Browse lesson plans

Animal report

After studying the various animal groups, students write a report about an animal of their choosing using well-formed paragraphs.

Format: lesson plan (grade 4 English Language Arts, Information Skills, and Science)

By Kay Sims.

The case of the disappearing pitcher plants

This lesson addresses the cause and effect relationship between human interaction and a North Carolina endangered plant species. A role-playing scenario allows students to view the situation from a variety of positions and to collectively arrive at a solution to the problem.

Format: lesson plan (grade 8 English Language Arts, Information Skills, and Science)

By Eddie Hamblin.

Clarification writing: What could I add to the NC Zoo?

Students will apply their knowledge of clarification writing and address "What Animal or Plant Would You Add to the NC Zoo." Students must research their plant or animal to determine if the zoo ecosystem could support the species. In addition, the student must provide reasons and explanations to support their choice. This is a follow-up activity to a unit of study on ecosystems/biomes.

Format: lesson plan (grade 5 English Language Arts and Information Skills)

By Connie Johnson.

Cloudy with a chance of... what?

Students will enjoy reading about a town where no one ever goes hungry because the sky provides food while learning about weather and healthy and unhealthy foods.

Format: lesson plan (grade 2–3 English Language Arts, Healthful Living, and Science)

By BJ Larson and Paula Sharpe.

Diamante poetry using environments: Day two

This lesson will introduce and reinforce learners' understanding of habitat components within an environment. This lesson was designed to be used after the lesson "Animal environments: Day one."

Format: lesson plan (grade 4 English Language Arts and Science)

By Cheri Cole.

Getting down & dirty with soils

In this lesson, we will explore different kinds of soil (humus, sand, clay). The students will plant seeds in the different soils as part of further exploration.

Format: lesson plan (grade 1 English Language Arts and Science)

By Amy Rhyne, Paulette Keys, and Sarah Carson.

Saving the environment through picture books

This lesson looks at environmental issues and man's relationship to the environment over time using main ideas and supporting details. The content comes from two picture books: Brother Eagle, Sister Sky and A River Ran Wild.

Format: lesson plan (grade 4 English Language Arts and Science)

By Libba Sager.

Trees of North Carolina

Students complete activities including tree and leaf identification, species comparison, online research, measurement, and creative writing in conjunction with monthly visits to the "Iredell County Outdoor Education Site"

Format: lesson plan (grade 3–4 English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science)

By Amy Luna and Kathy Beck.

Using K-W-L to confirm what you know

Students will learn to use a K-W-L to activate their prior knowledge and help them set a purpose for reading and recording what they learned. They will also extend their K-W-L chart to confirm the accuracy of their prior knowledge and of what they learn.

Format: lesson plan (grade 2 English Language Arts and Science)

By Kathleen Neff.

Water cycle word study

Students will look at the written similarities in the words used to describe the water cycle (ex., evaporation, transpiration, precipitation, accumulation, condensation), focusing on suffixes and prefixes as a way to gain understanding of those terms. Students will group words by meaning and label a blank water cycle chart based on the categories for the groupings they create. This lesson is designed in conjunction with “More than just a rainy day—the water cycle.”

Format: lesson plan (grade 5 English Language Arts, English Language Development, and Science)

By Kelly This and Leigh Thrower.

Resources on the web

Adopt a lot

Students identify a place in the community that needs to be improved and develop a plan to renew the area. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 English Language Arts and Science)

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

The Center for Innovation in Engineering and Science Education

A New Jersey-based organization whose mission is to provide "real world" resources for classroom education in engineering and science. Professional Development opportunities in New Jersey available. (Learn more)

Format: website/lesson plan

Provided by: Stevens Institute of Technology

Coverdell World Wise Schools

Designed to integrate the experience of Peace Corps volunteers with the study world regions, history, and current events. There are also elements designed to promote service learning. (Learn more)

Format: website/lesson plan

Provided by: Peace Corps

Facing the Future: People and the Planet

Committed to providing educational resources for the promotion of the understanding necessary for sustainable resources and living. (Learn more)

Format: website/lesson plan

Provided by: Facing the Future

Ferocious felines

In this Xpeditions lesson, students study the biota—or flora and fauna—of the Kalahari Desert, and the importance of the lion's role as predator within this ecosystem. This lesson engages students in small group collaboration, research using online... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 3–5 English Language Arts and Science)

Provided by: Xpeditions

Field Trip Earth

Field Trip Earth focuses on field-based wildlife conservation research projects ongoing around the world. Some of the projects are "live," and others are archived so readers may continue to access the relevant articles, photos, videos, and other materials.... (Learn more)

Format: website/lesson plan

Provided by: Field Trip Earth

The garden

In this Xpeditions lesson, students explore the virtual exhibit, “The Garden”. After the teacher explains that students will learn about the impact human actions have on a variety of areas in the world, they navigate their way through the exhibit... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 3–5 English Language Arts, Science, and Social Studies)

Provided by: Xpeditions

Integrating literacy into the study of the Earth's surface

Students learn about bodies of water on the Earth's surface in this lesson that uses read-alouds, trade books, and journals. Students will: Gain knowledge of the different bodies of water on the Earth's surface by listening to science... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 3–5 English Language Arts and Science)

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Rain, ice, steam: Using reading to support inquiry about the water cycle

This unit of study allows students to discover the repetitive cycle of water. Read-alouds introduce the topic of rain and hands-on experiments and classroom centers teach students about the water cycle and how it functions. After introducing the topic of... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade K–2 English Language Arts and Science)

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Switch Zoo

A site where students can learn about over one hundred species of animals through fun facts and games. There are also opportunities to learn about habitats and the environment. Some lesson plans are provided which incorporate the activities provided by the... (Learn more)

Format: website/lesson plan

Provided by: Tubehead Inc