Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Trip Around the Sun

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders investigate the relationship between the tilt of the Earth's axis and the seasons. In this earth science lesson, 6th graders sing the song "Why Do We Have Seasons" and use simulate the Earth's tilt by using their bodies.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Natural Phenomena That Change the Earth's Surface

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students explore a natural phenomenon. In this science activity, students research a natural phenomenon and create a script about that phenomenon. Students act out their scripts for the class.
Lesson Plan
3
3
Curated OER

The Impact

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Learn about the destruction of the rainforest by analyzing statistics. Young learners make an original line graph showing destruction in the rainforest. Additional activities include making a collage, sequencing Dr. Seuss' The...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sky Time: On the Astronomical Meaning of the Day, Year and Seasons

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students simulate the movement of the Earth using their body motion. In this earth science lesson, students explain how this causes seasonal changes on Earth.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduction to the Day and Night Sky

For Teachers 4th - 7th
Students explore space science by participating in a sky observation activity. In this astronomy activity, students define a list of astronomy vocabulary terms and examine star charts of the four seasons. Students gather with their...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Minerals of the Earth

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students learn and practice identifying Earth's minerals and their properties. Working in small groups, they evaluate minerals. This is a well-described lesson, which students enjoy.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Heating the Earth

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore how the angle of sunlight affects the Earth's temperature and seasons and then apply this understanding to their local situation.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Connect the Spheres: Earth Systems Interactions

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Is everything really connected? Take your class on a walk outside, where they will make observations and write them down on a worksheet. Once they are back in the classroom, learners will work to determine if and how things like birds,...
Lesson Plan
1
1
Curated OER

Don't Let the Earth Down

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Writing a persuasive argument starts with a clear thesis. Using this resource, your class will write a persuasive paper on a conservation issue. They will then transform their argument into a 30-second public service announcement. If...
Lesson Plan
1
1
Curated OER

Don't Let the Earth Down

For Teachers 5th - 9th Standards
Although recycling is definitely beneficial, reducing our waste and conserving our natural resources should really be the focus of environmentalists. Encourage the future generation to create a public service announcement about a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Plate Tectonics Day 3 Sea Floor Spreading: Evidence for Continental Drift

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students are introduced to Sea Floor Spreading and how it provides evidence for Hess's and Deitz's theory of Continental Drift. They use paleomagnetic data to calculate the rate of Sea Floor Spreading.
Lesson Plan
US Geological Survey

Water, Water, Everywhere?

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Less than one percent of the earth's water is available for human use. A hands-on activity models the phenomenon for young scientists. Beginning with a specific volume of water, learners remove water that correlates to the percent of...
Lesson Plan
PBS

NOVA Cloud Lab Lesson Plan

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
A sign that washed away from Hurricane Sandy in 2012 beached itself 3,595 miles away in France. This artifact and others from around the world help scientists understand water currents and the far-reaching impact of hurricanes. Scholars...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Dynamic Earth

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students participate in assessments related to the layers of the Earth. They read chapters of text, answer questions, watch videos, and identify and label continents and oceans on a map. They design posters, create vocabulary cards,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Astronomy: Earth/Moon

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Students investigate the Earth and the Moon. They select activities from a menu of options including viewing videos, drawing magnetic fields and plate tectonics, creating vocabulary flashcards, observing the phases of the moon over a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sunrise, Sunset: Quickly Go the Days

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students explore the concept of daylight. In this daylight lesson plan, students compare the amount of daylight on a particular day in Anchorage compared with daylight where they live. Students color maps of the US according to amount of...
Lesson Plan
California Academy of Science

Energy: A Day in My Life

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
If only we could harness the energy of fifth graders, our energy problems would be over! The class discusses where different forms of energy come from and how we use them. They complete a chart of the activities that they do daily...
Lesson Plan
Center Science Education

Looking Into Surface Albedo

For Teachers 5th - 10th
How does the color of a surface affect the heating of the earth? Middle school science classes experiment with color and surface albedo to determine the relationship. The website has tabs for an overview, teacher's instructions,...
Lesson Plan
Astronomical Society of the Pacific

Getting Ready for the All American Eclipse!

For Teachers K - 12th
Give your pupils a front row seat at the biggest light show in the sky this year! In addition to admiring the total solar eclipse, young astronomers can explain the phenomenon with a little help from an inquiry-based instructional...
Lesson Plan
Science Matters

Thermal Energy Flow in Materials

For Teachers 6th Standards
The sun sends the earth 35,000 times the amount of energy required by all of us on the entire planet, every day. The fourth lesson in the 10-part series looks at how light energy from the sun transfers into thermal energy. Scholars build...
Lesson Plan
1
1
Science 4 Inquiry

Phases of the Moon

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
The moon takes just over 27 days to orbit around Earth. Young scientists position themselves as the earth as they rotate around the sun and hold the moon. This allows them to observe the patterns and phases of the moon.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Taking the Measure of the Universe

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Four fabulous activities immerse amateur astronomers into measuring objects that we cannot handle. The experiences are applied to NASA's Space Interferometry Mission, which will take measurements of planets around stars other than our...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

An Environmental Puzzle: The Carbon Cycle

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle school science stars examine fuels and energy with a variety of activities. They begin with a KWL chart, read an informative passage, and then complete a puzzle. The puzzle itself is included. Cleverly, each piece corresponds to a...
Lesson Plan
1
1
PBS

Lessons - Feeling Hot, Hot, Hot!

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Volcanoes are among the most spectacular geological features on the planet. Jump into an exploration of these amazing phenomenon with this multimedia lesson series. Working collaboratively in small groups, young scientists view videos...

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