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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

Wildfire Resilience Gameboard with Letters A-S in Boxes with different topics
HEART Force Wildfire Resilience Game

This lesson is best used after the wildfire hazard lesson in the HEART Force curricular unit, for students to apply their learning and recover from a hypothetical wildfire in their own community. 

 In this scenario-based role-play game, students play the role of community members planning for wildfire resilience in their community. After a wildfire occurs, they see how resilience and recovery efforts pan out in their hometown based on their planning efforts.
Game
Middle School
High School
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Cartoon graphic of a young girl and boy dressed as superheros and the text "BE A WATER ECOSYSTEM HERO! Battle Water Pollution in a collaborative game and get outside to Find a Pollinator"
Be a Water Ecosystem Hero Take & Make Kit

This Take & Make Kit will help you become a water ecosystem hero that can battle water pollution, protect our rivers, and recognize pollinators in your local environment! 

 Student's work together to protect a river from water pollution in a collaborative board game, search for evidence of pollinators in their backyard, and learn about the connections between water, pollution and pollinators.
Game
eBook
STEAM Activity
Elementary School
Middle School
We are Water logo with birds and a sun and the subtitle, "connecting communities" on the bottom.
Cartoon graphic of a young girl and boy dressed as superheros and the text "¡SÉ UN HÉROE DEL ECOSISTEMA DEL AGUA! Combate la contaminación del agua jugando en equipo y sal de casa para Buscar un Polinizador"
Sé un héroe del ecosistema del agua | Be a Water Ecosystem Hero Take & Make Kit

This Take & Make Kit will help you become a water ecosystem hero that can battle water pollution, protect our rivers, and recognize pollinators in your local environment! 

 Combate la contaminación del agua jugando en equipo y sal de casa para buscar un polinizador.
Game
eBook
STEAM Activity
Elementary School
Middle School
We are Water logo with birds and a sun and the subtitle, "connecting communities" on the bottom.
Child splashing and playing in a body of water with orange sunlight in background
We are Water Kahoot Trivia - Beginner 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 beginner level trivia from We are Water about the science of water and the geography of the Four Corners Region.
Game
Elementary School
Middle School
We are Water logo with birds and a sun and the subtitle, "connecting communities" on the bottom.
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
Elementary School
Middle School
We are Water logo with birds and a sun and the subtitle, "connecting communities" on the bottom.
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 logo with birds and a sun and the subtitle, "connecting communities" on the bottom.
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 logo with birds and a sun and the subtitle, "connecting communities" on the bottom.
Illustrated poster for a bilingual wildfire response game titled El Reto del Incendio del Lago Hourglass / The Hourglass Lake Fire Challenge. The scene shows a wildfire burning through a forest near mountains at sunset. A helicopter drops water on the flames while birds fly across the sky. In the foreground, two officials stand beside a rescue truck and a “Road Closed” sign blocks access. The text at the top reads: “Limited resources, critical choices: A bilingual wildfire response game / Recursos limitados
Hourglass Lake Fire Challenge - El reto del incendio del lago Hourglass

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

 In this interactive game, students work in three “zone response teams” to solve community challenges that arise during the course of a wildfire event by using available individual and community resources.
Game
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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Illustration of two people high-fiving in a work environment

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