K-8 Teachers
Lesson 1 - The Scientific Method
Published in
Grade: 6
Goals
- Introduce students to the scientific method and the concept of designing an experiment to test the predictions of a hypothesis
- Differentiate between inductive and deductive reasoning
Objectives
- Learn the terminology of the scientific method (observation, hypothesis, prediction, data collection, induction and deduction, conclusion)
- Make hypotheses and predictions on individual group’s bags of M&M candies, based on observation of a single demonstration bag.
Share Your Knowledge
Published in
The final project of the school year will have the students create some form of presentation about what they learned for the purpose of teaching people in the community about different aspects of environmental protection. Additionally, this lesson will include a final exam that will measure what the students learned while also giving them an opportunity to write about how their views of the world might have changed during the year. This lesson will parallel the final lesson in the science curricula.
Alternative & Renewable Energy Sources
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A number of technologies exist to harness energy from renewable sources (solar, wind, waves, etc.) and from other alternatives to fossil fuels (such as biofuels). This lesson plan explores the current state of the art of these technologies, their pro’s and con’s, and their readiness for adoption. These may accompany a science/technology lesson in which students build and evaluate the effectiveness of small devices that are powered by alternative fuels (small solar panels, wind, kinetic energy, etc.).
Globalization & the Environment
Published in
The past century is only a fraction of the time that people have existed in the world, but we have done more to change the planet in that time than in all of history before that. International trade, air travel, and the Internet have made it possible for someone to be surrounded by products, people, and information from thousands of miles away. This lesson will explore the positive and negative effects of globalization, focusing on the students’ place in a world that faces tremendous environmental challenges and is changing extremely quickly.
Global Climate Change
Published in
One of the most hotly discussed issues today is that of global climate change. The vast majority of scientists across many fields agree that the world is changing rapidly and that the effects can be seen everywhere. These lessons will discuss address the suspected causes of this problem, but will focus more on current research (using first hand sources when possible) into the adverse impact the change is having on various ecosystems and communities.
Marine Debris
Published in
The ocean currents and atmospheric winds have carried garbage around the world with certain areas receiving the worst of it. The “Great Pacific Garbage Patch” in the northern Pacific has millions of pieces of floating trash spread out over an area the size of Texas. The science lesson “NAME HERE” addresses how these processes work while this lesson discusses the impact that this trash has on living organisms, organizations (such as NOAA) who are working to fix this problem, efforts in the Northwest Hawaiian Islands, and things that individuals can do to help.
Native Hawaiians and the Environment
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The Native Hawaiians understood the importance of protecting their natural resources and using them in an intelligent manner. They used the system of “ahupua’a” that established land divisions as “mauka to makai” so that each owner could be responsible for his own livelihood. Students should see how this system is relevant to today and will compare/contrast current policies to those of the Native Hawaiians.
Choices in Your Life
Published in
Students and their families are presented with choices every day that provide opportunities to help lessen one’s impact on the environment. This lesson will review the capabilities that each person has to help the environment, including “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle”, re-usable cloth bags, carpooling / walking / bike-riding, planting trees, biodegradable options, reduce electricity and water usage, solar power, non-toxic product alternatives, organic foods, buying local products, etc.
Humans in the System
Published in
Humans unavoidably have an impact on the environment and are part of the Earth’s systems; unfortunately, often we create problems in these systems, regardless of whether our intentions are good or not. This provides an overview of infrastructure in modern societies (transportation, waste management, energy, food production, product packaging, etc.) and how each uses natural resources and/or impacts the environment.
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