Curated OER
Designing Local Studies
Students think about and identify significant aspects of local weather patterns by reflecting on their own observations. They design local weather studies by deciding which information to collect and how to collect and record it...
NASA
Foam Rocket
When going for distance, does it make a difference at what angle you launch the rocket? Teams of three launch foam rockets, varying the launch angle and determining how far they flew. After conducting the series of flights three times,...
Curated OER
Weather, Migrations, and Plants
Pupils research the effects of day-to-day weather on animal migrations, plant growth and other seasonal events. They consult maps, observe and record local conditions, keep journals and use their collected data check hypotheses.
Curated OER
Winter and Summer Storms Scenarios
Fourth graders analyze how summer and winter storms are different. In this weather lesson, 4th graders construct a winter storm simulation box and a summer storm bottle and record the temperature and barometer readings. The directions to...
Curated OER
Creating Sand Dunes
Young scholars explain how sand dunes are formed, the different circumstances that effect the movement of or formation of sand dunes, and relate the information gathered to soil conservation. In this sand dunes lesson, students use pans...
Curated OER
Weather Patterns and Acid Rain (or What is Chicago's acid rain doing in the Adirondacks?)
Young scholars examine a color-coded map of U.S. acid rain precipitation intensity. Using EPA data table and the blank U.S. map, they record state-by-state values for magnitude of emissions and compare areas of emissions to areas with...
Curated OER
Science: Avalanche!
Eighth graders examine avalanches after reading excerpts from John Muir's book, "The Yosemite." In small groups, they conduct experiments with flour, sugar, and potato flakes representing different snow consistencies. Then, 8th graders...
Curated OER
Blade Design Challenge
Students identify the differences between non-renewable and renewable energy sources. They construct a PVC wind turbine and design a set of blades to extract as much energy as possible from low and high wind conditions.
Curated OER
Weather Instrument Use and Application
Eighth graders measure temperature, wind speed and pressure using Skymaster SM-28. In this earth science lesson, 8th graders collect data and record observations taken from outdoors. They explain why numerical values are different in...
Curated OER
Glow With the Flow
High schoolers investigate the force of drag and how NASA engineers use models and glowing paints to examine how air flows over vehicles in a wind tunnel. They discover how the blended wing body will affect air travelers of the future.
Curated OER
Heating the Earth
Students explore how the angle of sunlight affects the Earth's temperature and seasons and then apply this understanding to their local situation.
NOAA
Climographs
In the second lesson of a five-part series, young climatologists use provided temperature and precipitation data to create climographs of three different cities. They then analyze these climographs to develop a general understanding of...
Curated OER
Weather Watchers
Students watch the weather. In this science observation lesson, students collect data regarding the local weather and create their own weather forecasting video.
Curated OER
Weather or Not
Sixth graders explore weather. In this meteorology lesson, 6th graders create weather instruments and compare and contrast weather data.
Curated OER
What Goes Around Comes Around
Students investigate how the ocean plays a part in the water cycle. In this earth science lesson, students locate a puddle outside and mark it with chalk. Students observe the changes in the water during the next two days.
Curated OER
River System
Fifth graders explore the parts of a river system and understand the importance of each part. For this river system lesson, 5th graders diagram a river system and write a paragraph explaining its parts.
Curated OER
What's Going to Happen at Any Given Barometer Reading?
Fourth graders brainstorm a list of words associated with weather. In groups, they sort the words into categories and observe the weather in their area for a month. To end the lesson, they compare the barometer measurements for a...
Curated OER
Weather Variables Lab
Students examine what happens when air temperature drops and gets closer to the dewpoint. They perform a lab activity which illustrates the effects on humidity, precipitation and barometric air pressure.
Curated OER
Paper Gliders
Sixth graders study friction and drag. In this science lesson plan, 6th graders use different models of gliders and test to see which of the gliders fly the farthest. Students analyze their data and construct a graph.
Curated OER
Utah Weather
Fourth graders explore Earth science by researching weather patterns on the Internet. For this Utah climate lesson, 4th graders discuss why each climate on our planet is exposed to different weather settings and how they are measured....
Curated OER
Hypothesize This!
Students role play scientists to prove a hypotheses. They determine whether or not walruses stay warmer in water or in air. Students also determine in which environment they lose more body heat.
Curated OER
Weather Patterns
Students collect weather data over a thirty day period to gain an increased understanding of the weather patterns in their area. Once the data is collected, students post their finding online using a web tool. Finally, students attempt...
Curated OER
Flying the Friendly Skies
Students investigate aerodynamics by comparing and contrasting the flight of two gliders. They make prediction and observation charts and test a variety of hypotheses using paper gliders.
Curated OER
Surface Meteorological Observation System (SMOS)
Students monitor local surface weather conditions for at least 30 days. They interpret the data by graphing it and detemining percentages.