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Lesson Plans & Activities

Peer-reviewed, classroom-ready NGSS-aligned lesson plans, activities, data puzzles, virtual field trips, and design challenges covering environmental hazards, climate change, mental health, Earth systems, community resilience, and more.  

Lesson Plans & Activities

Lines of plants turning yellowish-green above dry and cracked brown dirt
Adapting to Extremes: Exploring the Science of Drought in Colorado

This lesson is best taught at the beginning of a HEART Force unit, but it can also act as a stand-alone lesson to introduce students to drought in Colorado.

 Humans have been affected by severe drought throughout history; in this lesson students explore this concept by analyzing environmental data to classify patterns and practice communicating their findings.
Lesson
High School
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Cartoon graphic of young people embracing with a speech bubble that says "¡Obtén el Parche de Somos el Agua!" and the Somos el agua logo
Actividad del parche sé protector de la cuenca | Watershed Stewardship Patch Activity

Earn a We Are Water Patch by becoming familiar with your local watershed!

 We can be good watershed stewards by taking positive actions that will help to ensure the watershed’s healthy functions. In this activity, students learn how to be good watershed stewards and become familiar with their local watershed through observation, positive action, and community engagement.
Scout Patch/Badge
STEAM Activity
Action Project
Elementary School
Middle School
High School
We are Water with birds and a sun: connecting communities
Cartoon graphic of young people embracing with a speech bubble that says "Earn the We are Water Patch!" and the We are Water logo
Watershed Stewardship Patch Activity

Earn a We Are Water Patch by becoming familiar with your local watershed!

 We can be good watershed stewards by taking positive actions that will help to ensure the watershed’s healthy functions. In this activity, students learn how to be good watershed stewards and become familiar with their local watershed through observation, positive action, and community engagement.
Scout Patch/Badge
STEAM Activity
Action Project
Elementary School
Middle School
High School
We are Water with birds and a sun: connecting communities
Cartoon graphic of two people talking and the text "Conversation Guides"
Guía de Conversación: Nuestra Relación con el Agua | Conversation Guide: Our Relationship with Water

This structured conversation guide is a great way to begin a dialogue about shared experiences with water in your community!

 En esta conversación, los participantes van a discutir su cuenca compartida y conectar a través de sus experiencias únicas y compartidas sobre el agua en la región. Esperamos que los participantes compartan sus recuerdos e historias sobre el agua y que se junten para imaginar el futuro que quieren para sus comunidades.
Lesson
Middle School
High School
University/College
Out-of-school/Non-formal
We are Water with birds and a sun: connecting communities
Cartoon graphic of two people talking and the text "Conversation Guides"
Conversation Guide: Our Relationship with Water

This structured conversation guide is a great way to begin a dialogue about shared experiences with water in your community!

 In this conversation, participants will explore their shared watershed and local ecosystems, and connect with neighbors through their common and unique experiences with water in the region. We hope individuals, families, and communities will share their memories and stories about water and come together to imagine a future they want for their communities.
Lesson
Middle School
High School
University/College
Out-of-school/Non-formal
We are Water with birds and a sun: connecting communities
Homes Flooded in Minot, N.D. by U.S. Army Corps. Brown muddy waters flooded a suburb, leaving the tops of green trees and gray or brown roofs visible
High School Flood Unit

This HEART Force curricular unit includes all lessons for the High School Flood curriculum. 

 The HEART Force curriculum builds an understanding of wildfire, flood, or drought in the context of place-based community resilience.
Unit
High School
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Modern Event Preparedness - Drought via Flickr. Dry dirt with dark cracks in it surrounded by dry grass.
High School Drought Unit

This HEART Force curricular unit includes all lessons for the High School Drought curriculum.

 The HEART Force curriculum builds an understanding of fire, flood, or drought in the context of place-based community resilience.
Unit
High School
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Cartoon graphic of a camera with the text "Stop Motion Animation Workshop"
Stop Motion Animation

Learn how to create a short (<1 minute) stop-motion animation of a story!

