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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Absorption of Solar Energy

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Two sequential parts to this lesson introduce your class to the electromagnetic spectrum, the ability to absorb radiant energy, and the pigments in leaves that are responsible for collecting sunlight to be used in the photosynthetic...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Changing Planet: Black Carbon - a Dusty Situation

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Introduce your young meteorologists to black carbon produced by the burning of fossil fuels by showing the video, "Changing Planet: Black Carbon." Viewers discover that deposition of this carbon on polar ice impacts the absorption of...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Solar Kit Lesson #9 - Properties of Solar Radiation: Reflection, Transmission, and Absorption

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Middle school science stars observe and record data on the solar radiation reflected off or transmitted through various materials. They predict properties for various materials, and test their predictions by touch. This activity becomes...
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Lesson Plan
US Department of Energy

Effects of Solar Radiation on Land and Sea

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Earth science enthusiasts experiment to compare the heating rates of soil and water. They relate their findings to the weather conditions near bodies of water. Consider also having middle schoolers measure the cooling rates to...
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Lesson Plan
Wild BC

The Greenhouse Effect: Warming the Earth Experiment

For Teachers 6th - 8th
First in a two-part lesson on the greenhouse effect, this lesson involves a classroom demonstration of the phenomenon, and a lab group experiment with color and absorption. Although there are easier ways to demonstrate the greenhouse...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

My Angle on Cooling: Effects of Distance and Inclination

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Young scholars discuss what heat is and how it travels. They discover that one way to cool an object in the presence of a heat source is to increase the distance from it or change the angle at which it is faced.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Solar Cell Energy Availability From Around the Country

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Learners determine areas that are the most likely to produce solar energy by using NASA data.  In this solar energy lesson students analyze plots and determine solar panel use. 
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Incoming Solar Radiation

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Demonstrate how the spherical shape of the Earth contributes to unequal heating of its surface and results in varying climates at different latitudes. This would be an illuminating addition to your meteorology lessons, especially when...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Seasons Worksheet #1

For Students 6th - 9th
First, your earth science pupils determine what season is depicted in a diagram of the tilted Earth as it receives radiation from the sun. They answer multiple choice questions about occurrences at different points on Earth in the...
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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...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Night Golf Classroom Guide

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students read the story "Night Golf" and respond to questions that enhance their comprehension of the book's message.  In this reading activity, students participate in a literature circle to explore reading passages. Students ...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Measuring Soil Temperatures at South Penquite Farm

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students investigate soil temperatures. In this graphing and earth science lesson, students insert temperature probes into different types of soil at varying depths. Students complete a data chart and construct a related graph...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Aerosol Science

For Students 6th - 12th
In this aerosol worksheet, students are given data for volcanic eruptions and the average temperatures of the Earth. They determine the change in temperature from the year of the eruption to the present year and use the means to...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

An Overview of Solar Radiation

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Young scholars use the Stefan-Boltzmann Law and the Wien displacement law to determine the amount of energy the sun emits.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Exploring Solar Beads

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students discover solar energy beads and learn about ultraviolet light. For this solar energy lesson, students learn about solar energy beads, ultraviolet light, and UV radiation dangers. Students experiment with the beads to identify.
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Worksheet
Curated OER

What is Climate?

For Students 9th - 12th
In this climate activity, students review the components that make up climate including temperature and precipitation. This activity has 8 true or false and 2 short answer questions.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sunrise and Sunset

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students utilize a Mesonet daily solar radiation to determine the times of sunrise and sunset and the length of the day. They describe how sunrise and sunset change with latitude and longitude and how the length of the day changes with...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Examples for Socratic Questioning: Climate And Solar Radiation

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore the various controls on the amount of solar radiation received at different parts of the Earth's surface by participating in a whole class discussion. They respond to prompts that lead them to conclusions about the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Clouds and Solar Radiation

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students use satellite imaging and Mesonet solar radiation maps to answer questions given to them by the teacher and look for differences and similiarities in the data.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Solar Project

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students make predictions about the global temperature of the earth and to see how this is dependent upon a number of variables. Students visualize how changing parameters can impact the global temperature of the earth.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Clouds and Solar Radiation

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students examine how clouds affect incoming solar radiation. They compare and contrast satellite images and incoming solar radiation measurements as methods to provide information about clouds.