Curriculum Ideas & Lesson Plans

Below you will find curriculum ideas and lesson plans inspired by other educators' experiences on Earthwatch expeditions. These resources are free and available for you to use. We also have available The Classroom Earth Series, a collection of case studies from Earthwatch expeditions.

California teachers can use California standard specific curriculum created by Los Angeles area fellows.

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  Aquatic lesson plans  
Lesson Topic Grades  Related Expedition
How Do Ocean Animals Stay Warm? Elem Wild Dolphin Societies
Mock Feeding Study Elem Sea Otters of Alaska
Classifying Sea Turtles Elem  Trinidad's Leatherback Sea Turtles
Turtles Need No Maps: Leatherback Turtles' Special Compasses Elem Saving the Leatherback Turtle
Working with Dolphins Elem Wild Dolphin Societies
All About Orcas Elem Orca
The Big Fish: Fish Size Estimations and Identification Elem Coastal Ecology of the Bahamas

Spot the Croc: Mock Crocodile Expedition

Elem Crocodiles of the Okavango
Life in the Reef Middle Damselfish of Barbados and Carracou
Crocodiles and Conservation Middle Crocodiles of Cuba
Raising Atlantic Salmon in the Classroom High Salmon of the Pacific Northwest
Commercial Fisheries and Marine Life High New Zealand Dolphins
Water We Live In High Brazil's Tucuxi Dolphins
Salmon of the Pacific Northwest and Assessment of Local Watersheds High Salmon of the Pacific Northwest
Classification using Hard Corals High Jamaica's Coral Reef
Go Fish High Damselfish of Barbados and Carriacou
     
  Terrestrial Life & Ecosystems lesson plans  
Lesson Topic Grades  Related Expedition 
What Was Outside Our Classroom Last Night? Bird ID With Camera Trap Kindergarten Conserving the Pantanal, Brazil
What's in the School Yard?: Water Sampling Lab Elem Mountain Waters of the Czech Republic
Fortune Telling for Future Fossils Middle Mexican Megafauna
Creating a Native Species Habitat Middle Butterflies of Vietnam
Pollutant Effects of Acid Rain Middle Mexican Mangroves and Wldlife
Glacier Lab Middle Icelandic and Alaskan Glaciers
Water Interrelationships Middle Samburu Wildlife and Communities, Kenya
Observing Animal Activity Middle/High Sri Lanka's Temple Monkeys
Water is Life: Swahili/English Conservation Song High Lakes of the Rift Valley
Spanish Presentation on Tropical Rainforests High Ecuador's Cloud Forest Birds
The Science of Forests and Trees High Restoring Vietnam's Forest
     
  Environmental Issues lesson Plans   
Lesson Topic Grades  Related Expedition
Science Literacy Kindergarten Echidnas and Goannas of Kangaroo Island
Science in Society Elem Conserving the Pantanal
Crocodiles- Why are They Endangered? Elem Mexican Mangroves and Wildlife
Which Whale is it? Elem Grey Whale Migrations
Endangered Species Halloween Party Elem Jaguars and Wolves of Brazil's Grasslands
Dragon Fly Environmental Club Elem Sri Lanka's Temple Monkeys
Habitat Model Middle Restoring Wild Salmon
Tree and Conservation Unit Middle Puerto Rico's Rainforest
Endangered Species Webquest Middle Manatess in Belize
Animal/Human Behavior and Communication Middle Puerto Rico's Rainforest
Our Community, Water & Wildlife Middle/High Samburu Wildlife and Communities
Introduction to Glacier Morphology Middle/High Icelandic and Alaskan Glaciers
SAVE (Students Against Violence to the Environment) Middle/High Conserving the Pantanal, Brazil
What is a Scientist? High Skagit Conservation Research Initiative
Behavior and Communication Interconnections High Puerto Rico's Rainforest
Endangered Marine Animal Puppets High Trinidad's Leatherback Sea Turtles
Take a Stand Essay High Dolphins and Whales of Abaco Island
IB Geography Globalization and Tourism High Samburu Wildlife and Communities, Kenya
AP Environmental Lab Skills High Carnivores of Madagascar
Bats, Environmental Sustainablity and Development in Malaysia High Malaysian Bat Conservation
Debate: Building a Dam in Namibia High Crocodiles of the Okavango
Socially Responsible International Marketing High Guatemala's Ancient Maya
Humans in the Biosphere: Human Impact on Environment High Moose and Wolves
Random Sampling Techniques High Conserving the Pantanal, Brazil
     
  Community, Culture & History lesson plans   
Lesson Topic Grades  Related Expedition 
Cookie Dig Elem Early Man in Spain
Chimpanzees and Us: American Sign Language Elem Caring for Chimpanzees
Archaeology in a Box Middle Prehistoric Pueblos of the American Southwest
Observing Animals and Questions About Our Own Lives Middle/High Sri Lanka's Temple Monkeys
Education Through Entertainment High Maternal and Child Healthcare in India
Other Bronze Age Societies High Unearthing Mallorca's Past