 This short sequence of tutorials is designed to be completed in two sessions. Each part is about 1.5 – 2 hours long. You may want to leave time between sessions for students to make their pieces. Depending on how intricate their story is, they may need more time for cutting out shapes, making “characters,” etc.
Lesson
STEAM Activity
Action Project
Elementary School
Middle School
High School
University/College
Out-of-school/Non-formal
We are Water with birds and a sun: connecting communities
PolarPASS 360 IE Navigation Cover with man in orange shirt sitting on gray rocks with dark and rocky mountain in the background and blue sky
PolarPASS Interactive Environments

Using real data, diverse material types, and a range of activities, PolarPASS modules are designed to bring polar science and exploration to the classroom. PolarPASS modules link to Climate Literacy Principles and Polar Literacy Principles and are being tested in teaching models that include semester, quarter, and block teaching models.

 Polar Space and Places, or PolarPASS, is connecting polar-focused material with innovative teaching methods to advance STEM undergraduate education and increase polar knowledge.
Unit
Virtual field trip
Geospatial resource
High School
University/College
PolarPASS logo showing map of a glacier with a location point in the distance
Aerial view of a Waffle Garden which includes segments of gardens dedicated to different plants as well as roads
Un jardín de forma de wafle | Waffle Garden Take & Make Kit

This Take & Make Kit will help you understand ancient Indigenous agricultural techniques, including science and math skills that are still effective in modern times!

 La gente indígena del suroeste de los Estados Unidos, incluyendo los Diné (Navajo), A:shiwi (Zuni), Zia Pueblo y Laguna Pueblo, han utilizado durante generaciones un método agrícola de probada eficacia conocido como Un jardín de forma de wafle para cultivar con éxito en el entorno semiárido. En esta actividad, los estudiantes reflexionarán y aprenderán sobre las relaciones indígenas con el agua y la tierra para ayudarlos a comprender diversos métodos de uso del agua en climas secos.
STEAM Activity
Action Project
Elementary School
Middle School
High School
Out-of-school/Non-formal
We are Water with birds and a sun: connecting communities
Aerial view of a Waffle Garden which includes segments of gardens dedicated to different plants as well as roads
Waffle Garden Take & Make Kit

This Take & Make Kit will help you understand ancient Indigenous agricultural techniques, including science and math skills that are still effective in modern times!

 Indigenous peoples of the American Southwest, including the Diné (Navajo), A:shiwi (Zuni), Zia Pueblo, and Laguna Pueblo, have been using a time-tested agricultural method known as a waffle garden to successfully grow crops in the semi-arid environment for generations. In this activity student's will reflect upon and learn about Indigenous relationships with water and the land to help them understand diverse methods of using water in dry climates.
STEAM Activity
Action Project
Elementary School
Middle School
High School
Out-of-school/Non-formal
We are Water with birds and a sun: connecting communities
Cartoon graphic of a young girl and boy with a magnifying glass and books and the text "TÓ DANIIDLĮ́ NILĮ́  BE A WATER HISTORIAN! Táá kwe’é nihi naalstoos bá hooghanígíí bił ndeelnish Created for ages 13 and up"
Tó daniidlį' nilį' | Be a Water Historian Take & Make Kit

This Take & Make Kit will help you become a water historian so you can share recorded stories with people in your community and elsewhere in the Four Corners region through the We are Water project!

 Everyone has a story to tell. Recording stories from your family, friends, and people in your community is an important part of understanding history in your town. In this activity, students learn how to be a good interviewer so that they can help preserve amazing stories from their community!
eBook
Middle School
High School
University/College
Out-of-school/Non-formal
We are Water with birds and a sun: connecting communities
Cartoon graphic of a young girl and boy with a magnifying glass and books and the text "BE A WATER HISTORIAN! Created for ages 13 and up"
Be a Water Historian Take & Make Kit

This Take & Make Kit will help you become a water historian so you can share recorded stories with people in your community and elsewhere in the Four Corners region through the We are Water project!

