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Lowell National Historical Park

Who Polluted the Merrimack
  • Type: Lesson Plan
  • Grade Levels: Middle School: Sixth Grade through Eighth Grade

Who polluted the Merrimack River

Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park

Less Pollution: The Best Solution
  • Type: Lesson Plan
  • Grade Levels: Lower Elementary: Pre-Kindergarten through Second Grade

Explore ways to help the environment! Meets Kentucky K-2nd grade science standards. This lesson was created by Kentucky teachers as a part of the History and Science Explore Project.

Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park

Planet Protectors: Exploring Pollution and Solutions
  • Type: Lesson Plan
  • Grade Levels: Lower Elementary: Pre-Kindergarten through Second Grade

Explore human impacts on the environment! Meets Kentucky 2nd grade social studies standards. This lesson was created by Kentucky teachers as a part of the History and Science Explore Project.

Russell Cave National Monument

Tad the Tadpole
  • Type: Distance Learning ... Science Labs ... Student Activities
  • Grade Levels: Upper Elementary: Third Grade through Fifth Grade

Frogs are important because they help the environment by indicating stress levels in habitats and performing algae consumption in stream beds. During this program the students will learn what pollutants harm these animals and the environmental friendly ways to solve these pollution problems.

Wind Cave National Park

Parts Per Million
  • Type: Student Activities
  • Grade Levels: Upper Elementary: Third Grade through Fifth Grade

A short demonstration to illustrate how scientists measure pollution and why small amounts have large impacts.

Wind Cave National Park

Is the Water Safe?
  • Type: Student Activities
  • Grade Levels: Upper Elementary: Third Grade through Fifth Grade

A brief student activity to help students realize that taste and smell aren't always good indicators of pollution.

Herbert Hoover National Historic Site

Sound Intensity & Loudness
  • Type: Student Activities
  • Grade Levels: High School: Ninth Grade through Twelfth Grade

Students learn how to measure intensity and loudness, the difference between sound and noise, and when a sound is considered noise pollution.

Everglades National Park

"What's that Slippery Mess?" Water: 4-6 Grade
  • Type: Lesson Plan
  • Grade Levels: Upper Elementary: Third Grade through Fifth Grade

The student will be able to: a) show ways oil spills can affect wildlife adversely, and b) point out possible negative consequences to wildlife, people, and the environment from human-caused pollutants and/or industry.

Olympic National Park

Overfishing and Fisheries Collapses
  • Type: Student Activities
  • Grade Levels: Middle School: Sixth Grade through Eighth Grade

This activity focuses on the recent collapse of marine fisheries across the world due to increased commercial fishing pressures, a result of increased technology coupled with the changing climate of marine environments related to greenhouse gas pollution.

Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area

National Park Legacy - Light Right at Night! Grades 7 - 8
  • Type: Lesson Plan
  • Grade Levels: Middle School: Sixth Grade through Eighth Grade

The night skies division of the National Park Service promotes 6 practices that everyone can adopt and make a difference in reducing light pollution: light only where needed, light only when needed, use less light, use warm colored light, use energy efficient lamps, shield and direct lights downward.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Salamander Research Field Trip (High School)
  • Type: Field Trips
  • Grade Levels: High School: Ninth Grade through Twelfth Grade

Salamanders are an especially abundant and diverse group in the Great Smokies. Since salamanders breathe through their skin they are more susceptible to water and air pollution. During this study, high school students will work in groups to collect and record data in taking an inventory in monitoring many of the salamanders found in the park. The field trip packet includes pre, onsite, and post-visit activities.

