Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Observing the Changes: The Warming of the North

For Teachers 1st - 7th
After reviewing the causes and effects of climate change, students become observers for "Plant Watch," a program to monitor the effects of climate change on plants. Students record blooming and leafing dates for selected local species...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Changing Planet: Adaptation of Species (Birds and Butterflies)

For Teachers 5th - 9th
A video about the impact of climate change on butterfly populations and a PowerPoint about butterfly and bird adaptations warm science learners up for the activity to follow. Using a variety of tools that reprsent unique styles of bird...
Lesson Plan
1
1
Chicago Botanic Garden

Accessing Prior Knowledge: Global Climate Change Survey

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Begin a unit on weather and climate change by assessing prior knowledge of the topic. Learners respond to a survey with questions that ask what they think causes climate change, the effects of climate change, and if it is important...
Lesson Plan
1
1
Teach Engineering

Global Climate Change

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
The greenhouse effect and its relationship to global warming is the focus of an activity that asks class member to consider the effects of climate change on weather. Pupils work with their families to determine their carbon...
Unit Plan
2
2
Beyond Benign

Climate Change Chemistry

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Assist your class with learning the importance of caring for our environment as they complete this fun-filled lesson on climate change. Individuals perform simulations related to greenhouse gases, atmospheric gases, and the overall...
Lesson Plan
1
1
Chicago Botanic Garden

Historical Climate Cycles

For Teachers 5th - 6th Standards
What better way to make predictions about future weather and climate patterns than with actual climate data from the past? Young climatologists analyze data from 400,000 to 10,000 years ago to determine if climate has changed over...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Changing Planet: Withering Plants - Stressing Over Lost Water

For Teachers 7th - 10th
Expectant earth scientists examine the bottom side of a leaf and learn the role of the stomata. They consider the gas exchange that occurs through these structures and relate how the climate is changing to its impact on food crops. This...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Analyzing Tree Rings to Determine Climate Change

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students examine how to locate and access data sets.  For this climate change lesson students import data into Excel and graph it.   
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Changing Planet: Rising Ocean Temperatures - Rising Sea Levels

For Teachers 5th - 9th
As an anticipatory set, young environmental technicians watch a video about how ocean temperatures seem to be changing along with the global climate. They perform a laboratory demonstration with the purpose of observing what happens to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Changing Planet: Permafrost Gas Leak

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Pair earth scientists up to use an amazing online arctic portal mapping tool and Google Earth to analyze permafrost changes. They compare changes to data on atmospheric concentrations of methane to see if there is a correlation. Then...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Using the Carbon Cycle Interactive Game in the Classroom

For Teachers 4th - 9th
An online reading and interactive game bring the path of a carbon molecule to life for your earth science explorers! As an assessment, learners can map out or write about their experience in the carbon cycle. Thoroughly written...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Climate Change & Coral Activities

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Students study how the ocean stabilizes our planet's climates and how global warming is becoming a threat to this fine balance.  In this climate change lesson, students identify that fossil fuel emissions are responsible for...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

March of the Polar Bears: Global Change, Sea Ice, and Wildlife Migration

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students study global change and how these changes impact wildlife.  In this polar bears  lesson students analyze maps and data to understand climate change. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Stopping Global Climate Change

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners synthesize or express concepts towards solving the question posed at each lab station about climate change. After all lab teams have finished, the teacher facilitates a class discussion on teams' responses to each station.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Day After Tomorrow: How is the Density of Water Related to Climate Change and Global Warming?

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Science learners simulate what happens when ice breaks up and floats on water and how increased pressure on ice causes it to melt faster. They view a clip from the movie, The Day After Tomorrow, and relate their lab activities to what...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Investigating the Climate System: Energy, A Balancing Act

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Earth science explorers design an experiment to demonstrate that the albedo of a surface affects its temperature. They test to find out if moisture on the surface affects temperature. They discover whether or not concrete or asphalt heat...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Global Climate Change: Understanding the Greenhouse Effect

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students define the term 'global climate change' and explore how it affects our lives. They research greenhouse gases and identify what events are causing an increase in the amount of greenhouse gases in our atmosphere. Students view...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Dr. Climatic

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students examine the principles that are involved in climate change.  In this environment lesson students view a presentation on climate change and complete a handout.
Lesson Plan
NASA

Climate Change Inquiry Lab

For Teachers 6th - 8th
With global temperatures on the rise faster than ever recorded, the effects of a heating planet could be devastating. Allow learners to discover just what the world is in store for if the warming continues through a series of videos, a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Climate Change

For Teachers 6th - 7th
Young scholars compare weather data and draw conclusions. In this climate change lesson plan, students determine whether data collected over a period of ninety years shows a warming trend. 
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...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Changing Planet: Ocean Acidification - the Chemistry is Less than Basic!

For Teachers 7th - 10th
A video and laboratory investigation are highlights to this lesson on acidification of ocean water due to increased atmospheric carbon dioxide. Using bromothymol blue (BTB) as an indicator, pupils analyze the amount of carbon dioxide...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

When Floating Ice Melts in the Sea

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
With this simple inquiry exercise young scientists observe the effects of melting ice on water level. Set up an easy experiment with floating ice cubes in a dish of water then have your pupils make and record their observations of the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Weather, Sea Level Rise and Climate Change

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders compare and contrast weather and climate. In this earth science lesson, 8th graders research weather data site and analyze historical data. They present their findings in class and explain identifiable trends.