Interdisciplinary Lessons

Environmental Change - Elementary Level

Understanding Change - Provided by Deanna Sitzman and Betsy Sobczyk

  • In this unit we have helped students to define change, and explore how those changes have and still do occur in the biosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere. We have incorporated both a first grade level and a fourth grade level plan so the experimenting can be done cooperatively and the process of learning is done by inquiry method using the fourth graders to help the first graders giving them a more informed aid to help them use deductive reasoning powers.

Water Around Us - Provided by Lorraine Etherton

  • Students create a collage of human land use activities around an image of the Missouri River. Demonstration of Water Cycle and Properties of Water

Environmental Change - Middle School Level

Atmospheric Changes and Their Effect on Regional Climates - Provided by David Bridges and Daniel Wolfe

Believe It…..Or Not - Provided by Mary Lovin and Mary Jo Campara

  • Students will critically analyze data regarding climate changes using a glossary of terms generated by the examination of climate related articles. After examining and graphing the climatic data, students will be able to discuss, hypothesize and test apparent discrepancies in their findings.

Global Environmental Change - Provided by Kathy Keeney

  • Learn about environmental change of land, water and air. Study the Clear Skies Legislation.

How Does Climate and Climate Change Affect You? - Provided by Helen Peyton and Margie Galles

  • The purpose of this unit is to acquaint the students with the idea that Earth's climate is static and will probably continue to be so. They will also learn that the global climate appears to be cyclical but has probably experienced changes due to human intervention which could interfere with the cyclical process. Students will also look at the factors that seem to affect earth's climate - both natural and manmade. They will then look at how climatic changes have affected the human population of the past and possible future affects based on the concept of enhanced global warming caused by human activities.

(To) Terraform or Not to Terraform (That is the Question!) - Provided by Edijoy Williams and Melissa Sterzinger

  • Students will actively engage in a five week interdisciplinary unit about global environmental change with 100% participation. Facilitators will utilize a students-centered classroom to incorporate math, social studies, and language arts into a traditionally science centered topic, Earth and the Solar System.

Understanding Groundwater and the Effects of Pollution - Provided by Kerry Sievert and Valerie Lewis

  • Students evaluate population growth and pollution which results. The purpose and structure of landfills are studied. Groundwater is investigated. Students witness the effects of pollution on our water supply through simulated activities and demonstrations.

Why Should I Care About Global Warming? - Provided by Shelly Coe and Sara Halma

  • To make students aware of the theory of global warming, greenhouse effect, the changes that occur because of the above and finally, the adaptations that may need to be used.  Is the Earth warming, has it warmed in the past, will it warm in the future, if so, what adaptations will be needed? What adaptations will need to be made with changing natural resources?

Environmental Change - High School Level

Global Environmental Change Sharing - Provided by Mary Jane Bell

  • "Global Environmental Change” from more than one perspective. Sharing of information by more than one section of science.

Environmental Change - Cross Level

Global Environmental Change School-wide Program - Provided by Gregory Paul Pavlik and Loren Hansen

  • This curriculum approach was developed in a effort to help students become aware of the many issues involved in environmental change. Our approach will be driven by research conducted by social studies students in grades 9 - 12. Their research will focus on the history of climate changes and effect that the climate changes had on the social, political, economic systems as well as any cultural impact of the people in the affected region.

Human Population Relationship to the Environment - Provided by Ronald Evans and Jeff Evans

  • These lessons and activities will give students an opportunity to learn about how they themselves take a toll on our environment and what to expect in the future as far as overpopulation is considered.

Mapping - Elementary Level

Longitude and Latitude - Provided by Corkie Neumann

  • To help students understand how to use longitude and latitude lines to find a designated location.

Mapping Our Way in Nebraska - Provided by George McNabb and Marion McNabb

  • Discovering the different parts of a road map.

Mapping - Middle School Level

Cookie Topography - Provided by Kathy Hynes

  • Students will use their knowledge of topographic maps and contour lines to construct a cross section diagram showing the changes in elevation represented by a cookie island. They will also construct a model using topographic lines on paper. Then they will label geographic features on their island map. This activity helps students visualize what a topographic map represents and demonstrate their understanding of contour lines.

Map Coordinate Bingo - Provided by Lorraine Etherton

  • Students begin by observing and discussing reasons for lines on a map to find locations. Demonstrate with a balloon which has X's marked on it but no locator lines to find particular X's. Read the lesson on latitude and longitude. Students make bingo cards with the names of 25 cities of the western hemisphere on each. Read the latitude and longitude of each as students find the name of the city on a map and mark their cards. Proceed as in a regular bingo game.

Painting the Hallway with Pixels - Provided by Betty Watt

  • Students will create a science design to be painted on the wall in the hallway of the science area of the school building. The design wit be turned into a grid of numbers (a digital image). Students will measure the space available and make a scale model of the design first. The real space will be divided into the pixels and students will then be assigned different pixels to paint. Students will create a science design to be painted on the wall in the hallway of the science area of the school building. The design wit be turned into a grid of numbers (a digital image). Students will measure the space available and make a scale model of the design first. The real space will be divided into the pixels and students will then be assigned different pixels to paint.

3-D Topographic Map - Provided by Corkie Neumann

  • To make a 3-D model from a topographic map.

Mapping - High School Level

Beach Ball Cartography - Provided by Carmen Kracl Hood

  • To examine the difficulties involved in transferring a spherical shape to a flat surface.

How Can Any Point On The Earth Be Easily Located? - Provided by Carmen Kracl Hood

  • To identify landforms and locations, plot points and develop and use a scale on the map of an imaginary country.

Internet Virtual Nebraska Lessons - Provided by Mary Jane Bell

  • The goal is to introduce the students to the Internet and to Virtual Nebraska. This map is useful because north is at the top of the map, and it is easy to orient to the state map.

(An) Introduction to Remote Sensing using DataSlate - Provided by Gregory Paul Pavlik

Remote Sensing, Geology and Geography - Provided by Derek Geise

  • Development of the concept of remote sensing and how it can be applied to geology and geography. Students will be able to use remote sensing and it’s processes to demonstrate how geology may influence geography.

Topographic Maps - An Introduction - Provided by Julie Dial

  • Learn the standard symbol signs and colors used on a topographic map. Become familiar with directions, scales, elevation readings, and ways of locating various features on topographic maps.

Topographic Maps - Interpretation - Provided by Julie Dial

  • Become familiar with the rules that govern contour lines. Apply these rules to topographic maps. Expand abilities in reading topographic maps.

Using DataSlate to Interpret Remote Sensing Images - Provided by Gregory Paul Pavlik

  • In this Laboratory the student will use other features of DataSlate to help make remote sensing more understandable and allow them to make more detailed observations with DataSlate.

Using False Image Remote Sensing In The Classroom - Provided by Derek Geise

  • The activity will use aerial photography false imagery to get high school students aquatinted with remote sensing.