NOAA
Wet Maps
How do oceanographers make maps under water? Junior explorers discover the technologies and processes involved in creating bathymetric maps in part three of a five-part series designed for fifth- and sixth-grade pupils. The lesson plan...
Curated OER
Plate Tectonics: Fourth Grade Lesson Plans and Activities
The pre-lab portion of the lesson introduces emerging geologists to the various layers that make up Earth. After completing a sheet on the identification of the layers, class members simulate plate boundaries and their...
International Technology Education Association
Pixel This!
Did the image I drew match the image you saw? By simulating a satellite and a ground station, teams of two transmit data in the form of pixels in order to recreate an image. They use four different levels of brightness, creating slightly...
American Museum of Natural History
What's This? Life at the Limits
There are some amazing ways species evolve to survive. From large ears to sneezing salt, learners read about these interesting adaptations in an interactive lesson. Great to supplement an in-class lesson, it also works well as a remote...
Curated OER
Habitats and Deep Sea Environments
Students examine and identify the characteristics of the four zones of the ocean. They discover the amount of diversity in marine habitats. They also explore the adaptations organisms have that have allowed them to survive.
Curated OER
Monsters of the Deep
Students describe major features of cold seep communities and list the organisms that are typical in these communities. In this deep sea environment lesson students work in groups and research their given cold seep group.
Curated OER
Tides
Students graph 40 days of high and low tide data for a site in Baja, Mexico near the Wetlands & Fisheries Live! research center. They identify patterns in the data and finally to make a connection between tidal heights and the phase...
Curated OER
Volcanoes
Students study volcanoes. In this volcanoes activity, students read several volcano paragraphs and study the pictures or diagrams. Students then make an erupting volcano, complete website research about volcanoes, and answer several...
Curated OER
Living Light
Students explain bioluminescence. In this life science lesson, students discuss bioluminescence and conjure examples of organisms that carry this trait and how it is useful in their environment.
Curated OER
Island Research
Students collaborate to gather information about the geography, history, economy, climate, culture, and other aspects of life on the island of Eleuthera.
Curated OER
Group Foraging
Students explore co-operation by researching ocean life. In this fish science lesson, students identify many vocabulary terms associated with oceanography and discuss what group foraging means among fish. Students utilize paints and...
Curated OER
The Globe Game
Students locate continents, oceans, and major mountain ranges on the globe. In this globe instructional activity, students play a toss the globe game. They name the continent, ocean, or major mountain range that is located closest to...
Curated OER
Seafloor Spreading
For this seafloor spreading worksheet, students find mistakes in statements that are descriptive of seafloor spreading. Students correct the given sentences to make a true statement.
Curated OER
To See or Not to See
Students identify and discuss key factors that determine how effective color camouflage is in certain habitats. For this investigative lesson students divide into groups and study light.
Curated OER
SHOW 303: The Channel Island Fox
Students explore how archaeologists and other scientists use different clues to piece together a picture of the past. Students perform activities that allow them to conduct three types of scientific research. They discuss their...
Curated OER
Sedimentation
Students are introduced to the various types of sedimentation. In groups, they define the term and research what causes it to happen. They compare and contrast the different types of sedimentation and research how it occurs off of Cape...
Curated OER
A Model of Three Faults
Young scholars investigate faults. In this science lesson plan, students explore the many stresses and strains in the earth's layers and research the types of faults in their state.
Curated OER
Sea Floor Spreading
High schoolers recreate sea-floor spreading and the pattern of magnetic stripes that are created by different configurations of plate boundaries. They see how transform faults work.
Discovery Education
Sonar & Echolocation
A well-designed, comprehensive, and attractive slide show supports direct instruction on how sonar and echolocation work. Contained within the slides are links to interactive websites and instructions for using apps on a mobile device to...
Curated OER
Plate Tectonics: Sixth Grade Lesson Plans and Activities
Here is a set of pre-lab, lab, and post-lab lesson plans on plate tectonics. After completing the previous labs on volcanoes and earthquakes, sixth graders use the gained knowledge to explore plate boundaries and the movement of Earth's...
Curated OER
Oil Spill!
Young scholars examine how oil spills are cleaned through an interactive program. They review the facts of oil spills and how the oil spreads. They discuss the short and long term effects of a spill and how they can be avoided.
Curated OER
How Do We Explore Strange Environments?
Students identify and label the different parts of a robot, rover, or a spacecraft. They discuss and record all of the features their robot will need to accomplish its mission and be able to explain why they chose these features to...
Curated OER
Reading Satellite Images
Students analyze satellite images. In this astronomy instructional activity, students examine 3 satellite images in order to understand how satellite images are taken and what they can teach scientists.
Curated OER
Cool Corals
Students explore corals and polyps. In this coral reef activity students divide into groups and prepare a written report.