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Fourth Grade, Environmental Science Projects, Lessons, Activities (14 results)

As humans we are part of the environment. With over 7.5 billion of us on Earth, our combined actions also have a big impact on the environment. As long as we are aware of the impact, we can do things as individuals, and working together as groups, to lessen the detrimental impact of billions of people. Explore important topics like air quality, water quality, the effects of climate change, and many others to make informed decisions about caring for our planet.

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Remove Microplastics from Water with Bioremediation
Science Fair Project Idea
Scientific Method
Have you ever walked by an ocean, lake, or river and seen plastic trash? Have you ever wondered how microplastics might be impacting the creatures living in these places? In this science project, you will investigate how yeast can be used in bioremediation to remove microplastics from contaminated water. Read more
Fight Flooding and Pollution with...a Garden?!
Science Fair Project Idea
Scientific Method
What looks pretty, stops flooding, and helps fight pollution? A rain garden! Find out how by building and testing your own miniature rain garden in a plastic bottle. Read more
Harvesting Fresh Water With a Fog Catcher
Science Fair Project Idea
Scientific Method
Did you know that about 1 in 10 people worldwide do not have access to clean water? Collectively, girls and women worldwide spend an average of 200 million hours every day collecting the water they need from rivers, water holes, or lakes. What if there was a way to capture water from another source—like the air? In areas where there is a lot of fog, a device called a fog catcher makes this possible. Fog catchers use fine meshes to capture and collect water droplets from the foggy air.… Read more
Acid Rain and Aquatic Life
Science Fair Project Idea
Scientific Method
Chemicals from Earth's atmosphere are making their way down to the planet! Not in spaceships, but in rain. The acid rain can infiltrate ground water, lakes, and streams. How does acid rain affect aquatic ecosystems? Read more
Fossil Fuels: Chocolate Chip Mining
Lesson Plan Grade: 4th-8th
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© April The problems with using fossil fuels starts with extraction. In this activity, students "mine" chocolate chips out of cookies to demonstrate the effects mining can have on habitats. Read more
NGSS Performance Expectations:
  • 4-ESS3-1. Obtain and combine information to describe that energy and fuels are derived from natural resources and that their uses affect the environment.
  • MS-ESS3-4. Construct an argument supported by evidence for how increases in human population and per-capita consumption of natural resources impact Earth's systems.
Modeling Your Local Watershed and Nutrient Pollution
Science Fair Project Idea
Scientific Method
Have you ever been unable to swim in a body of water because it was polluted? Have you ever wondered where the water came from, or what contributed to its pollution? In this science project, you'll learn how water drains to common areas to create bodies of water and how the land surrounding a waterway can contribute to its health and pollution. Read more
Are There Dangerous Levels of Lead in Local Soil?
Science Fair Project Idea
Scientific Method
The element lead is a neurotoxin that is particularly dangerous to young children. Among other uses, lead compounds were common paint additives until being phased out for safer titanium-based additives beginning in the 1960's. Lead compounds were also added to gasoline to prevent engine knocking, until being phased out beginning in the 1970's. Although paint and gasoline sold today no longer contain lead, soil can have contamination from older sources of lead, such as paint from old buildings.… Read more
Food Waste Audit
Lesson Plan Grade: 3rd-11th
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"Fresh Food In Garbage Can to Illustrate Waste" by SpeedKingz/Shutterstock.com Have you ever thrown away food after a meal? Have you ever thrown away a whole piece of food? What are some of the reasons you threw away that food? During this Food Waste Audit, students will explore their own impact on our food system. Students will brainstorm solutions to reduce their food waste and be challenged to try out their solution! Read more
NGSS Performance Expectations:
  • MS-ESS3-3. Apply scientific principles to design a method for monitoring and minimizing a human impact on the environment.
Home Sweet Biome: How Do Plants Grow in Different Environments?
Science Fair Project Idea
Scientific Method
Have you ever looked around and noticed the plants and animals that grow in your neighborhood? Have you ever visited friends in another part of your city, state, or even another part of the country? Have you noticed whether the plants and animals where they live are similar to those growing near you? What would it be like to live where they do? Why do certain plants and animals grow in one area, but not in another? In this science fair project you will learn about biomes and how different… Read more
Fossil Fuels: Air Pollution and the Greenhouse Effect
Lesson Plan Grade: 4th-8th
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"Nuclear Power Plant Cattenom" © 2005 Stefan Kühn In these two activities, students will explore two consequences of burning fossil fuels: air pollution and the greenhouse effect. For a comprehensive unit on fossil fuels, this lesson works especially well as an extension to Fossil Fuels: Chocolate Chip Mining. Read more
NGSS Performance Expectations:
  • 4-ESS3-1. Obtain and combine information to describe that energy and fuels are derived from natural resources and that their uses affect the environment
  • MS-ESS3-4. Construct an argument supported by evidence for how increases in human population and per-capita consumption of natural resources impact Earth's systems.
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