Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Adapted to Fire

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders explore forest species' adaptations to fire by participating in a scavenger hunt and mapping a burned forest. Students create maps and explore how indigenous species adapted to living with fire.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Physical Habitat of a Stream

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students measure in metric units and use a stopwatch, calculator. They collect data with minimal instructions after the initial pre-activity briefing, then record data in the data sheets provided.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Beach Zonation

For Teachers 4th - 12th
Students identify and separate the different zones of the beach by observation. They investigate beach zonation by gathering and comparing sand samples gathered from different areas of the beach.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Spy on a Spider

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students view slides or live specimens to name and describe the distinguishing features of groups of arthropods, especially spiders and insects. They complete worksheets, observe webs and then search for and record where spiders can be...
Unit Plan
American Geosciences Institute

American Geosciences Institute: Climate and Weather

For Students 6th - 8th
Eight hands-on lessons module in which students explore climate and weather. Inquiry-based investigations include observing weather, weather reporting, weather maps, weather satellites, causes of weather, and climate change.
Article
Utah State Office of Education

Utah Science: Change Is My Game

For Students 4th - 8th
Discover the ways in which the Earth's surface is always changing and what causes those changes through reference materials and a collection of activities.
Activity
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Building a Barometer

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students investigate the weather from a systems approach, learning how individual parts of a system work together to create a final product. Students learn how a barometer works to measure the Earth's air pressure by building a model out...
Website
Ohio State University

Osu: Beyond Weather and the Water Cycle: The Sun: Earth's Primary Energy Source

For Students 9th - 10th
Extensive article that discusses the first principle of climate science, i.e., that the Sun is the primary energy source for the climate system of the Earth. Presents five concepts for this principle and explains each, providing...
Lesson Plan
PBS

Pbs Learning Media: Hurricane Matthew Causes Weathering and Erosion

For Students 3rd - 5th
View videos and photos from the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew and see how the earth's landforms changed as a result of the heavy winds and rain. Weathering and erosion made a new landform and dramatically changed the coastline....
Website
PBS

Pbs Learning Media: Climate Change

For Students 9th - 10th
This video segment adapted from NOVA explains the difference between weather and climate and features groundbreaking analysis revealing that Earth's climate has changed much faster than previously believed. [5:48]
Unit Plan
Vision Learning

Visionlearning: Earth Science: The Rock Cycle: Uniformitarianism and Recycling

For Students 9th - 10th
Instructional module focusing on the rock cycle. Discussion includes the concept of uniformitarianism and how earth materials change from one form to another. The site also includes an interactive practice quiz and links relating to the...
Lesson Plan
PBS

Pbs Learning Media: Global Climate Change: Understanding the Greenhouse Effect

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students study past climate change, explore the effect of greenhouse gases on Earth's atmosphere today, and consider human impact on global warming.
Lesson Plan
Climate Literacy

Clean: Investigating Weather and Climate With Google Earth

For Teachers 9th - 10th
In this activity, learners will investigate the change in global temperature by analyzing data on Google Earth for 13 different cities. Students will then interpret the climate patterns for those cities to make conclusion about the...
Unit Plan
King's Centre for Visualization in Science

Explaining Climate Change: Lesson 1: Introduction to Earth's Climate

For Students 9th - 10th
This is the first lesson in a series of learning modules on the topic of climate change. It explores Earth's unique climate and atmosphere, regional climate differences, and temporal climate differences. Includes comprehension questions...
Unit Plan
King's Centre for Visualization in Science

Explaining Climate Change: Lesson 5: The Impacts of Climate Change

For Students 9th - 10th
This is the fifth lesson in a series of learning modules on the topic of climate change. Using scientific models, it takes a look at the effects of climate change on different parts of the earth. Five key ideas are explored: polar...
Graphic
PBS

Pbs Learning Media: What's Up With the Weather: Graphs

For Students 9th - 10th
Examine this graph from FRONTLINE/NOVA: "What's Up with the Weather?" Web site to see dramatic increases in three greenhouse gases over the last two hundred years.
Graphic
Other

Earth Journalism Network: Climate Commons

For Students 9th - 10th
A unique interactive tool that embeds news articles and information about climate change into a map of the United States. Users are able to explore what the impact of climate change at a local, regional or national level, as well as...
Article
Other

Bscs: Content Background Earth's Changing Surface

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
This is written to support and further your content learning about the dynamic nature of Earth's surface. The goal is for you to develop a conceptual understanding of landforms so that you will be able to more effectively teach...
Handout
Other

Primer on Climate Change and Human Health [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
A comprehensive guide to climate change in Canada. This site offers both a national look and then looks at the implications of climate change on specific regions and provinces.
Unit Plan
Other

Lehigh University: Climate Change

For Teachers 6th - 8th
An inquiry-based science unit for middle school students centered on weather and climate. The lessons integrate technology and lab activities while teaching about Earth system energy balance, greenhouse gases, paleoclimatology, and how...
Website
National Earth Science Teachers Association

Windows to the Universe: The Earth's Atmosphere

For Students 3rd - 8th
Windows to the Universe offers information on the Earth's atmosphere. The site contains links to a weather crossword puzzle and images.
Unit Plan
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12: Earth Science: Air Masses

For Students 9th - 10th
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Air masses greatly influence the the weather in a location.
Unit Plan
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12: Earth Science: Air Masses

For Students 9th - 10th
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Air masses greatly influence the the weather in a location.
Article
Society for Science and the Public

Science News for Students: Concerns About Earth's Fever

For Students 9th - 10th
Burning fossil fuels is causing the planet to heat up, causing weather patterns to change, sea levels to rise and diseases to spread. Scientists are concerned with the rising temps of Earth.