Classroom Presentations
Pre-K – 12th Classroom Presentations
We provide free environmental education programs for students in grades pre-k – 12th grade. Our programs are available for students in traditional schools, homeschools, scout groups, or other youth groups. Our hands-on programs are based on NC Science standards, and topics can be tailored to your class. Topics can take place indoors or outside on school grounds.
Popular topics include:
- Hydrology (water cycle, watersheds, water quality)
- NC Habitats
- NC Wildlife
- Soils (soil composition, erosion, composting)
- Agriculture and gardening
To schedule a presentation, contact us at 919-560-0558, esenff@dconc.gov, lmarochak@dconc.gov, or use the form below to submit a request.
Lessons Offered and Correlations
View a sample listing of the lessons we offer and the standards they may help build towards.
If you don't see what you're looking for, reach out to us! We have many more lessons available.
Elementary
| Lesson | NC Standard Course of Study | Next Generation Science Standards |
|---|---|---|
|
Solutions to Pollution - Enviroscape In this hands-on lesson, students will explore their local watersheds using a 3D model. They will learn about stormwater runoff, water pollution, and solutions. Suitable for grades 3rd-5th. |
ESS.4.3.1 |
3-ESS3-1 4-ESS3-2 5-ESS-3-1 |
|
What Lives Here? An outdoor lesson that introduces students to the concept of a habitat. They will search for evidence of organisms that live on school grounds. For fifth grade students: Students will evaluate the strength of their evidence and create an ecosystem model. Suitable for grades 1st-5th. |
LS.1.1.1 LS.5.2.2 |
2-LS4-1 5-LS2-1 |
|
Dunes on the Move Students will discover the forces that have shaped Jockey's Ridge State Park. Extended lessons (requiring about an hour) will give students the chance to engineer solutions to water and wind erosion. Suitable for grades 3rd-5th. |
PS.3.2.1 ESS.4.2.3 ESS.4.3.3 |
2-ESS2-1 |
|
Blending in, Standing Out A partially or fully outdoor lesson. Students will learn about animal coloration, and they will be able to apply the terms learned to NC wildlife. This lesson includes the use of our NC mammal pelt collection! Suitable for grades 3rd-5th. |
LS.4.1.1 |
3-LS4-3 4-LS1-1 |
|
Animal Adaptations An indoor lesson that introduces students to various adaptations. Students will explore coloration and pelt features as well as skeletal structures. This lesson includes the use of our NC mammal pelt and replica skull collection! Suitable for grades 3rd-5th. |
LS.4.1.1 |
3-LS3-3 3-LS4-3 4-LS1-1 |
|
Stream Studies An outdoor lesson. Access to a creek required. Students step into the role of an ecologist in this hands-on lesson. They will learn how to collect and identify macroinvertebrates. They will also learn how we can use them to assess water quality. Suitable for grades K-5th. |
LS.4.1.1 |
2-LS4-1 3-LS4-3 |
|
Incredible Journey Students will bring the water cycle to life in this interactive game. They will travel as a water droplet, collecting beads as they go to create a bracelet that captures their unique journey. Suitable for grades 3rd-5th. |
ESS.5.1.4 | 5-ESS2-1 |
|
H2Olympics Get ready to compete for gold in the H2Olympics! Through various events, studens will test the physical properties of water (cohesion and adhesion). Suitable for 5th grade. |
Does not address the any of the elementary NC Standards. | 5-PS1-3 |
|
Every Tree for Itself Students will discover how the rings of a tree tell its life story. They will learn about the anatomy of a tree truck and how to read the rings. Then they will play a game that models how trees compete for resources. In doing so, they'll create a story for their own tree. Suitable for grades K-5th |
LS.K.1.1 LS.1.1.1 LS.3.2.1 ESS.4.3.1 |
K-LS1-1 2-LS2-1 3-LS3-2 4-LS1-1 |
|
Tree Factory In this activity, students will act out the parts of a tree to learn about the different structures and their functions. Suitable for grades K-4th |
LS.K.1.1 LS.1.1.1 LS.3.2.1 LS.4.1.1 |
