Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lemon Batteries Revised

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders investigate how chemical energy in food and batteries is potential or stored energy. They discuss how batteries function, and create a class list of different forms of energy. Students then create a lemon battery that...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Using Vegetation, Precipitation, and Surface Temperature to Study Climate Zones

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students begin their examination of the climate zones found around the world. Using a software program, they identify the relationship between the vegetation, climate and temperatures of the different zones. They also plot coordinates...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Simulating the Greenhouse Effect in a Terrarium

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students identify what factors effect global warming and how the greenhouse effect occurs.  In this environmental lesson students view videos then complete an experiment using a terrarium to observe greenhouse gas.
Worksheet
NASA

Auroras

For Students 7th - 9th
In this auroras instructional activity, students define 11 terms related to space phenomena such as auroras, coronal mass ejections and auroral ovals. Students use a given website to help them define the terms and they write a 500 word...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What Do I See When I Picture Saturn?

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students create their own Saturn Discovery logs. They draw pictures of the planet and its founder. They share their drawings and writings with partners.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

I See a Coyote

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students role-play coyotes looking for natural resources.  In this natural resources lesson, students examine the relationship between animal life and the environment.  Students play a game that demonstrates how natural...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Earth's Energy Cycle: Albedo

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students complete all of the steps in the scientific inquiry process to study Earth's energy cycle; most specifically temperature and the effects of albedo (energy reflected back from Earth's surface) on temperature.
Worksheet
Curated OER

IMAGE Satellite and Solar Cells

For Students 8th - 10th
In this IMAGE satellite and solar cells worksheet, students calculate the surface area of the satellite in order to determine how much electrical power can be generated by the solar cells.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Amazing -- Saturn Is So Far Away!

For Teachers 1st - 2nd
Students work together to create a scale model of the distances between the planets. They write a paragraph to describe Saturn and their make-believe trip to the planet. They identify other characteristics of Saturn as well.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Wow, Saturn Is Much Bigger Than Earth!

For Teachers 1st - 2nd
Young scholars compare and contrast the sizes of Earth and Saturn. They create scale illustrations of each planet and label them. They share their models with the class.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Planet Research

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Pupils recognize that the other eight known planets, which revolve around the Sun, have characteristics and surface conditions that are different from Earth; and identify examples of those differences.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Focus on Saturn's Fascinating Features

For Teachers 1st - 2nd
Students identify and discuss the characteristics of Saturn. They create a book using those characteristics. They also develop diagram to show Saturn and its moons.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Geologic Features of Mars

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers examine images of Mars' surface features to identify landforms and the geological processes that created them. Students listen to information about Mars presented by the teacher, then analyze labeled pictures of Mars'...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Moon, Mars, and Beyond-Mission Briefing

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students complete this introductory lesson in which they find out about the scenario for a simulated online space mission. They review vocabulary and complete a review sheet to reinforce the details of the mission and its goals.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Tree Friends

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Students are introduced to tree structure and use. They identify their special tree using all senses except sight. Students identify six different internal parts within a cross section of tree trunk (bark, phloem, xylem, cambium,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Atmospheric Cells

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students recognize that the sun is the source of energy driving atmosphere cells. They relate the motion of the atmospheric cells to mantle convection cells. Students recognize that the function of atmospheric cells is to move heat from...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Tall Ship and a Star to Steer Her By

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students create a water transportation device powered by wind. In this wind power instructional activity, students research transportation concepts after reading the poem "Sea Fever" by John Masefield. Students design the fastest...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Robots from Junk

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers create balloon and rubber band models of robotic rovers to investigate the concepts of mass, torque, and friction. Through research and planning, students construct a rover test-bed that simulates the Martian environment.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Lepidoptera Project

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students are introduced to Scientific Inquiry and discover how to design an experiment that answers critical questions using butterflies as the topic. They design experiments that compare the number of species of butterflies in a vacant,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Smog Be Gone

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students begin the lesson by identifying greenhouse gases. In groups, they observe and record the effect of the gases on the atmosphere and the temperature of the Earth. They participate in activities that describe the role of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Satellite Mobiles

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students discuss satellites and their functions. They design and construct their own satellite out of readily available materials. Students are taught the definition of a satellite. They discuss the two main purposes of satellites:...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Energy: The Big Picture

For Teachers 9th - Higher Ed
Students research about energy related topics. In this earth science lesson plan, students discuss ways to save energy. They create a presentation about their research and share it with the class.
Lesson Plan
ArtsNow

Arts Now Learning: Explore the Solar System With Theater [Pdf]

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
In this instructional activity, students build upon prior knowledge of the planets in the solar system by becoming aliens living on the planets. As aliens, they learn about their planets and create advertisements to persuade someone to...
Website
NASA

Nasa: Solar System Exploration

For Students 9th - 10th
This stunning site on the solar system gives a great overview of the planets and our sun. Learn about each object's size, vital statistics, and moons. Then go on for a more in depth look at these objects in the column on the left.