Lowell National Historical Park

Citizens Respond to an Industrial Crisis Virtual Field Trip
  • Type: Distance Learning
  • Grade Levels: Middle School: Sixth Grade through Eighth Grade

What are the rights and responsibilities of citizens when it comes to addressing a problem in their community? What civic tools do they have at their disposal and how can they apply them to bring about a solution? Students will investigate an incident of environmental pollution that impacts the health of the community and develop a strategy to address the issue through civic actions. Explore this distance learning program designed for 8th grade students.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Salamander Research Field Trip (Middle School)
  • Type: Field Trips
  • Grade Levels: Middle School: Sixth Grade through Eighth Grade

Researchers use salamanders as a bio-indicator to help assess the health of our forests threatened by air pollution and impacts from a changing climate. When students visit the Smokies on their field trip, one group will be collecting data as part of a Salamander study. The pre, onsite, and post-visit activities in this packet will introduce the scientific method and use the identifying anatomical characteristics to key different species of salamanders.

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

Sharing Star Stories
  • Type: Field Trips
  • Grade Levels: Upper Elementary: Third Grade through Fifth Grade

Bring the night sky to your classroom with Sleeping Bear Dunes' mobile planetarium. This school visit explores how different cultures have connected with the night sky through constellations, and how light pollution threatens these connections. This program requires a large open room (like a gymnasium) that is at least 17 ft x 17 ft, and at least 12 ft high. The planetarium is accessible for students with physical disabilities.

Hot Springs National Park

Where the Water Begins
  • Type: Student Activities ... Guest Speakers
  • Grade Levels: Lower Elementary: Pre-Kindergarten through Second Grade

“Where the Water Begins” is an interactive science program to understand the thermal water cycle of Hot Springs National Park. It involves several demonstrations to illustrate the geology of the Ouachita Mountains, the water cycle, the potential impact of pollution in the Hot Springs recharge zone, and hot springs ecology. The program also involves larger field activities to integrate the messages of the hot springs water cycle and the protection of the recharge zone.

Good Vibes
  • Type: Lesson Plan
  • Grade Levels: Middle School: Sixth Grade through Eighth Grade

This activity focuses on the health effects of various sounds. Participants visit any site where both natural and man-made sounds are present. The facilitator segues into a group discussion of the variety of sounds that are present. Participants consider their own perceptions of sound and learn to identify sounds that can benefit the health of humans, then investigate how noise pollution hinders communication and discuss ways to improve or preserve the natural soundscape. Requires a facilitator

Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area

Chattahoochee's Cold Water Fisheries
  • Type: Lesson Plan
  • Grade Levels: Middle School: Sixth Grade through Eighth Grade

Trout streams are particularly susceptible to thermal pollution, because they need to maintain cold temperatures year round. Trout streams are either well shaded or receive cold groundwater inputs. Artificial tailwater fisheries may be created at the outflow from large dams, where the size of the reservoir creates a steep temperature difference, with colder water stored at the bottom of the reservoir near the outlet. The Chattahoochee River below Buford Dam is an example of a tailwater fishery.

Lowell National Historical Park

The Human Impact on the Living Planet Virtual Field Trip
  • Type: Distance Learning
  • Grade Levels: Middle School: Sixth Grade through Eighth Grade

Tracing the water cycle, from precipitation to surface water runoff, students investigate how humans’ impact the health of the environment. Through stories of everyday activities, students make predictions, conduct observations, and formulate conclusions as our staff conduct live experiments. After observing the test of a simple water filter, students propose changes to improve the design and discuss ways in which their community can reduce its impact on Earth’s resources.

Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area

Field Studies Programs
  • Type: Field Trips
  • Grade Levels: Upper Elementary: Third Grade through Fifth Grade

Active, place-based learning about life and earth science, nature, technology, and history with the National Park in your backyard!

Arches National Park

Water Cycle
  • Type: Field Trips
  • Grade Levels: Upper Elementary: Third Grade through Fifth Grade

Students hear a story and dance to a water cycle music video. While visiting a wetlands ecosystem they act out the process of erosion in different environments, and participate in a relay where they pretend to be agents of evaporation and precipitation. Students imagine they experience the water cycle first hand and write a poem about it. Afterwards, each student creates a regional drawing of the water cycle.