Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Celestial Sphere and Circumpolar Motion

For Teachers 4th - 9th
Students investigate the celestial sphere and circumpolar motion. In this science lesson, students view an applet, The Celestial Sphere and Circumpolar Motion. Students discuss the Earth's rotation and stellar movement.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Tides

For Teachers 5th - 9th
Students discover how the position of the Sun, Moon and Earth affect tides. In this science instructional activity, students view a presentation about the tides. Students discuss the different types of tides.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Tides

For Teachers 4th - 7th
Students experience a computer based applet that explains why the Earth experiences tides.
Lesson Plan
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Looking into Surface Albedo

For Teachers 5th - 9th
Students demonstrate how the color of materials on Earth affect the amount of solar energy that is absorbed.  In this solar energy lesson students complete a lab to explore how the color of materials on the Earth's surface impacts...
Lesson Plan
University of Arizona

The Exotic Vacation

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Pupils explain the concepts and vocabulary of Earth's rotation. They plan imaginary vacations based on the seasons in different locations. This is a very creative lesson plan, which students enjoy.
Lesson Plan
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How Big is Your Footprint?

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students create awareness for ways in which the "Western" lifestyle negatively impacts the Earth. They create awareness for alternatives to our current ways of living, eating and traveling. Students are challenged to talk with their...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Bringing the Solar System Down to Earth

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students develop a scaled down model of the solar system. In small groups, they calculate the scaled-down diameters of the planets and the sun, the scaled-down distance of the planets from the sun, complete two charts, and create a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Can a Spacecraft Always Face the Sun?

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students determine the correct orbital path for a satellite that collects data about the sun so that its view of the sun never be obstructed by the Earth.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

King of the Mound

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students investigate water as an agent of change. They conduct an experiment involving a mound of soil, observe and record any changes that occur when ice melts on the mound of dirt, and create a drawing of the changes that take place...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Orientation of the Earth in Space

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students hypothesize the location of the sun in the sky at diferent times of day and at different latitudes. They perform several experiments to provide evidence for their hypothesis. Experiments including observing the sun's position at...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How the Amount of Solar Energy Absorbed by the Earth is Dependent Upon the Earth's Position

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students investigate the angle of light and how it faces the earth. They conduct a series of investigations with the following two objectives. Students determine if the angle of light is a factor in the absorption of heat. They correlate...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Arbor Day Across the United States

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students perform research about hardiness zones used to guide planting. They read a hardiness zone color-key map and create their own color-key maps to show when different states celebrate Arbor Day.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Modeling the Change of Seasons

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students evaluate data to determine changes in length of day. They model the revolution of Earth around the sun to show changes in length of day and sun angle and illustrate how the sun angle affects the change of season.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Follow the Sun

For Teachers 4th - 7th
Students use a simple model of the Earth and Sun as seen from space to explore the sun's apparent movement across the sky over the course of a day and year. They consider the apparent direction of movement and changes in the sun's angle.
Lesson Plan
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Geological Features: How Weathering & Erosion Help Create Landforms

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students explore how the Earth's surface changes resulting in geological features and landforms. They perform a read-a-loud on Thomas Locker's Mountain Dance, complete a KWL chart, and create a landform using plaster of paris.
Lesson Plan
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Weather Fun Facts

For Teachers 5th - 6th
In this science worksheet, students investigate fun facts about weather by reading 25 short paragraphs about weather, storms, climate and geography. Students complete a crossword puzzle about weather.
Lesson Plan
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Lunar Lollipops

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students simulate the phases of the moon using a lamp and styrofoam balls. In this lunar phases lesson, students stand around a lamp and act as Earth. They hold styrofoam balls and rotate to show the phases of the moon.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Moon Phases

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders investigate the phases of the moon. For this moon phase lesson, 6th graders discover that the moon changes in a cycle as it orbits Earth. Students label pictures of moon phases and keep a moon phase journal. Students...
Lesson Plan
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Weather

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Learners explore the earth's atmosphere, weather, and climate. They begin class with a discussion about weather patterns, atmosphere, and the layers of the earth. After the class discussion, students rotate through four stations to...
Lesson Plan
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Astronomy with a Stick

For Teachers 6th - 11th
Learners describe the movement of the Earth as it relates to the sun and formulate a hypothesis for the movement and the changing length of the shadow. They express the relationship between the sun and the Earth and how that causes the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Minerals and the Products of Mining

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students plot where minerals come from and have an awareness of how mineral use makes the world interdependent. They examine how to identify some sort of mineral products they use each day.
Lesson Plan
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Kids Conserve? Water Preserved

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders review the steps of the water cycle. Individually, they calculate the amount of water they use in a day and identify ways they can conserve. As a class, they discuss how conserving water today helps future generations and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Why is Summer Hot?

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students examine how variations in temperature are due to the Sun and length of day.  For this solar lesson students complete a lab activity using thermometers and artificial sunlight to see how the earth is heated.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Weathering and Erosion

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students perform experiments to simulate weathering and erosion. In this earth science lesson, students view a PowerPoint presentation that includes weathering, erosion, and the Dust Bowl. Students conduct a series of experiments to...

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