 Everyone has a story to tell. Recording stories from your family, friends, and people in your community is an important part of understanding history in your town. In this activity, students learn how to be a good interviewer so that they can help preserve amazing stories from their community!
eBook
Middle School
High School
University/College
Out-of-school/Non-formal
We are Water with birds and a sun: connecting communities
Cartoon graphic of a young girl and boy with a magnifying glass and books and the text "Sé un/a Historiador/a del Agua Creado para niños y adolescentes de 13 años en adelante"
Sé un/a Historiador/a del Agua | Be a Water Historian Take & Make Kit

This Take & Make Kit will help you become a water historian so you can share recorded stories with people in your community and elsewhere in the Four Corners region through the We are Water project!

 Toda persona tiene una historia que contar. Registrar las historias de tus familiares y amigos y las personas de tu comunidad es fundamental para conocer la historia de tu pueblo. Esta actividad le enseña a ser un/a buen/a entrevistador/a.
eBook
Middle School
High School
University/College
Out-of-school/Non-formal
We are Water with birds and a sun: connecting communities
Moss campion plant photo by Dan Doak. Bright pink flowers with five petals and a yellow center with a dark background where some green leaves peak through.
Data Puzzle: What's the Limit?

This data puzzle is a stand-alone lesson that is part of a larger collection of data puzzles.

 Moss campion is a key species indicator of climate change. In this lesson, students will explain how latitude impacts and affects these hearty tundra plants by analyzing and interpreting moss campion growth and survival data.
Lesson
Virtual field trip
Middle School
High School
Data Puzzles Logo
Polar landscape
Sea Ice, The Character

Sea Ice, The Character is one of four activities in the The Drifting North Polar Planetarium Experience that invites students to explore what it was like to participate in the MOSAiC expedition to the North Pole.

 In this activity, student's will compare and contrast the different structures of freshwater ice and seawater ice with a hands-on lab. Learning about what makes sea ice so unique in the Arctic will be guided by the driving questions: How does saltwater sea ice differ from freshwater ice? What is sea ice like in the Arctic? and Why is sea ice important in the Arctic?
Lesson
STEAM Activity
Middle School
High School
Aerial images of Lake Mead show the dramatic decline in water levels (~143 feet) from 2001 to 2015. Image from the National Park Service. First photo shows water up to top of dam, and second shows blue water much lower exposing orangish-gray rock on side of dam.
Data Puzzle: Megadrought in the Colorado River Basin

This data puzzle is a stand-alone lesson that is part of a larger collection of data puzzles.

 Much of the western United States is experiencing drought conditions. In this Data Puzzle, students analyze authentic climate data to construct explanatory models for the following question, "What is causing the megadrought in the Colorado River Basin?"
Lesson
Data Puzzle Resource
Middle School
High School
Data Puzzles Logo
Green pine forest being consumed by red and orange flames with thick dark smoke rising from trees with flames surrounding them
Data Puzzle: Megafire - Rare Occurrences or the New Normal?

This data puzzle is a stand-alone lesson that is part of a larger collection of data puzzles.

 Megafires have been a hot topic in the news over the past few years, but are they a new phenomenon? In this Data Puzzle, students analyze authentic wildfire data to construct explanatory models for the follow question, "How and why has the number of megafires have changed over time?"
Lesson
Data Puzzle Resource
Middle School
High School
Data Puzzles Logo
MOSAiC scientist Gina Jozef poses with her drone on snow with giant ship in the background and a small white and red sled with a brown box behind her.
Data Puzzle: It's All Connected

This data puzzle is a stand-alone lesson that is part of a larger collection of data puzzles.

 What makes the Arctic climate system so unique is the sea ice, which influences the Arctic climate in many ways. In this Data Puzzle, students analyze authentic Arctic data to construct explanatory models for the following question, "What effect, if any, do leads (cracks in the sea ice) have on the transfer of moisture between the Arctic Ocean and atmosphere?"
Lesson
Data Puzzle Resource
Middle School
High School
Data Puzzles Logo, Mosaic logo
A flooding orange river with dark clouds in the sky and green brush surrounding the river
We are Water Kahoot Trivia - Intermediate Level

Answer some fun trivia questions about the science of water and the geography of the Four Corners Region! Pick a level where you want to start and see how far you can go!

