Curated OER
Investigating the Climate System: Energy, A Balancing Act
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...
Curated OER
Ride the Rock Cycle
Students identify the steps in the rock cycle. They complete a K-W-L chart before the lesson begins. They answer questions about the stages to complete the lesson.
Curated OER
Water Cycle
Students answer short answer questions about the water cycle and other cycles. In this water cycle lesson plan, students explore clouds, rain, evaporation, and more.
Curated OER
The Potential Consequences of Climate Variability and Change
Students analyze the impact of climate variability and change utilizing a broad span of topics over a wide range of grade levels. This three lesson plan unit is easily adapted for the various instructional levels listed.
Discover Earth
Weather Stations
Transform your classroom into a fully functioning weather station with this series of hands-on investigations. Covering the topics of temperature, precipitation, wind patterns, and cloud formation, these activities engage young...
K5 Learning
The Life Cycle
Studying plant, animal, or insect life cycles? Pair a science unit with a reading comprehension worksheet on life cycles. The passage touches briefly on butterfly, plant, frog, and dog life cycles before prompting readers to answer six...
Consortium for Ocean Science Exploration and Engagement (COSEE)
Life Cycle of Blue King Crabs
The blue king crab and the red king crab live in the same range but never in the same region. The third lesson in the series of five focuses on the blue king crab and the impact the changes in water temperature is having on its...
Science Matters
Photosynthesis-Cellular Respiration Cycle
The balance of nature can be a wondrous thing! With the 19th instructional activity of the 21-part series on systems, learners explore the cycle of photosynthesis and cellular respiration using a lab-based activity. Groups set up...
Curated OER
The Water Planet
Learners use NASA photographs and hands-on activities to compare the amounts of land and water on our planet. They discover that the world has five oceans and that they cover seventy percent of Earth's surface. Students learn how this...
Curated OER
The Water Cycle
Fifth graders review and discuss, "The Water Cycle" and its key elements of evaporation, condensation and precipitation. They create a terrarium in groups to connect concepts of The Water Cycle and to view precipitation, condensation,...
Curated OER
Butterfly Life Cycle
Focused little scientists will flitter their arms back and forth across the room with excitement as they learn the life cycle of a butterfly and how living things grow and change over time.
Curated OER
Science: Microcosms in the Biosphere
In a series of lessons, examine the impact on humans by microcosms in the biosphere. Among the plans structured for students with different abilities and learning styles, are activities describing the symbiotic relationship, drawing the...
Curated OER
The Journey of New Haven Water
Students become familiar with the water cycle and water issues. For this water lesson students examine what they can do to protect their water.
Chicago Botanic Garden
Historical Climate Cycles
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...
Curated OER
The Water Cycle
Students research the water cycle and identify main vocabulary associated with the water cycle. They build and observe a closed system model that demonstrates the water cycle in action.
Curated OER
Can't Bayou this Water Cycle
Students identify the stages in the water cycle. They observe a local water source and view the cycle in action. They create their own water cycle using software.
Curated OER
Water Cycle Walk
Pupils investigate the water cycle. In this water cycle lesson, students listen to a song as they walk around and when they music stops, they answer a question based on the water cycle.
Curated OER
Water Cycle Walk
Fifth graders explore the water cycle. Students walk in a circle as a song plays. When the song stops, 5th graders answer questions about the picture on which they are standing. In groups, students draw pictures of the water cycle.
Curated OER
The Water Cycle: Transpiration
Students identify and describe the stages in the water cycle. Using plants, they determine if they play a role in the cycle and measure the water the plants give off. They complete an experiment to determine if deciduous or coniferous...
Curated OER
Creating the Water Cycle
Pupils create a terrarium to examine the stages of the water cycle. In small groups, they plant and water a seed in an enclosed plastic container. Each day they diagram and write observations of the terrarium using water cycle vocabulary.
Curated OER
Water Cycle Column
Students use common materials to construct a working model of the water cycle. They then observe and explain evaporation, condensation, precipitation and percolation as aspects of a continuing cycle. Students also complete worksheets and...
Curated OER
The Water Cycle
Students use a hot list to research information on and find pictures of The Water Cycle and make a Kid Pix movie explaining and showing pictures of The Water Cycle. They then give a presentation of their movie of The Water Cycle to...
Curated OER
Water Cycle
Third graders explore the water cycle and place pictures of the water cycle in sequential order. They investigate a problem and determine if it is reasonable or not to believe that there is water in air to cause a puddle. ...
Curated OER
A Water Cycle Chamber
Fourth graders are shown the water cycle by watching a demonstration by their teacher. In groups, they are given one two-liter bottle with a starter hole and follow instructions to complete the set up. They place ice cubes into the...