Lesson Plans

Download free lesson plans and student worksheets geared towards environmental topics around Air, Water, and Waste. Using insights and data from TCEQ researchers and science communicators, these plans are intended for K-12 classroom teachers, informal educators, and parents who are looking for science-based educational resources.

_{NOTE: Air and Waste Lesson Plans use TEKS as of 2020. Water Lesson Plans use TEKS from 2015. Please verify on the TEA's Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) webpage.}

Topic: Air

Name	Creator	Type	Summary	TEKS	Resources
Introduction to Air Quality	Take Care of Texas	Air	Understand the basics of air quality, discover the current air quality in an area, and learn about any necessary precautions.	Science TEKS 3.b. 2A,D,F; 3A,C; 5C; 8A; 9A,C. 4.b. 2A,B,D,F; 3A,B,C; 7C; 8A. 5.b. 2B,C,D,F; 3A,C; 8A.	Lesson Plan Worksheet
Texas & the Clean Air Act	Take Care of Texas	Air	Students will gain a better understanding of the Clean Air Act and how it continues to help improve overall air quality for Texans.	Science TEKS 6.b. 1A,B; 2A-E; 3A-D; 4A,B; 5C; 7A. 7.b. 1A,B; 2A-E; 3A-D; 4A,B; 6A. 8.b. 1A,B; 2A-E; 3A-D; 4A,B.	Lesson Plan Worksheet Worksheet (ESP)
Being Wild(flowers) in Texas	Take Care of Texas	Air	This interactive lesson focuses on wildflowers and their adaptations. Through this lesson, students will have the opportunity to explore and study wildflowers that are native to Texas, and analyze their ability to survive in their natural environment due to their unique adaptive features.ns.	Science TEKS 2nd Grade – §112.13.b.10.B 3rd Grade – §112.14.b.10.A 4th Grade – §112.15.b.10.A 5th Grade – §112.16.b.10.A	Lesson Plan
Being Wild(flowers) Handout	Take Care of Texas	Air	The Being Wild(flowers) handout can complement the Being Wild(flowers) in Texas lesson plan or be utilized independently. This resource enables students to document the adaptations of a particular native flower while also providing them an opportunity to create a visual representation of the flower. These individual records can be displayed in the classroom or compiled to construct a personalized identification book.	Science TEKS 2nd Grade – §112.13.b.10.B 3rd Grade – §112.14.b.10.A 4th Grade – §112.15.b.10.A 5th Grade – §112.16.b.10.A	Handout
Wildflower Word Search	Take Care of Texas	Air	The Wildflower word search is an excellent supplementary activity to reinforce learning after students have finished the Being Wild(flowers) in Texas lesson plan. In this word search, students are challenged to locate and identify 15 different wildflower names hidden within the puzzle. Can they successfully find all of them?	Science TEKS 2nd Grade – §112.13.b.10.B 3rd Grade – §112.14.b.10.A 4th Grade – §112.15.b.10.A 5th Grade – §112.16.b.10.A	Worksheet
Talking Trees	Take Care of Texas	Air	Get students excited for trees with this lesson plan that incorporates centers focusing on different components of a tree. Students will learn about the life cycle of a tree, how to count tree rings, parts of a tree, and how we can conserve trees. Great lesson for younger students in elementary school.	Science TEKS 1st Grade – §112.2.K.b.12A; 13A; 13C 2nd Grade – §112.3.1.a. 1E 3rd Grade – §112.4.2.b. 12A; 13A	Lesson Plan
Counting Tree Rings	Take Care of Texas	Air	This handout can be used as a stand alone document or can be used during the Talking Trees lesson plan. Help students learn how to count tree rings with this handout that explains what the tree rings mean and examples for students to practice counting.	Science TEKS 1st Grade – §112.2.K.b.12A; 13A; 13C 2nd Grade – §112.3.1.a. 1E 3rd Grade – §112.4.2.b. 12A; 13A	Handout

