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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Earth's Changing Atmosphere

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students examine the constant changing of the Earth's atmosphere. After labeling the layers of the Earth, they identify various processes inside the Earth that can cause gases to be emitted. Using the internet, they research how the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Global Climate Change

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders investigate the effect of melting glaciers to sea level. In this earth science activity, 2nd graders simulate the process in the lab by conducting an experiment using ice cubes and clay. They explain the consequences of...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Earth's Seasons

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders review the relationship between the Sun and the Earth. In groups, they use a globe and flashlights to show the shadows on the Earth during the different seasons. To end the instructional activity, they write in their...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Many, Varied, and Unusual Places and Things on Earth

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students discover how energy flows through communities because of the relationship between producers, consumers and decomposers. Examining various ecosystems, they identify the materials that cycle continuously through them. They label...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Structure of the Earth

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders describe and identify the three layers of the Earth. They work together to construct their own earth model. They share their creation with the class.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Earth Day - Bursting Beans

For Teachers K - 6th
Young scholars fill jars with dried beans and water, cover the jars, and wait to see what happens in this excellent Science experiment ideal for Earth Day (April 22nd). Emphasis is placed on discovering the reactions of seeds to water.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Physical Changes and States of Matter- Two

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders explore the concept of evaporation as they observe how the water level changes in a cup that is left out. Working in groups they observe physical changes in a group of everyday items. They record the changes in shape, size,...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Climate Change

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students explore environmental care by researching the impact of human beings on our planet. In this climate change lesson, students utilize the Internet to read informational text about climate change and the effect it will have on our...
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Activity
It's About Time

What Drives the Plates?

For Teachers 7th - 12th Standards
It's getting hot in here! Lead your emerging geoscientists on a thrilling journey as they calculate liquid densities to determine forces that stimulate thermal plates from within the earth's crust. They explore effects of temperature on...
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Interactive
McGraw Hill

Neutron Stars Interactive

For Students 9th - Higher Ed
The universe is full of sources of energy. Explore the energy of pulsars with your classes through a simulation. An interactive lesson allows learners to manipulate the angle of rotation of both the earth and the pulsars. A real-time...
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Lesson Plan
California Mathematics Project

Meteorology

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
See how estimation is essential to making temperature weather maps. Scholars use ratios and rates of change to estimate temperatures at locations where temperature readings have not been made. They connect this idea to linear functions.
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Interactive
McGraw Hill

Orbital Velocity Interactive

For Students 9th - Higher Ed
Why does it take Pluto 90,000 days to orbit the sun, but it only takes Mercury 88 days? An interactive lesson helps pupils find a connection between the speed of orbit and distance a planet is from the sun. The simulation allows for...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sun and Earth

For Teachers 4th - 9th
Young scholars explore the sun, its structure, how big it is and how far away it is.  In this solar system lesson students complete a lab activity on dew point and weather.
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Unit Plan
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NASA

The Science of the Sun

For Teachers K - 6th Standards
There's more to that glowing ball of light in sky than most children realize. From the overall structure of the solar system, to the changing of the seasons, these hands-on lessons open the eyes of young scientists to the important role...
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Lesson Plan
NOAA

To Boldly Go...

For Teachers 5th - 12th
When we think of ocean exploration, many of us have visions of sunken pirate ships full of treasure or mysterious creatures of the deep. What really motivates deep-sea investigation? The first in a series of diverse six-part lessons...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Seasons on Earth

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students engage in a multimedia study of the seasons in relation to the sun's angle of incidence on the Earth as it is tilted on its axis. They interpret satellite maps of the world as they show seasonal changes in plant life.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Carbon Dioxide - Sources and Sinks

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Where does all of the carbon dioxide come from that is supposedly leading to climate change? Earth science pupils test animal, plant, and fossil fuels as sources in this investigation. Using an indicator, BTB, they are able to detect the...
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Lesson Plan
NASA

The Cycle of Matter

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
An educational lesson focuses on the idea of conservation of matter through a demonstration of the water cycle, a discussion of digesting food, and the path of carbon and oxygen atoms as they change form. 
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Lesson Plan
Astronomical Society of the Pacific

Getting Ready for the All American Eclipse!

For Teachers K - 12th Standards
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...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Why Is Our Stream Changing?

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Learners test turbidity, pH, oxygen content and temperature of local stream. In this earth science lesson, students collect and record data from the experiment. They analyze findings and present it to class.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Weather and Oceans: Uneven Heating of the Earth

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students investigate what causes the heat on Earth.  In this Earth heating instructional activity, students experiment with different heat sources and determine where the Earth gathers the most heat.  Students explore vocabulary words...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Chemical and Physical Changes

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders investigate different gas behaviors. In this chemistry lesson, 8th graders describe how changing volume and temperature affect gas particles motion. They collect data and make a generalization about these variables'...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Changing Circuits

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Students observe an on-line activity to review the basics of electrical circuitry, then research answers to related questions on-line.In this instructional activity on changing components in a series circuit, students discover how...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Weathering and Erosion

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Learners investigate how changes occur on the surface of the earth through erosion and glaciation. They observe what happens to salt and iron after they interact with water and vinegar, and analyze what occurs when water is sprinkled on...