Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Big is Your Footprint?

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students create awareness for ways in which the "Western" lifestyle negatively impacts the Earth. They create awareness for alternatives to our current ways of living, eating and traveling. Students are challenged to talk with their...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Stratospheric Ozone

For Teachers 12th - Higher Ed
Students explore about the structure of Earth's atmosphere and about the stratospheric ozone. They discuss how it is produced and destroyed, where it is located, why it is important, and how it is changing. Students investigate about...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Moon Shadows

For Students 3rd
In this moon shadows worksheet, 3rd graders follow the directions to set up a demonstration about the sun, the earth and the moon.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Day And Night

For Teachers 1st
First graders examine how the earth experiences day and night by using a flashlight and a globe as a model.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Catching Some Rays

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders explore the tilt of Earth's axis. In this Earth lesson, 6th graders read a Greek mythology story explaining why there are seasons. Students build a sun-ray gathering tool from styrofoam, glue, thermometers, skewers, and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Individual Sundial (Cloud/Rain Activity)

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students make a simple sundial to examine the changes in shadows over time. In this sundial and shadow activity, students make a simple sundial out of a manila folder and pencil. They observe how shadows change over time, and relate it...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Glacier Presentations

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students research news articles relating to global climate change. In this earth science lesson, students create a news broadcast using the information they gathered. They present this in class and each student gives their peer...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The History of Rock and Roll

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders examine how the different layers of rock show the history of the Earths surface.  In this rock lesson students divide into groups and complete an activity using clay.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Plate Tectonics

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students complete a data sheet. In this Earth composition lesson, students learn what happens when the Earth's plates push against each other. They watch a teacher demonstration and complete a data sheet.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Changing Face Of America

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students explain historical and contemporary patterns of immigration to the United States. They observe immigrant markers in the cultural landscape and identify trends in population change in the local state and community.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Astronomy

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students explore space science by utilizing education software. In this moon cycles lesson, students discuss the importance of the moon and the different phases we observe from earth. Students demonstrate the earth's orbit by creating a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Let's Think About Day and Night

For Teachers K
Students explore day and night and the relationships between the Earth, the sun and the moon. They discuss the ways in which the sun and moon help us. They watch a short video that helps illustrate these concepts.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Sun's habitable Zone

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore the average surface temperature of planets. They use the Planet Temperature Calculator to find the average temperature. Students explore how the distance from the sun affects the Earth's average surface temperature. They...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Explorations Through Time

For Students 9th - 12th
In this earth history instructional activity, students visit a website and complete 15 fill in the blank and 8 short answer questions based on what they read. Topics include biodiversity, animal kingdoms, evolution, fossils, and extinction.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Heat is On

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Young scholars investigate climate change. In this current events lesson plan, students research the listed Web sites that include information about the effects of greenhouse gases on the Earth. Young scholars discuss how to combat the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Investigating the Soil

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students explore the Earth's crust by researching pH levels and acidity. In this environmental safety lesson, students identify the pros and cons of acidity within soil and how it affects plants. Students collaborate in a pH level...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Historical Geography Scavenger Hunt

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers are told that Geography is the science that deals with the differentiation of the surface of the earth due to the influence of things like population, vegetation, geology, and land use. They explore the Geography Basics...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lesson Plan: Global Warming

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore the concept of global warming. In this climate change lesson plan, students explore the provided links to PBS NOW sources and research the greenhouse effect and the effects of global warming. Students support their...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Big Burp: Where's the Proof.

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore the Cambrian explosion and Paleocene extinction events. In this climate change lesson, students read articles to link evidence they find to extinction and climate change.  Links to the articles are included in the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Geological Features: How Weathering & Erosion Help Create Landforms

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students explore how the Earth's surface changes resulting in geological features and landforms. They perform a read-a-loud on Thomas Locker's Mountain Dance, complete a KWL chart, and create a landform using plaster of paris.
Interactive
Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics

Science at 100,000 Feet

For Students 9th - 12th
Take your class up, up, and away with an engaging weather balloon simulation! Individuals get hands-on experience in creating and launching their own airborne labs to study how temperature and pressure affect substances at 100,000...
Lesson Plan
Carnegie Mellon University

Bathtub Model

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Using a colorful infographic handout and a guide sheet, hold a class discussion about how a bathtub can serve as a model for the greenhouse effect created by Earth's atmosphere. Participants will understand that as energy or matter is...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sandscapes to Landscapes

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Pupils explore landscapes and create their own in a creative project.
Unit Plan
Curated OER

What Is El Niño?

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Students access information at remote sites using telecommunications, identify impacts by reviewing past El Ni??o events, make and use scale drawings, maps, and maps symbols to find locations and describe relationships.