Curated OER
Plants Releasing Water
Third graders investigate how water is released from different plants into the atmosphere. They observe and investigate two types of plants with domed lids with condensation and communicate those observances and inquiries on an in-class...
Curated OER
Planetary Weather
Students study the weather on other planets in our solar system. In this planetary weather lesson students create a display of the different weather conditions on the other planets.
Curated OER
Create a Cloud in a Jar (Hands-on Version)
Students examine the conditions necessary for cloud formation. In this clouds lesson students complete an activity that shows them atmospheric pressure.
Curated OER
Surface Meteorological Observation System (SMOS)
Young scholars investigate local surface weather conditions. They log weather conditions for thirty days, develop a graph, plot cloud cover, and compare/contrast the graphed lines of various weather factors.
Curated OER
How Do Weather Conditions and Lunar Cycles Affect Fishing Success?
Students use weather measuring devices to record and study weather conditions at different locations, during different times. They attempt to draw conclusions about the relationship between weather conditions, lunar cycle and fishing...
Curated OER
Weather in Your City
Students observe weather conditions of a particular city. Multiple intelligences are explored within this lesson plan. They locate their particular city on a United States map. Each student writes about their discoveries in his/her...
Curated OER
Earth's Energy Budget - Seasonal Cycles in Net Radiative Flux
Students attempt to understand seasonal variation by viewing images of the energy received by the earth. In this weather lesson, students view images from NASA of the influx of energy from the sun and make predictions about resulting...
National Wildlife Federation
I’ve Got the POWER! Solar Energy Potential at Your School
Should every school have solar panels? The 19th lesson in a series of 21 has scholars research the feasibility of using solar panels at their school. They begin by gathering data on the solar energy in the area before estimating the...
Virginia Department of Education
Charles’ Law
Searching for a relatively interesting way to demonstrate Charles' Law? Here is a lesson in which pupils heat air inside a flask and then cool the flask to quickly cool the air. They make observations about what occurs during the cooling...
Curated OER
Cloud Observations using GLOBE Protocols
Students observe which of ten types of clouds are visible and how much of the sky is cloud covered. They see that by observing clouds, we can get information about temperature, moisture, and wind conditions in different places in the...
Curated OER
Prairie Adaptations
Twelfth graders consider the survival of prairie plants. They examine how some tallgrass prairie species are adapted to the conditions of their ecosystem. They make a prediction of how a species might change given new conditions.
Curated OER
How Do Plants and Animals Change the Environment Around Them?
If you have elodea and snails in your classroom aquarium, or if you have access to a pond with these organisms, your young biologists can set up a controlled experiment to determine how certain ecosystems respond in light and dark...
Curated OER
Micro-Climate
Atmosphere aces investigate the microclimates that exist within a larger area. They use a thermometer to record the varying temperatures and identify the microclimates on a map that they have drawn. This exercise helps them to understand...
Curated OER
Tracking El Nino Conditions
Students identify major changes in ocean temperatures during an El Nino season. In this climate lesson students complete an Internet assignment using datasets to determine periods of El Nino.
Curated OER
Sea of Air #2
In this air worksheet, students name gases found in the air, what gases are removed from the air during different processes, and determine what happens to air if there are changes in pressure, volume, or temperature. This worksheet has 1...
Curated OER
Clouds
Students read the "Cloud Book" by Tomie de Paola and create a map of clouds identifying atmospheric conditions, color and type, and what type of weather each cloud indicates. Emphasis is placed on the use of Kidspiration.
Curated OER
Human Activity and Cllimate Change
Students perform activities to explore the affect of human activity on climates. They examine graphs of GHG emissions and their increases that are associated with human activity. Using a Global Climate Changing website, students explore...
NOAA
Climate, Weather…What’s the Difference?: Make an Electronic Temperature Sensor
What's the best way to record temperature over a long period of time? Scholars learn about collection of weather and temperature data by building thermistors in the fourth installment of the 10-part Discover Your Changing World series....
Colorado State University
What Is a "Model"?
Model the transfer of energy during a typical 24-hour period. Young scholars use a game-like approach to learning the patterns of heat transfer through the day and night. Groups of four exchange different tokens as the energy transfers...
National Security Agency
Are You Game? A Lesson Connecting Fractions and Probability
Exactly how fair are the board games children grow up playing? Young mathematicians investigate this questions as they work their way through this five-lesson series on basic probability.
Curated OER
Iron Fertilization - Pumping Iron
The theory that adding iron to ocean water may increase phytoplankton ability to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere is examined. The Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute is monitoring conditions off the California coast to...
Curated OER
Surface Meteorological Observation System (SMOS)
Learners monitor local surface weather conditions for at least 30 days. They interpret the data by graphing it and detemining percentages.
Curated OER
Is the Earth Warming? a Test of the Effect of Increased Carbon Dioxide on the Thermal Properties of Air
Students investigate the environmental and economic effects of increased carbon dioxide (CO2) content in the atmosphere.
Curated OER
Planet Research
Students 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.