This lesson plan teaches students about the problems in the Aral Sea region and how the water loss of the sea is affecting specific groups of people, such as women, farmers and fishermen. They will work in groups to prepare statements that these people might make and will present their statements to a mock United Nations panel. Full description.

In this lesson, students conduct an experiment to learn about CO2 levels found in four different gases. Through this experiment and a set of multimedia resources, they will learn how atmospheric levels of CO2 relate to climate change and global warming, explore the effects of global warming on the environment (as indicated by the changes in Earth's glacial ice), and consider human contributions to ... Full description.

This lesson plan is part of the DiscoverySchool.com lesson plan library for grades 6-8. It focuses on the planet Jupiter, including characteristics such as size, surface features, and distance. It includes objectives, materials, procedures, discussion questions, evaluation ideas, performing extensions, suggested readings, and vocabulary. Students gather information and become 'tour guides' of the ... Full description.

In this lesson students learn about the Blue Nile and compare it to rivers in the United States. They discuss their experiences with rivers and what they think it would be like to travel down a river that rapidly descends from the mountains to the plains. After looking at a map of Ethiopia, students describe what they would see in the area around the Blue Nile. They will witness a demonstration of ... Full description.

In this lesson students will investigate underwater transport of sediments and pollutants. They will learn about the proximity of the Hudson Shelf Valley and the Hudson Canyon to the New York - New Jersey metropolitan area, one of the most populated areas in the United States, and the fact that in the late 1980's and early 1990's, two dumpsites in the Hudson Shelf Valley and Hudson Canyon were used ... Full description.

This lesson is intended to make students aware of the need to respect their environment and its natural resources. They will apply that knowledge in developing an "ecologically sound" city. Using an outline, they will design a city that has ecological laws, power source(s) for lights and heat, a river, two industries, and homes for its population. Full description.

This simulation introduces the fundamentals of evolution. Students are asked to role-play the Catchecans, a group of space sailors who are stranded upon this planet. They find that eating the dangerous fruit of the Bebbledwark tree is possible if certain behaviors are utilized. The lesson uses multiple generations to illustrate natural selection. Story graphics are provided. Full description.

This lesson provides a brief study of the precession of the equinoxes and of its possible link to the occurrence of ice ages. The objectives are for the student to understand how Hipparchus, around 130 BC, used a shift in the predicted location of a lunar eclipse to detect a slight shift in the path of the Sun around the sky and to also understand the reason for that shift. The student will also learn ... Full description.

This lesson demonstrates the relative thickness of the atmospheric layer that includes the troposphere and stratosphere. Students will be able to explain how relatively thin the atmosphere is compared to the size of the planet and will understand the relative extent of the four major atmospheric layers. The instructor guide contains detailed background material, learning goals, alignment to national ... Full description.

In this lesson, students will observe and document similarities and differences between parts of plants. It supports students interacting with nature and provides them with a framework for their observations by offering them opportunities to explore, question, and document similarities and differences among plant parts. Students will identify and sort plant parts through hands-on activities and group ... Full description.