, they draw a picture of what they...
Curated OER
Deforestation
Middle schoolers identify the different tropical rainforests in the world using a map. In this ecology lesson, students describe the different methods of deforestation. They create a memo and present it to class.
Curated OER
Five Themes of Geography
Learners conduct research to determine why geography is important and how it provides information regarding many aspects of the world. They investigate the hemispheres, longitude, latitude and absolute location.
Curated OER
In The Shadow of Angkor
Learners are introduced to basic historic and geographic facts about Cambodia. They understand the spiritual component of Cambodia's art. They identify Cambodia on a map of the world. They construct a graphic representation of a film...
Curated OER
Weather Records
Students write newspaper articles based on weather records set around the world. Students read and discuss weather records and their results, then write a newspaper article about how the weather records have affected people around the...
Curated OER
Fallout!
High schoolers plot the locations of fallout from two disasters that polluted much of the world's air. They plot the ash fallout from the 1980 Mt. St. Helen's eruption to see what the wind patterns in the United States look like overall....
Curated OER
A Message in a Bottle
Students investigate the motion of water currents by mapping the possible movement of messages cast into the ocean in bottles.They accurately plot the appearance of bottles on a world map and illustrate the flow of an ocean current...
Curated OER
Where Does Earth's Heat Come From?
Middle schoolers try to determine how the Earth is heated by the sun and other sources. In groups, they identify the other sources of energy and discover why different parts of the world are heated differently during the year. They...
Curated OER
Animals of the Cold
Students access the Internet to research information about animals found in the coldest parts of the world. They gather data for collaborative exchange and research answers to teacher designed questions. They create original works of art...
Curated OER
Rich and Poor
For this rich and poor dialogue, pupils read aloud questions and answers about the rich and the poor of the world in order to build vocabulary skills. Students work in pairs.
Curated OER
Land Use Issues
Students research the different habitats found in the world. They also examine the land use issues that affect each of the habitats. They also research any environmental issues affecting the habitat they are researching.
Curated OER
Thar She Blows
Students discover the effects of El Nino on the global climate. As a class, they role play the role of a cold or warm wind and act out a skit in front of the class. They discuss the results of the role play once it is completed.
Carnegie Mellon University
Transportation
Teach your environmental studies, life science, or engineering class how an internal combustion engine works using the first few slides of the accompanying presentation. Then, focus in on the resulting carbon emissions. Finally, take a...
American Museum of Natural History
Ask a Scientist About Our Environment
Let's ask an expert! Scientists at the American Museum of Natural History field questions about the environment in an interactive resource. Question topics range from global warming and conservation to endangered species and habitats.
Curated OER
Hottest, Coldest, Highest, Deepest: Science, 4th Grade
Fourth graders investigate weather patterns in their home state of Utah. After creating KWL charts, they research weather and geographical data to locate the state's extremes. As an extension, 4th graders write and illustrate books about...
Curated OER
A Message in a Bottle
Students create an imaginary tale of travel and adventure. They explain who they are, where they were going when they got stranded, where they left from, and how they were traveling. They place their stories in bottles and set them afloat.
Curated OER
Homes Sweet Homes
Students view various examples of homes by Robert Harris. In groups, they describe how houses are different in various climates around the world. Individually, they use one artifact from their own home and research its significance in...
Curated OER
Assigning Roles: Becoming Advisors to Individual Nations and Assembling Country Profiles
Students role play the role of advisors to countries on the issue of global warming. In their groups, they identify the main issues affecting their country along with any opposing viewpoints. They use the internet to research the...
Curated OER
Is the Earth Warming? a Test of the Effect of Increased Carbon Dioxide on the Thermal Properties of Air
Students investigate the environmental and economic effects of increased carbon dioxide (CO2) content in the atmosphere.
Curated OER
Costa Rican Ecosystems
Students read about the Cloud Forests in Costa Rica and then answer critical thinking questions about how to prevent loss in this forest and how to slow down global warming.
Curated OER
Will Global Warming Push Trees to Extinction?
Learners examine the extinction of plants and animals through loss of habitat. They investigate the effects of global warming. They use a computer model to analyze the impact of global warming on tree growth and distirbution...
Curated OER
Health, Pollution, and Safety: Why Should We Care?
Students examine the impact of reducing the carbon dioxide emissions. They identify ways alternative fuels can lessen the effect of emissions on communities. Working in teams they conduct research from various community and Internet...
Curated OER
Who Needs Power?
Students articulate the connection between energy consumption and the global economy. They identify and define the connection between energy consumption and environmental health. Students formulate suggestions concerning how the nature...