K-LS1-1 1-LS1-1 4-LS1-1 |
Middle School
| Lesson | NC Standard Course of Study | Next Generation Science Standards |
|---|---|---|
|
Solutions to Pollution - Enviroscape In this hands-on lesson, students will explore their local watersheds using a 3D model. They will learn about stormwater runoff, water pollution, and solutions. Suitable for grades 6th-8th |
ESS.6.3.1 ESS.7.2.3 ESS.8.3.2 |
MS-ESS3-3 |
|
What Lives Here? An outdoor lesson that introduces students to the concept of a habitat. They will search for evidence of organisms that live on school grounds. For fifth grade students: Students will evaluate the strength of their evidence and create an ecosystem model. Suitable for grades 6th-8th |
LS.6.1.1 |
MS-LS2-1 |
|
Blending in, Standing Out A partially or fully outdoor lesson. Students will learn about animal coloration, and they will be able to apply the terms learned to NC wildlife. This lesson includes the use of our NC mammal pelt collection! Suitable for grades 6th-8th |
Suitable for middle school students, but may not work towards any of the standards. |
MS-LS1-1 |
|
Stream Studies An outdoor lesson. Access to a creek required. Students step into the role of an ecologist in this hands-on lesson. They will learn how to collect and identify macroinvertebrates. They will also learn how we can use them to assess water quality. Suitable for grades 6th-8th. |
LS.6.2.2 ESS.8.3.1 |
MS-LS2-4 |
|
Incredible Journey Students will bring the water cycle to life in this interactive game. They will travel as a water droplet, collecting beads as they go to create a bracelet that captures their unique journey.
Suitable for grades 6th-8th. |
ESS.7.1.2 | MS-ESS2-4 |
|
H2Olympics Get ready to compete for gold in the H2Olympics! Through various events, students will test the physical properties of water (cohesion and adhension). Suitable for grades 6th-8th. |
Suitable for middle school students, but may not address any of the standards. | MS-PS1-2 |
|
Every Tree for Itself Students will discover how the rings of a tree tell its life story. They will learn about the anatomy of a tree truck and how to read the rings. Then they will play a game that models how trees compete for resources. In doing so, they'll create a story for their own tree. Suitable for grades 6th-8th. |
LS.6.2.2 LS.8.2.1 |
High School
| Lesson | NC Standard Course of Study | Next Generation Science Standards |
|---|---|---|
|
Solutions to Pollution - Enviroscape In this hands-on lesson, students will explore their local watersheds using a 3D model. They will learn about stormwater runoff, water pollution, and solutions. Suitable for grades 9th-12th. |
LS.BIO.5.2 ESS.EES.5.1 |
HS-ESS3-4 |
|
Stream Studies An outdoor lesson. Access to a creek required. Students step into the role of an ecologist in this hands-on lesson. They will learn how to collect and identify macroinvertebrates. They will also learn how we can use them to assess water quality. Suitable for grades 9th-12th. |
LS.Bio.10.2 ESS.EES.4.4 ESS.EES.5.1
|
|
|
Animal Skulls Students will use a dichotomous key to identify common NC mammals. As part of this lesson, they will learn the anatomy of the skull and how to read a dental formula. We will also explore the structural adaptations of some select skulls. This lesson includes the use of our NC mammal replica skull collection! Suitable for grades 9th-12th. |
LS.Bio.9.4 LS.Bio.10.2 |
HS-LS4-1 |
|
H2Olympics Get ready to compete for gold in the H2Olympics! Through various events, students will test the physical properties of water (cohesion and adhension). Suitable for grades 9th-12th. |
ESS.EES.3.1 |
Summer Camp Lessons
Invite us to present at your summer camp! We work with pre-k - 12th grade camps in Durham County, and lessons can be hosted indoors or outdoors. We have a variety of lessons that work well for mixed age groups including:
- Habitats and interdependence.
- NC Mammals and adaptations (using our set of skulls of pelts!)
- Reading tree rings
- Sampling for macroinvertebrates
- and more!