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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Exploring Energy with GIS

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Learners examine GIS technology as it is used to locate energy sources. In this GIS activity, student access an assigned website to locate a series of lessons using the GIS software. They use the maps that are located on the primary...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What Orbital Dynamic Variables are Responsible for Earth's Weather?

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Young scholars explore the changing of the seasons. In this astronomy and seasons lesson, students construct a model of the revolution of the sun and the moon. Young scholars compare the recorded solstice/equinox orbital positions and...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Reduced Fare

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students discover the relationship between tectonic plate boundaries and the communities of life that thrive at such boundaries. In this biology lesson, students find that methane from oxidized carbon in sediments provides nutrients for...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Monitoring Life In The Rocky Intertidal Ecosystem

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students investigate marine life by researching aquatic organisms on the Internet. In this oceanography lesson, students monitor algae and animals of the ocean by identifying their population and habitat on data sheet ID cards. Students...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Planet Earth in Cross Section

For Teachers 8th - 10th
Young scholars will examine the layers of the Earth. In this geology lesson, students create a scale model of the Earth's interior using cash register tape. They will determine the percentage of error in the scale compared to the actual...
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Interactive
Curated OER

Tsunami Waves

For Students 7th - 9th
In this tsunami waves worksheet, students explore data from the Indonesian tsunami of 2004 and answer ten questions about the data. They draw conclusions about the devastation and destruction based on the amplitude and speed of the tsunami.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Density Challenge

For Teachers 8th - 9th
Students calculate the densities of several liquids that appear similar.  In this physical science lesson, students go beyond understanding the way liquids of different densities behave to researching how this knowledge applies in real...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Hurricane!

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students model the effects of wind speed and water depth on the height of waves during a hurricane. In this meteorology lesson, students use a flexible straw and a 9X 13 baking dish to measure the differences in wave height. 
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Reading Satellite Images

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students analyze satellite images.  In this astronomy lesson, students examine 3 satellite images in order to understand how satellite images are taken and what they can teach scientists.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Model of a Normal Fault

For Teachers 4th - 12th
Students understand what a normal fault is and why it causes an Earthquake.  For this normal fault lesson, students create a model of a normal fault. 
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sedimentation Lab Activity

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Learners predict how sediments in a water column will settle.  In this earth science lesson, students examine the layers of sedimentation. Learners are given sediments to place into a column of water and observe how they settle....
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Interactive
Curated OER

Are You an Energy Efficient Consumer?

For Students 7th - 10th
In this energy consumption worksheet, students use on line resources to explore the energy use by different countries around the world. Students compare the amount of light emitted by different countries and their carbon dioxide...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Dynamic Wetlands

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners construct and observe a model of two different types of wetlands. In this wetlands lesson, students create a model of a wetland with constant drainage and a wetland that maintains a well-saturated soil. Learners observe and...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Take the Pulse of Your Classroom

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students discuss seismic waves. In this science lesson, students investigate the acceleration of the floor in the classroom similar to a seismograph. Students observe a three-component seismogram from an earthquake and determine what it...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

History's Thermometers

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explain the concept of paleoclimatological proxies. In this oxygen isotope lesson, students interpret data and make inferences about climate changes in the geologic past.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Exploring Explorations

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers describe human benefits from ocean exploration. In this ocean exploration lesson plan, students focus on the historical, biological, and physical features of the deep oceans and man's exploration.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sea and Ice Salinity

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Students conduct an experiment.  In this salinity lesson, students learn about sea ice, why it is important and how changing amounts can affect the sea.  Students conduct an experiment to find out the effects of salinity on the formation...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Exploring for Petroleum - Modeling an Oil Reserve

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students experiment with locating oil reserves. In this conservation lesson, students use a cardboard box to create sand, rocks, and an oil reserve (water balloon). They use a probe to dig around in the box to find the oil reserve and...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How High Is That?

For Teachers 9th - 11th
Students explore the National Spatial Reference System. In this vertical position lesson, students will discuss the use of vertical position data and solve practical problems involving geographic positioning.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

You Can Die Here – Death Valley California

For Teachers 8th - 10th
Young scholars use Google Maps to explore the rain shadow desert. In this climate lesson, students use the Internet, Google Maps, and directed inquiry worksheets to understand how rain shadow deserts form. Young scholars apply climate...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Off Base

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners explain the Chatelier's Principle. In this pH lesson plan, students identify factors that resist changes in pH of the ocean and why the ocean is becoming more acidic.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Soil, Designer Soil: From Rainforests to the Prairie

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students explore the role and importance of soil in the ecosystem.  In this Science and Social Studies instructional activity, students complete an experiment using various kinds of soil and clay and then examine how soil has a direct...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Are We Falling Apart? Exploding Volcanoes

For Teachers 5th - 9th
Students research and demonstrate volcanic activity. For this volcanism lesson, students research the types of volcanoes and define related terms using the Internet. They demonstrate volcanic activity with water, corn syrup, and flour.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Using Repeat Photography to Map Environmental Hazards

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students investigate the changes of their environment by experimenting with photography.  In this environmental observation lesson, students compare historic photographs of areas with pictures they have just taken.  Students create a...