Students explore agroforestry. In this Peace Corps lesson, students examine the role the trees play in deforestation efforts. Students then participate in an agroforestry game.

Students participate in a role play where they play clouds, the ocean, rain drops, and more in order to learn about the water cycle. In this water cycle lesson plan, students have discussions and learn vocabulary.

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...

Students investigate the characteristics of simple machines. In this simple machine lesson, students investigate work as a product of applying constant force. They answer questions about what happens on Earth and what may have happened...

Students share their thoughts regarding nature. In this poetry lesson, students compose poems in different formats that feature weather and clouds.

Students explore concepts in life science using segments drawn from Discovery Channel. In this life science lesson plan, students participate in discussions about the food chain. Students create a poster to illustrate a...

Discover the change of the seasons by modeling the Earth-Sun system. Learners model the orbit of the Earth around the sun and explore how and why the patterns of winter and summer occur.

Sixth graders role play the parts of the sun, the moon and the Earth as they simulate the concepts of revolution and rotation. They act out the parts in small groups and discuss the concepts as a class.

Learners are introduces to soil profile classification. They remember that classification of soils is an important aspect of studying soils as it aids in predicting how soils react to weathering, transport nutrients or pollution. ...

Students investigate the different phases of the moon.  For this lunar cycle lesson, students create models of the sun, earth and moon and investigate why we observe the moon the way we do.  Students observe a PowerPoint...

Middle schoolers design a simple compass. They examine how the Earth's magnetic field has both horizontal and vertical components. They determine how a compass works and work with cardinal directions.

Students study conservation and how cities obtain their water.  In this water lesson students view a PowerPoint presentation and draw a picture of the water cycle.

Students explore how the earth is a magnet and that magnets have two "poles".  In this magnetic activity students complete an activity by designing their own compass. 

Students view cut-away images of the planets' interiors, comparing and contrasting them with the Earth's in written form. Students also classify each planet as "terrestrial" or "Jovian". The Planet Interiors applet on the CSA website...

Young scholars research Everglades National Park, Three Gorges Dam, Hoover Dam, Roaring 40s, and Mariana Trench. After reviewing the sites, they choose one to illustrate a postcard with an image on one side and a description of the site...

Students examine the rate of pollution throughout the world through an interactive program. They define air quality and the air quality index. They examine fuel economy and its impact on the Earth and renewable and nonrenewable resources.

Sixth graders engage in problem solving, communicating, reasoning, and connecting to represent and solve problems, using geometric models.

Students model a watershed and delineate one using topographic maps. In this hydrology instructional activity, students use aluminum foil to model a landscape and observe how water moves on it. They also observe the features of a...

Learners participate in a series of experiments to learn about plate tectonics and the different materials of the Earth. In this plate tectonics lesson plan, students use eggs, water, beakers, paper, and more materials to learn about the...

Students create an all-natural water filtration system. For this lesson on natural water filtration, students build upon prior knowledge to build a filtration unit made of plants, soils, sand, pebbles and rocks that can purify...

Students study the basics of heating and cooling and how it pertains to the earth.  In this global lesson students read the Magic Tree House book then create a chart of their findings.

Sixth graders complete a unit of lessons on the solar system. In small groups, they participate in a Webquest, watch movies, complete graphic organizers, and answer questions, create a model of the planets, and develop a Powerpoint...

Learners prepare a creative demonstration of how Earth and Mars revolve around the Sun. In this astronomy lesson plan, students determine the different challenges engineers face when building spacecrafts. They draw possible paths for a...

Young scholars use plaster of Paris, talc, and cornstarch to create their own chalk. They hypothesize what mixture of ingredients produce the "best" chalk. Students discuss what they think are the characteristics of the "best" chalk.