EnviroAtlas Educational Curriculum
Lesson Plans
Grades4-12Biology, Earth and Space Sciences, Health
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Provided by EPA
What it is
- This resource by the EPA is a lesson plan for 4th-12th graders that gets students out into the local environment and exploring nature.
- In this lesson, students discover connections between the environment, ecosystem services, and human health, through collaborative discussions, hands-on activities, and an interactive web-based tool.
Teaching tips
Positives
- Most of the activities are hands-on or outdoor activities, and therefore engaging for students.
- The lesson plan is very customizable with multiple options for activities, discussion questions, and timing.
- The resource provides suggestions for "teachable moments" and ways to productively correct student misconceptions.
Prerequisites
- This lesson plan uses the 5E model.
- Teachers will need to prepare and provide the materials required, such as the Eco-Health notecards, string, and computers with Internet access.
- The lesson plan assumes that students are familiar with basic environmental concepts.
- The lesson plan is aligned to state standards for grades 4-12 in all 50 states and DC.
Differentiation & Implementation
- This lesson plan provides many ways for teachers to tailor the lesson to their students, specifically in the engage and elaborate sections.
- This lesson plan is designed for students in grades 4-12, which is a very wide range. Teachers will need to adjust this lesson plan accordingly to fit their students' needs.
- The lesson uses the Eco-Health Relationship Browser, which students may enjoy exploring beyond the scope of this lesson.
- Check out this video that provides more information about ecosystem dynamics.
- Other lesson plans by the EPA include Ecosystem Services Assessment and Services That Stick both geared toward middle school students.
From the scientist review
The resource gives students insights on how to explore and give scientific explanation to the interaction of human health and ecosystem distribution and services. This is recommended for teaching.
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Hosted on epa.gov
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