 Challenge your students with intermediate level trivia from We are Water about the science of water and the geography of the Four Corners Region.
Game
Middle School
High School
We are Water with birds and a sun: connecting communities
Reflection Canyon at sunset with still water in the canyon which is made of varying shades of orange rock. The sunset in the background is mostly light blue and pink.
We are Water Kahoot Trivia - Advanced Level

Answer some fun trivia questions about the science of water and the geography of the Four Corners Region! Pick a level where you want to start and see how far you can go!

 Challenge your students with advanced level trivia from We are Water about the science of water and the geography of the Four Corners Region.
Game
Middle School
High School
We are Water with birds and a sun: connecting communities
Grand Canyon National Park with image of canyon with red and orange rocks, and a winding blue river, and some green trees in the foreground.
We are Water Kahoot Trivia - Expert Level

Answer some fun trivia questions about the science of water and the geography of the Four Corners Region! Pick a level where you want to start and see how far you can go!

 Challenge your students with expert level trivia from We are Water about the science of water and the geography of the Four Corners Region.
Game
Middle School
High School
University/College
Out-of-school/Non-formal
We are Water with birds and a sun: connecting communities
HEART Force logo
HEART Force Curriculum Overview

This unit consists of several lessons and can take anywhere from 1 to 6 weeks to teach, depending on which lesson teacher choose to incorporate.

 The HEART Force curriculum builds understanding of wildfire, flood, or drought in the context of place-based community resilience.
Unit
Middle School
High School
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Hazard Mitigation Planning Meeting. A group of nine adults gather around a wooden table littered with papers while discussing mitigation strategies. In the background is yellow walls with wooden shelves and drawers with plants and books on them
Communicate Existing Plans

This is a guide that can be used for a pathway for the Community Resilience Expo. 

 In this sub-unit, students will learn more about their community’s resilience plans, choose a specific topic to focus on, and develop a product to communicate the plan to their peers and/or their community.
Lesson
Design Challenge
Action Project
Middle School
High School
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Big Thompson Flood image https://cires.colorado.edu/outreach/sites/default/files/2019-08/1024px-NOAA_logo.svg_.png. Brown flood water races through the street with green trees and houses with green roofs on either side
Adapting to Extremes: Exploring the Science of Floods in Colorado

This lesson is best taught at the beginning of a HEART Force unit, but it can also act as a stand-alone lesson to introduce students to floods in Colorado.

 The way we choose to design our communities has impacted community risk and vulnerability to flooding; in this lesson, students will explore this concept by analyzing environmental data to classify patterns and practice communicating their findings. 
Lesson
High School
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A diverse collection of trees, shrubs, and brush of varying green and yellow shades are around a blue pond with a wooden bridge in the left background. In the distance are the tops of mountains and a blue cloudless sky.
Flood Resilience in Colorado StoryMap

This is a lesson that can be used to get ideas and prepare for the Community Resilience Expo. 

 Students interact with a flood StoryMap to explore the Colorado Resiliency Framework.
Lesson
Middle School
High School
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Drought game spinner with largest section being purple and assorted other sections of orange shades, blue shades, green and gray.
HEART Force Drought Game

This lesson is best used after the Colorado Drought lessons in the HEART Force curricular unit, for students to apply their learning and respond to a hypothetical drought in their own community. 

 In this interactive game, students work in three "resilience teams" to solve community challenges that arise during the course of an extreme drought event by using available individual and community resources. 
Game
Middle School
High School
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Flood game community map with labeled Zones A, B, and C
HEART Force Flood Response Game

This lesson is best used after the Colorado Flood lessons in the HEART Force curricular unit, for students to apply their learning and respond to a hypothetical flood in their own community.

 This interactive game has students work in three “zone response teams” to solve community challenges that arise during the course of an extreme flooding event by using available individual and community resources.
Game
Middle School
High School
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Illustration of two people high-fiving in a work environment

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