Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Comparison of Cloud Coverage Over Africa

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students use a NASA satellite data to contrast amounts of cloud coverage over different climate regions in Africa. They explore how Earth's major air circulations affect global weather patterns, and relate to local weather patterns.
Lesson Plan
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California Academy of Science

California's Climate

For Teachers 3rd - 5th Standards
The United States is a large country with many different climates. Graph and analyze temperature and rainfall data for Sacramento and Washington DC as you teach your class about the characteristics of Mediterranean climates. Discuss the...
PPT
Curated OER

Mountains

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Mountains are described and some of the more famous listed along with their altitudes. Climate, glaciers, and avalanches are also covered. Because there is a copious amount of text on each slide, this would be best used by assigning...
Activity
Howard Hughes Medical Institute

Measuring Biodiversity in Gorongosa

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Take your biology class' understanding of biodiversity to a whole new level! Ecology scholars use data to calculate three different diversity indices based on the organisms in the Gorongosa National Park. The four-part activity uses an...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Bringing the Rain to Kapiti Plain

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students analyze the story Bringing the Rain to Kapiti Plain geographically, and explain the term climate and discuss its relevance in the story as well as to their own lives.
Lesson Plan
Out of Africa Wildlife Park

A Thematic Learning Guide to Lions

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Written as an accompaniment to a field trip to the Out of Africa Wildlife Park in Arizona, this is an interdisciplinary, themed lesson on lions. Even if you cannot take your upper-elementary kids to this attraction, there are a few...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Etosha: Poppin' Out at You

For Teachers 10th
Tenth graders research an African animal of their choice and relate the concepts of population, climate and biodiversity to their animal. They examine how population interacts in an ecosystem.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water Wars

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students investigate the water wars taking place in East Africa. In this global issues lesson, students watch video clips and read selected articles about the water shortages in East Africa. Students estimate their own average daily...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Dimming The Sun

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students review the meanings of global warming and global dimming. While watching a video, they take notes on different aspects of the issue. In groups, they develop a list on what can be done to reduce global dimming. They...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What is the Rainforest?

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Students investigate rainforests. In this rainforest lesson, students brainstorm on a KWL chart about what they already know about the rain forest. Students are shown pictures of the rain forest and describe what they see in the photos....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Cacao Tree Geography

For Teachers K - 3rd
Young scholars use a map to learn about where chocolate comes from. In this lesson on the cacao tree, students locate various regions where the cacao tree grows. They will discuss why the cacao tree grows more favorably in particular...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Deserts: How Do You Define One?

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders identify what constitutes as a desert by reading a habitat checklist.  In this environment lesson, 2nd graders read a nature website to discover facts about the desert and where they are located.  Students...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Commonalities and Differences from Africa to Cleveland as Evidence Through the Gullah Community Connection

For Teachers 10th - 11th
Students explore Afro-American history. They identify the commonality between African, Carolinian and Cleveland Black culture. Students explore the water cycle, oceanography, hydrology and bio-geochemical processes. They discuss the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Tropical Atlantic Aerosols

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students analyze NASA data from the Multi-angle Imaging Spectroradiometer. In this NASA data lesson, students access an assigned website to examine information from the MISR on the Terra Satellite. They determine how desert dust travels...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Survival

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Students identify characteristics of Australia, Africa and Antarctica and compare and contrast them to each other. They work together to identify adaptations that animals have used to survive. They also practice classifying animals.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Volcano Above the Clouds

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Learners develop a travelogue to describe the distinct ecological regions of Mount Kilimanjaro. They describe the health issues that may affect climbers, and any necessary equipment or safety precautions that the team may need at each...
Lesson Plan
California Academy of Science

A Day inthe Life of a San Francisco Native Animal

For Teachers 4th - 5th Standards
Although the lesson is specifically about the San Francisco Bay area, it's good enough to be adapted to any local region. Children research what the landscape in San Francisco was like prior to settlement, they consider the types of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Volcano Above the Clouds

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students develop a travelogue to describe the distinct ecological regions of Mount Kilimanjaro. Students simulate mountain climbing. They describe the health issues that may affect climbers, and any necessary equipment or safety...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Day in the Life of a San Francisco Native Animal

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students write from an animal's perspective. In this writing lesson students explore the landscape of San Francisco prior to the arrival of the explorers. Students research animals indigenous to the area.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Pangaea Puzzle Pieces

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students i examine 10 pieces of evidence for the Pangaea theory and use them to reconstruct the super continent. They determine that land masses on Earth are slowly changing shape as a result of moving for millions of years.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Giants of the Animal Kingdom

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders examine the megafauna found in Australia. They create a food web using cut-outs and develop a timeline to show changes in the fauna over time. They draw their own megafauna scene for their classroom.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Tropical Treehouse

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students examine the tropical rainforest and issues involving the uses of rainforests. They explore the plants and animals that live in each level of the tropical rainforest. Students examine and discuss a case study involving the rights...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Ecosystems

For Students 6th - 12th
In this ecosystems worksheet, students complete a crossword puzzle with 35 questions about the different types of ecosystems and organisms in them.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Analysing Scientific Explanations for Megafauna Extinction

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students compare explanations for Australian's megafauna extinctions and identify reasons for popular acceptance of certain scientific explanations. They debate and analyze scientific explanations.