Unit Plans

You can access our unit plans in three different formats:

  • PDF: Best for printing.
  • Open as preview: A preview is fast and better for mobile.
  • Google Docs: Allows you to copy the plan to your own Google account and adapt it for your classroom.

If you have trouble accessing our materials, please email us and we can also send what you need.

Basket of fresh garden vegetables on table
Markus Spiske / Unsplash

Food Waste Unit

Grades 3 – 5

Objectives:

Students plan and conduct an investigation on food waste and the difference between food decomposing in a landfill versus in a compost. 

Students observe gradual changes that occur during the decomposition process in the differing environments and synthesize their findings to create a plan to address food waste in their school community.


Clear blue sky above grass
Vlad Kutepov / Unsplash

Air Quality in Our Communities – Draft

Grades 3 – 5

Objectives:

Investigation:

Students plan and carry out an investigation on air pollution through an audit of their community’s air quality to figure out how the energy and fuels that humans use affect the environment in multiple ways. 

Action Project:

Students synthesize their findings into a culminating action project exploring how human actions can affect the world around them through the evaluation of the relationships between air pollution and community health.


Hands catching stream of clean water
MRJN Photography / Unsplash

Youth Activism for Water Justice in the U.S.

Grades 4 – 6

Objective:

Students investigate America’s water crisis through an audit of their school’s water and inquiry into youth water justice activism. Students evaluate data to make conclusions about their school’s water quality and synthesize their findings into a culminating action project.