Topic: Waste

Name	Creator	Type	Summary	TEKS	Resources
Making Recycled Paper Lesson Plan	Take Care of Texas	Waste	Get elementary and middle school students involved in the process of recycling with this hands-on lesson focused on making recycled paper.	Science TEKS K – §112.K.1.(C) 1st grade – §112.1.1(C) 2nd grade – §112.2.1(C) 3rd grade – §112.3.1(C) 4th grade – §112.4.1(C) 5th grade – §112.5.1(C)	Lesson Plan
Conservation Cue Cards	Take Care of Texas	Waste	In this lesson, elementary students will explore the materials they can recycle and why recycling is important. Students will create cue cards for their household as reminders to reduce, reuse, and recycle.	Science TEKS 3.b.11(C) 4.b.11(B) 5.b.11(C) 6.b.11(B) 7.b.11(A)	Lesson Plan
Introduction to Landfills	Take Care of Texas	Waste	Learn the importance of landfills and demonstrate how reducing waste, recycling, and composting can extend the lifetime of landfills.	Science TEKS 6.b. 2A-E; 3A-D; 7A. 7.b. 2A-E; 3A-D. 8.b. 2A-E; 3A-D. Math TEKS 6.b. 1A-G; 3A-E; 9A,C; 10A,B. 7.b. 1A-G; 2; 3A-B; 10A,C; 11A-C. 8.b. 1A-G; 2A,D.	Lesson Plan Worksheet Worksheet (ESP)
Household Hazardous Waste Identification	Take Care of Texas	Waste	Learn how to identify HHW products, safer alternatives, and where and how to reduce, reuse, recycle, or safely dispose of HHW items.	Science TEKS 6.b. 1A,B; 2A; 3A,C,D. 7.b. 1A,B; 2A; 3A,C,D. 8.b. 1A,B; 2A; 3A,C,D.	Lesson Plan Worksheet
Create Your Own Compost	Take Care of Texas	Waste	Learn what composting is, the ingredients for a successful compost, and the environmental/societal benefits it provides.	Science TEKS 4.b. 1A,B; 2A,B,F; 4A; 5A,B; 7A-C; 8A,C; 9A,C; 10A. 5.b. 1A,B; 2A,B; 4A; 5A,B; 9A-C. 6.b. 1A,B; 2A,B,E; 4A; 7A. 7.b. 1A,B; 2A,B,E; 4A; 10A-C. 8.b. 1A,B; 2A,B,E; 4A; 11A,B.	Lesson Plan Infographic
How to Recycle	Take Care of Texas	Waste	Learn how the recycling process works, what materials can be recycled, and how to recycle properly.	Science TEKS 4.b. 1A,B; 2A,B; 5A,B. 5.b. 1A,B; 2A,B. 6.b. 1A,B; 2A,B. 7.b. 1A,B; 2A,B.	Lesson Plan Worksheet Infographic
Junk Art	Take Care of Texas	Waste	Develop an understanding that discarded materials can be reused.	Science TEKS 2.b. 1A,B; 2A,B. 3.b. 1A,B; 2A,B. 4.b. 1A,B; 2A,B. 5.b. 1A,B; 2A,B.	Lesson Plan

Topic: Water

NAME	CREATOR	TYPE	Summary	TEKS	Resources
Community Awareness Plan	Take Care of Texas	Water	Brainstorm any discovered water quality problems to find its cause. Develop and implement a plan to address this issue.	Science TEKS 4.b. 2C,D,F; 3A 5.b. 2D,F,G; 3A 6.b. 2E; 3A	Lesson Plan
Data Analysis	Take Care of Texas	Water	Explore reasons that caused the results of their collected data.	Science TEKS 4.b. 2E,F 5.b. 2E,F	Lesson Plan
Survey: Biological Properties	Take Care of Texas	Water	Collect benthic macroinvertebrates (insects, etc.) to determine water quality.	Science TEKS 4.b. 1A; 2A,B,D,F; 3A; 4A,B; 10A 5.b. 1A; 2A,B,C,D,F; 3A; 4A,B; 9A; 10A,C 6.b. 1A; 2A,B,E; 3A; 4A,B; 12C,D	Lesson Plan Worksheet
Survey: Chemical Properties	Take Care of Texas	Water	Test the chemical properties of a water body and hypothesize factors influencing it.	Science TEKS 4.b. 1A; 2A,B,D,F; 3A, 4A,B 5.b. 1A; 2A,C,D,F; 3A; 4A,B 6.b. 1A; 2A,E; 3A; 4A,B	Lesson Plan Worksheet
Survey: Physical Properties	Take Care of Texas	Water	Test the physical properties of a water body and hypothesize factors influencing it.	Science TEKS 4.b. 1A; 2A,B,D,E,F; 3A, 4A,B 5.b. 1A; 2A,C,D,E,F; 3A; 4A,B 6.b. 1A; 2A,E; 3A; 4A,B	Lesson Plan Worksheet
Survey: Invasive Species – Aquatic Plants	Take Care of Texas	Water	Observe and identify aquatic plants considered invasive species.	Science TEKS 4.b. 1A; 2B; 4A,B; 10A 5.b. 1A; 2C; 4A,B; 10A 6.b. 1A; 4A,B	Lesson Plan Worksheet
Survey: On-Site Sketch	Take Care of Texas	Water	Observe and identify the characteristics of a water body.	Science TEKS 4.b. 2B,D; 3A; 4A; 7A 5.b. 2C; 3A; 4A 6.b. 2C; 4A	Lesson Plan Worksheet
Water Pollution	Take Care of Texas	Water	Investigate the cause of 10 water pollution scenarios.	Science TEKS 4.b. 2D,F; 3A 5.b. 2D,F; 3A; 5D; 9D 6.b. 2E; 3A	Lesson Plan Worksheet
The Aquatic Food Web	Take Care of Texas	Water	Develop an aquatic food web and understand the relationship between these organisms.	Science TEKS 4.b. 3A; 9A,B 5.b. 3A; 9A,B 6.b. 3B; 12A,F	Lesson Plan Worksheet
Watershed Survey	Take Care of Texas	Water	Draw the boundaries of a watershed and explain where rainwater goes in this area.	Science TEKS 4.b. 2B; 3C; 4A 5.b. 2C; 3C; 4A 6.b. 2C; 3B; 4A	Lesson Plan Worksheet
The Water Cycle	Take Care of Texas	Water	Demonstrate your understanding of the water cycle and how we fit into this cycle.	Science TEKS 4.b. 1B; 7A-C; 8B 5.b. 1B; 5D; 7B; 8B; 9A,B 6.b. 1B	Lesson Plan Worksheet