How far have California's Channel islands moved? What was the rate of this movement? Class members first examine data that shows the age of the Hawaiian island chain and the average speed of the Pacific Plate. They then watch West...

A presentation that truly covers the age of reason and enlightenment. Nearly every facet, event, and key player in 18th Century Age of Enlightenment is covered. The information is clear, easy to follow, and lends itself well to note...

Take a walk through time, 1852 to 1994, following the mathematical history and development of the Four-Color Theorem. Learners take on the role of cartographers to study an imaginary world of countries that need to be...

Learners are led through a demonstration in which they cut open an apple, which represents the earth. They follow through the hands-on lesson, cutting the apple into various portions--each representing some aspect of the earth.

Students examine the constant changing of the Earth's atmosphere. After labeling the layers of the Earth, they identify various processes inside the Earth that can cause gases to be emitted. Using the internet, they research how the...

Middle schoolers read ancient Greek texts to explore ancient healing practices and compare them to modern-day medicine. They conduct research into modern first-aid practices, using a standard medical reference.

Pupils plan how to manage a fictional timber resource.  In this earth science lesson plan, students research the options and repercussions of logging a forested plot of land.  Pupils consider the implications of logging to the...

What happens when a non-native species is introduced onto an island? Santa Cruz Island, part of the Channel Island chain located off the coast of southern California, provides the perfect laboratory for young environmental scientists to...

Students decide if they agree with a series of statements about the bee population, then read a news article about the disappearance of millions of U.S. honeybees. For this biology and current events lesson, the teacher introduces the...

Students investigate jungles and the people who depend upon them.  In this sustainability lesson plan, students research wild life conservation and discover the importance of a jungle to Amazonian people.  Students create a...

Here is a different approach: emerging epidemiologists first go home to interview family on the topic of infectious disease. Then they come to class and view a video and PowerPoint that explore how climate change may increase the...

Tenth graders, from an environmental perspective, study the pros and cons of war. Distinctions between characteristics of biological, chemical and nuclear threats and the impact of economic development are considered.

Students create a plant or animal that would be well adapted to a habitat they selected. They first learn about Mangroves and their specific adaptations that help them survive in their habitat.

Students examine the impact of a major climate change in the Arctic Ocean on the rest of the world. They use the Internet to research the Arctic region and the wildlife that lives there.

What was the most significant tool used by the Chumash? How did the environment make the tool possible? What group behaviors allowed the Chumash be be successful for thousands of years? After watching West of the West's documentary Once...

What do a cheetah, Audi commercial, and air have in common? They're all topics of an engaging inquiry-based, hands-on workshop for educators about background knowledge, reading strategies, the CER model, and argumentative writing. The...

Young scholars use maps to locate and label the major rivers of North and South America. Using the internet, they identify forests, grasslands, mountain ranges and other landforms on the continents as well. They compare and contrast...

High schoolers access data to characterize coral reefs. In this scientific research lesson, students access data and explain the need for such data when monitoring coral reefs. They will identify and explain three major threats to coral...

Foster's Rule? Allopatric speciation? After watching West of the West's documentary Island Rotation, class members use Venn diagrams to compare endemic species on the Channel Islands with mainland related species. They then create a...

Students continue their examination of the existence of life on Earth. In groups, they determine the role of the water cycle and other biogeochemical cycles play in keeping balance on Earth. They participate in experiments to discover...

Students demonstrate their understanding of the water cycle and how it effects the environment by graphically depicting and describing the water cycle.

Young scholars trace the history of the development of Eugenics. In this social studies lesson, students read and analyze a real life case. They write a paper about what they read.

Students read ancient Greek texts to explore evidence for healing wounds and compare ancient healing practices to those of modern times.

Students describe the properties of volcanoes, and explain why volcanoes are important to the environment.