Unit Plan
Smithsonian Institution

Water/Ways: The Poetry of Science

For Teachers 1st - 12th Standards
Water is the source of life. It appears in poetry in both peaceful and torrential descriptions; it appears in earth science in its liquid, gaseous, and solid states. Combine these interpretations of our planet's most precious and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

“THE LORAX” by Dr. Seuss

For Teachers 1st - 3rd Standards
Few children's books convey the message of conservation as well as Dr. Seuss' The Lorax. Read the story aloud, emphasizing the interconnectedness of plants and animals in an ecosystem and discussing different ways people can help...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Meet the Tiger

For Teachers 3rd
Here is an excellent lesson tigers that has a research component. Integrated into the lesson is the premise that God created animals and the human responsibility to care for them. At learning centers students visit various Websites and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Weather

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore earth science by reading articles in class. In this weather identification lesson, students analyze weather science articles on the Internet and view their own local weather patterns as well. Students define a list of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Learning About Animal Shelters for Earth Day

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Learners explore habitats. in this ecology and animal habitat instructional activity, students listen to the book A House is a House for Me by Mary Ann Hoberman. Learners discuss the basic needs of animals and go on a nature walk to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sustainable Southern Belize: Coral Health Lesson Plan

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders investigate coral reefs and the dangers they face by labeling and drawing.  In this oceanography lesson, 5th graders view a PowerPoint presentation of photographs of coral reefs in Belize.  Students investigate...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Weather, Climate and Atmospheric Process

For Teachers 6th - 7th
Students explore Earth science by completing a could identification activity. In this weather lesson, students discuss the different forms of measurement for the weather of Earth. Students discuss global warming and examine a list of...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Earth Acrostic Poem

For Students 2nd - 4th
In this Earth worksheet, students write an acrostic poem for the planet Earth. Students write a phrase starting with each letter of the word Earth to describe it.
Lesson Plan
Alabama Learning Exchange

The Big Bang Theory: An Evidence-Based Argument

For Teachers 9th - 10th Standards
What evidence supports the big bang theory? Individuals analyze scholarly resources about the the theory and develop arguments backed by evidence. They brainstorm, share ideas, watch a video, and read articles to complete a graphic...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Crowley's Ridge: An Upland in the Lowlands

For Teachers 4th - 6th
This clever lesson combines elements of geography, art, literature, and storytelling. Pupils take a close look at the six geographical regions of Arkansas, and pay close attention to Crowley's Ridge - which is one of the six. In groups,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Surviving the Conditions

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students explore Earth science by participating in an environmental care activity. In this natural resources activity, students discuss ways to protect themselves from the environment if they are ever in need of shelter in the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Seeing Sound & Sonar

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students make inferences based on different sounds that they hear. For this inferences lesson plan, students will hear sounds of different objects and describe the sounds based on what they hear. They will answer various questions about...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Planet Earth Word Search

For Students 3rd - 4th
In this searching for the words about the planet Earth instructional activity, students use the word bank to find words written from left to right, right to left, and diagonally. Students find 14 words.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduction to Earth Sun Relationships Incorporating P.E.

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders investigate space science by performing physical activities.  In this solar system lesson, 3rd graders perform a relay activitiy with their class in which they race between different "planets".  Students define...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Shoot for the Moon

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders distinguish the different phases of the moon. In this astronomy lesson plan, 2nd graders study the history of its discovery and myths about its origin. They simulate how the moon's surface is illuminated by the sun.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Journey to the Center of the Earth I

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students identify the elements of science fiction and write their own example.  In this Journey to the Center of the Earth lesson students complete several activities about science fiction, authors and novels.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Earth Day

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders utilize technology to access, analyze, interpret and communicate information about Earth Day.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Characteristics of Energy

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students explore Earth science by completing energy worksheets in class. In this energy forms lesson, students identify and define a list of energy vocabulary terms and a K-W-L chart. Students view a matter video clip in class and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Utah Weather

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders explore Earth science by researching weather patterns on the Internet. In this Utah climate lesson plan, 4th graders discuss why each climate on our planet is exposed to different weather settings and how they are...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Which Way is Up? The Tree of Life in Africa

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Learners read a book titled This is the Tree about a baobab tree and draw a picture and label the tree. In this tree lesson plan, students also write a paragraph explaining why they drew that tree. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Planting Seeds Around the World

For Teachers 1st
First graders discuss the book The Lorax and research what living things need. In this environmental lesson, 1st graders investigate how humans affect the growth of plants. Students conduct an experiment with sunflowers.
Lesson Plan
Alabama Learning Exchange

Scrapping the Biomes

For Teachers 5th Standards
Fifth graders investigate biomes of the earth. In this biomes lesson plan, 5th graders explore eight different biomes which include the tropical rain forest, deciduous forest, grasslands, and taiga. They design an artistic scrapbook that...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Land Use and Lawmaking in California

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Students investigate the laws of using land.  In this California Government lesson, students examine the many uses of land in California and find an environmental issue they care about.  Students write a letter to a politician...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Puzzling Planets

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students examine the concept of a solar system. In this research based lesson, students compare a star and a planet. They explain the requirements for life in a biosphere.