Lessons & Activities

These interdisciplinary modules are classroom ready, engaging, hands-on activities that address multiple Nevada education standards. Check back frequently for additional lesson plans!

NEW! PUSH IT, CATCH IT! Instructional video for a great icebreaker and listening activity, try this at your next teambuilding session, or to get your students’ attention before an instructional module.

Thank you Julie Power!

NEW! CLASSROOM GARBAGE SORT! In this eye-opening activity, students will examine the trash in their classroom, and determine what can be reduced, reused, and recycled! The CLASSROOM GARBAGE SORT! activity helps students to understand the large amounts of garbage created daily; and assists in reflecting upon the impact of recycling. The lesson includes a section where student groups brainstorm different ideas for a school-wide, and class, recycling campaign. This lesson is courtesy of Julie Power, a graduate student at UNR, pursuing a Masters in Elementary Education. Big thanks to Julie for all her hard work!

CLASSROOM GARBAGE SORT! Lesson Plan

Biodiversity and Literacy! Download the presentation from our recent workshop on how to use science and the environment as an overarching theme through which to teach literacy, the brainchild of guest facilitator Desiree Gray! CLICK HERE TO READ ALL ABOUT THE WORKSHOP!

Biodiversity – Project Learning Tree, Workshop Presentation

EYES, MOUTH, BODY, GO! is a fun activity where students learn about themselves and their classmates! Students use all  all their senses and practice the communication skills necessary to work effectively in a group to accomplish the challenging task! This activity will certainly challenge even the most highly functioning groups, and give students an insight into how to communicate even better with their classmates.

Eyes, Mouth, Body, GO!_Lesson Plan

NEW! Check out a video demonstration of a great actvity… WORD IN THE PALM! This is a great ice-breaking game that challenges you to listen and react all at the same time! A “get to know you” activity with lots of laughter!

TURNING TURBINES – Blade Design: Student design teams make wind turbine blades to help understand how the wind can be harnessed to provide the energy needed to generate electricity! The lesson may be adapted for multiple grade levels. As wind power use has figured prominently throughout history, combine the Blade Design with Social Studies lessons!Don’t have a wind turbine? Borrow ours! Email Joanna or call (775) 355-1688. Or CLICK HERE to apply for GreenPower funding to help your school go green!

Turning Turbines – Blade Design, Lesson Plan

Turning Turbines – Blade Design, Student Handout

Solar Car Velocity is a lesson where students will use solar cars to observe how the sun’s rays can be captured to provide the energy needed to power a vehicle. This activity is a way to demonstrate the how the scientific method can be used to investigate the unknown! The lesson may be adapted for multiple grade levels.  It may also be adapted for use without solar cars. Coming Soon… Advanced extensions for Solar Car Velocity that include unit conversions and acceleration!

Solar Car Velocity Lesson Plan
Solar Car Velocity Handout

Waste Watchers is a lesson in which students learn about energy by conducting a classroom energy survey. This lesson teaches scientific investigation skills, data collection, record-keeping, and observation.  Also, students will explore energy usage, energy conservation, and natural resources. This lesson includes great vocabulary words, and cross-curricular extensions, especially math.

Waste Watchers Lesson Plan
Waste Watchers Student Handout

Culture Shock is an activity that can be used to open students’ eyes to cultural differences, barriers to communication between cultures, and how that might affect building relationships. It is an excellent introduction to how societies interact with each other, and the lessons learned by students on a small-scale can aid in their understanding of cultural interactions in the larger world, and in historically important events.

Culture Shock Lesson Plan
Culture Shock Student Handout

We would love to hear from you! Email Laurie or Becky in our Professional Development department with feedback regarding your experience with any of our activities!