Many Americans have heard of Ethiopia only in the context of drought, famine, and war. As they listen to the news stories, it is important for students to recognize that the media portrayals of Ethiopia are not always complete and that Ethiopia is, in fact, a geographically diverse country, including forests, grasslands, and the Blue Nile. This lesson will teach students about Ethiopia's different ... Full description.

In this lesson students investigate sea ice communities in the Arctic Ocean to determine what organisms and ecosystem processes characterize them. They will learn to identify major groups of organisms found in these communities, describe major physical features and how these features change during summer and winter, and explain how these changes affect biological activity. Students will also be able ... Full description.

In March, 2005, the Environmental Protection Agency announced new rules for mercury that power plants release into the air when they burn coal to make electricity. The plan, called the Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR), is designed to limit the tonnage of mercury that is released per year. This lesson on mercury contamination begins with a video about CAIR, and has students read a short article about ... Full description.

In this lesson, students learn the basics about dinosaur eggs and compare the life cycle of an animal hatched from an egg with one born from its mother's womb. They will create a dinosaur egg and use a map to locate countries where dinosaur eggs have been found. They may also list all the animals that are born from an egg and discuss how a newborn emerging from the womb of its mother is different ... Full description.

This lesson plan is part of the Center for Educational Resources (CERES), a series of web-based astronomy lessons created by a team of master teachers, university faculty, and NASA researchers. This lesson familiarizes students with lunar phases by locating them and then graphing the Moon phase of their own birthdays. Students then discuss lunar myths and legends while creating their own Moon stories. ... Full description.

In this lesson plan students will learn about the characteristics of the Arctic and Antarctic by looking at a globe and at pictures of the polar landscape and animals. They will plan a vacation to one of these regions and draw pictures or write stories depicting themselves on the trip. Full description.

This Classroom Connectors lesson plan discusses how fossil fuels are obtained from the Earth, the effect this has on the environment, means of restoring the environment after surface mining, and the effect of energy use on the environment. The site provides goals, objectives, an outline, time required, materials, activities, and closure ideas for the lesson. The Classroom Connectors address content ... Full description.

In this lesson, students learn that the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) tries to encourage communities near Superfund sites to become involved in the Superfund process. The types of activities communities can undertake to influence how hazardous waste sites are cleaned up are presented and discussed. Students discover that community involvement is an essential part of all Superfund ... Full description.

In this lesson, students read and discuss articles presenting two alternative theories about the extinction of dinosaurs. They are encouraged to use the criteria that scientists use to get the best solution. Students will learn that: some evolutionary change is rapid and discontinuous; extinction plays in role in macroevolution; and scientists use specific criteria in deciding which theory is better. ... Full description.

This lesson plan is part of the DiscoverySchool.com lesson plan library for grades 6-8. Using research on environmental conditions of the prairie ecosystem (strong winds, hot and dry summers, cold winters, and plants and animals), students will design an imaginary animal, detailing how its physical and behavioral characteristics make it well adapted to the prairie. They will illustrate their animals ... Full description.