6th Grade – 8th Grade
Lesson Plans
Biosphere (Science)
Description: This lesson allows students to understand how small ecosystems work and learn about the flourishing of aquatic life. In this lesson, students will create a biosphere with water, plants, rocks, moss, and soil. All these materials will be from the local creeks or from Cayuga Lake directly. It is recommended that students are able to collect these materials on their own, giving them the opportunity to explore the waterways. Students will then construct their biosphere and investigate the self sustainment of nature. Students will then be expected to journal about the changes that they see in their biosphere as well as answer questions about how climate change affects our aquatic systems. Teachers are encouraged to talk about the effect of HABs on the plants and animals in aquatic ecosystems and pose questions to the students about how to mitigate the warming of our waters. Some questions that teachers could ask to students include: What changes do you see in your biosphere? How does climate change affect your biosphere? What are HABs and how do they affect the life in your biosphere/the water systems? What are ways in which we could mitigate the affect of climate change on our water systems? These questions could be used to each student to do an individual reflection, but it is suggested that teachers use these questions to hold class or small group discussions. In these discussions teachers can emphasize the importance of community action and solutions as a way to care for our environment.
Build a Watershed (Science)
Description: This lesson plan teaches students about the effects of rain and natural disasters on a watershed. In this activity students will create their own watershed and complete a worksheet about how rain traveled through their watershed; as well as the materials it carried with it during the rain process. Throughout the lesson students will learn about the concepts of runoff and erosion and the effects of nutrients being carried into our water systems. After the activity students will have the opportunity to reflect on how certain pollutants and fertilizers are able to get into the water systems and how that affects the aquatic ecosystem. Teachers will be encouraged to relate this activity back to Cayuga Lake and our own watershed. Posing questions to the students like: How does this watershed remind you of your town the watershed we live in? What is the water of Cayuga Lake used for? What happens to Cayuga Lake if pollutants get into the lake? What are ways in which we can prevent pollutants from getting into the lake? These questions will allow the students to relate the activity to their own lives and inspire them to think about the effect of pollution on water. These questions will help to motivate students to make changes within their community and be advocates for clean water systems.
Books
Our World Out of Balance: Understanding Climate Change and What We Can Do By Andrea Minoglio
Description: This accessible guide for children details how humans have thrown the planet off-balance and ways we can work to create a healthier world. Encouraging and easily digestible, this illustrated nonfiction guide introduces children ages eight to twelve to the important topic of climate change with tips on “How You Can Help” and citizen scientist activities. Filled with engaging big ideas that will inspire children to think about their role in keeping our world healthy, Our World Out of Balance details how humans have thrown the planet off-balance and ways we can work together to be part of the solution and create a healthier world.
A Long Walk to Water By Linda Sue Park
Description: A Long Walk to Water is based on the true story of Salva, one of some 3,800 Sudanese “Lost Boys” airlifted to the United States beginning in the mid 1990s.
Before leaving Africa, Salva’s life is one of harrowing tragedy. Separated from his family by war and forced to travel on foot through hundreds of miles of hostile territory, he survives starvation, animal attacks, and disease, and ultimately leads a group of about 150 boys to safety in Kenya. Relocated to upstate New York, Salva resourcefully learns English and continues on to college. Eventually he returns to his home region in southern Sudan to establish a foundation that installs deep-water wells in remote villages in dire need of clean water. This poignant story of Salva’s life is told side-by-side with the story of Nya, a young girl who lives today in one of those villages.
Manatee’s Best Friend By Sylvia Liu
Description: Becca Wong Walker may be so shy that most people at school think she doesn’t speak at all, but why should she care? She has more important things to worry about. Missy, the manatee who visits the dock in Becca’s backyard, and Becca’s only friend, hasn’t been seen for a long time. When Missy finally does return, she has a new baby with her! Becca wants to be excited, but more than ever inconsiderate boaters are speeding through the river, putting the lives of Missy and her baby in terrible danger.
One day, Becca spots a dolphin in the river too! By bonding over the dolphin and manatees, Becca finally starts to make friends at school. But when Becca takes a video that goes viral, it seems like it will be harder than ever to save the manatees… and trying might just tear Becca’s new friendships apart.
Hoot By Carl Hiaasen
Description:Everybody loves Mother Paula’s pancakes. Everybody, that is, except the colony of cute but endangered owls that live on the building site of the new restaurant. Can the awkward new kid and his feral friend prank the pancake people out of town? Or is the owls’ fate cemented in pancake batter?
The Last Bear By Hannah Gold
Description:There are no polar bears left on Bear Island. At least, that’s what April’s father tells her when his scientific research takes them to a faraway Arctic outpost.
But one night, April catches a glimpse of something distinctly bear shaped loping across the horizon. A polar bear who shouldn’t be there—who is hungry, lonely and a long way from home.
Fusing environmental awareness with a touching story of kindness,The Last Bearwill include full-page black-and-white illustrations as well as a note from the author with facts about the real Bear Island and the plight of the polar bears.
The Last Wild By Piers Torday
Description:In a world where animals no longer exist, twelve-year-old Kester Jaynes sometimes feels like he hardly exists either. Locked away in a home for troubled children, he’s told there’s something wrong with him. So when he meets a flock of talking pigeons and a bossy cockroach, Kester thinks he’s finally gone crazy. But the animals have something to say. And they need him. The pigeons fly Kester to a wild place where the last creatures in the land have survived. A wise stag needs Kester’s help, and together they must embark on a great journey, joined along the way by an overenthusiastic wolf cub, a military-trained cockroach, a mouse with a ritual for everything, and a stubborn girl named Polly. The animals saved Kester Jaynes. But can Kester save the animals?
Everywhere Blue By Joanne Rossmassler Fritz
Description: After twelve-year-old Maddie’s older brother vanishes from his college campus, her carefully ordered world falls apart. Nothing will fill the void of her beloved oldest sibling. When her parents fly out to Strum’s college to search for answers, Maddie is left in the care of her sixteen-year-old sister, who seeks solace in rebellion and ignores Maddie. Drowning in grief and confusion, the family’s musical household falls silent.
Though Maddie is the youngest, she knows Strum better than anyone. He used to confide in her, sharing his fears about the climate crisis and their planet’s future. So, Maddie starts looking for clues: Was Strum unhappy? Were the arguments with their dad getting worse? Or could his disappearance have something to do with those endangered butterflies he loved . . .
Scared and on her own, Maddie picks up the pieces of her family’s fractured lives. Maybe her parents aren’t who she thought they were. Maybe her nervous thoughts and compulsive counting mean she needs help. And maybe finding Strum won’t solve everything–but she knows he’s out there, and she has to try.
Stella Diaz Never Gives Up By Angela Dominguez
Description: Stella gets a big surprise when her mom plans a trip to visit their family in Mexico! Stella loves marine animals, and she can’t wait to see the ocean for the first time . . . until she arrives and learns that the sea and its life forms are in danger due to pollution.
Stella wants to save the ocean, but she knows she can’t do it alone. It’s going to take a lot of work and help from old and new friends to make a difference, but Stella Díaz never gives up!
This is the second middle-grade novel from award-winning picture book author and illustrator Angela Dominguez. Based on the author’s experiences growing up Mexican-American, this infectiously charming character comes to life through relatable story-telling including simple Spanish vocabulary and adorable black-and-white art throughout.