Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Interdisciplinary Task: Weather

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students design a chart to use to record the weather for five days. They then build an anemometer to record wind speed and discover why they are used for this purpose.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Asteroids

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Students examine a potential asteroid impact site. They describe evidence and theories for extinction events.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Weathering and Erosion: Some Ways the Hydrosphere Affects the Geosphere

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students explain the causes of erosion, describe the effects of erosion, and devise a method of preventing erosion. They model the before-and-after-effects of erosion.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Where in the World is Carbon Dixoide?

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Students conduct experiments designed to detect the presence of CO2 by using a BTB that changes color (blue to yellow) in the presence of CO2. First, students experiment with the CO2 from combining vinegar and baking soda. In part two,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Demonstrating Erosion in Action

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
Students easure and record volume of water, then measure and record mass of soil. They explain the effects of the following in controlling erosion: Contouring, cover crop, strip cropping, reforestation, inter-seeding.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Volcanic Wrath

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students observe volcanic action using an internet Web site of satellite photographs. Stuents create a portfolio of observable features.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Search for Ice and Snow

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Learners use satellite images to locate areas of ice and snow on the globe. They create a table showing the information they gathered. They present their information to the class.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Sky Show

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
Learners use lecture and research to answer the question: Why is the sky blue? students research a variety of other sky phenomena, chart their observations and participate in experiments.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Solar

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students study solar energy.  In this renewable energy instructional activity students complete several lab activities using different controls and variables. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Constellations

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students explore constellations. They read trade books about constellations and write notes including their locations, origins, and names. They research and report on one constellation in the Northern Hemisphere and share their report...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Where Have All the Road Salts Gone, Long Time Migrating

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students examine what happens to road salt after it is applied to the road during a storm. In groups, they collect their samples using a conductivity meter and enter their data into a database. They analyze and discuss the data...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Magnetic Sun

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Learners follow steps to build a simple version of a magnetometer, an instrument capable of detecting areas of strong magnetic field. Students use the magnetometer to investigate models of the Sun and examine images of the Sun.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Geographic Information Systems

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Learners examine the concept of geographic information systems (GIS) and its basic components. They explore an application program using GIS technology and list the various uses for GIS.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Worms in a Bottle

For Teachers K - 12th
Students gain a better understanding of the worm and its role in the recycling of organic materials into simpler forms by constructing worm bottles and observing for 60 to 90 days.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

In Search of Cosmic Rays

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students compare rates to altitude. They conduct a class discussion about the results.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Water Cycle

For Teachers 1st - 6th
Students create an "animated" water cycle wheel that illustrates where water comes from and where it goes.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Do Human Practices Affect Water Quality?

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Young scholars determine if human practices have any noticeable effects on the quality of stream life as measured by the presence of certain macroinvertebrates. They collect, preserve and identify macroinvertibrate samples and quantify...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Effect of Moisture on Soil Temperature

For Teachers K - 12th
Students analyze the relationship between soil moisture and its effect on soil temperature.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Milestones of Flight

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students identify significant milestones in the history of flight. In this aviation history lesson, students study various resource materials and construct timelines of significant achievements.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Following Directions

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students explore the way astronauts practice and train to improve their efficiency in completing challenging tasks. They time and graph how long it takes to follow a list of directions. Also, they determine how practice and repetition...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Constructing a Spectroscope

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students construct a simple spectroscope. They observe the emission spectrum produce by a source of light.
Website
BSCS Science Learning

Bscs: Bscs Middle School Science

For Teachers 6th - 8th
BSCS Middle School Science is a standards and inquiry-based program comprised of four units: Earth/Space Science, Life Science, Physical Science, and Science and Society. The curriculum is available free online for teachers.
Website
Other

Elementary Science Program: Astronomy, Gr. 5 8

For Students 5th - 8th
"Astronomy is the science that studies the Earth, the Moon and other objects in space. It has helped us discover our place in the physical universe. It is still making discoveries." This landing page gives options for students and...
Activity
Harvard University

Eyes on the Sky, Feet on the Ground: The Earth's Orbit

For Students 3rd - 8th
Students perform many inquiry activities related to Earth's orbit. Included are recording daily temperatures, observing the sun's path over several weeks, tracking sunrise and sunset times, and angle of sunlight. Diagrams make lessons...