Core Knowledge Foundation
A Time for All Seasons - Winter
As the days get shorter and a chill enters the air, it's time to start teaching your little ones about the wondrous winter season. Through a series of teacher demonstrations, whole-class read alouds and discussions, and hands-on...
NASA
The Atmospheric Filter
What is the difference between a comet and a meteoroid? An educational lesson includes five demonstrations of how the atmosphere can inhibit our ability to measure many things in the galaxy.
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...
Bowland
Sundials!
Time to learn about sundials. Scholars see how to build sundials after learning about Earth's rotation and its relation to time. The unit describes several different types of possible sundials, so choose the one that fits your needs — or...
National Wildlife Federation
Why All the Wiggling on the Way Up? CO2 in the Atmosphere
The climate change debate, in the political arena, is currently a hot topic! Learners explore carbon dioxide levels in our atmosphere and what this means for the future in the 11th installment of 12. Through an analysis of carbon dioxide...
Curated OER
Asteroids
Students study asteroids and how their size relates to a possible danger of one colliding with Earth. In this asteroids lesson students see how big an asteroid has to be to cause destruction to Earth.
Curated OER
Soil Investigations
Students examine the basics about soil. In this soil lesson students describe the physical properties of soil and explain what soil profile is.
Curated OER
Carbon Cycle Capers
Students examine the carbon dioxide cycle in the atmosphere. In this element lesson, students discuss the relationship between carbon dioxide on Earth and the plants that store it. Students play a game to ensure their understanding.
Curated OER
Cloudy vs. Clear
Learners analyze line plots. In this weather lesson using real NASA data, students discuss how weather affects the way the Earth is heated by comparing different line plots.
Curated OER
Investigating Properties of Water: Temperature
Investigate how temperature affects the density of water and stratification that occurs in bodies of water when temperatures vary. Water of differing temperatures is given different colors to see the layers that form. The lesson is meant...
Curated OER
Small Pox Scare Wks 1-2
Students identify basic similarities and differences between B- and T-lymphocytes, stressing function, location, and role. They complete a worksheet that requires them to apply knowledge about ELISA and antibodies.
Curated OER
Folktales and Ecology: Animals and Humans in Cooperation and Conflict
Story elements such as conflict, character analysis, resolution, and moral are discussed and charted as elementary children read folktales involving animals. An element of science is also introduced as learners discover what a keystone...
Curated OER
Soaring in the Solar System
Who doesn't love learning about space? This presentation provides a mnemonic device and a song to help young students remember the names and basic facts about each of the nine planets in our solar system.
Curated OER
Perspectives on Animals
Engage your class in a discussion about humane treatment of animals by recognizing the basic rights of all races, religions, classes, etc. Have volunteers stand on a milk crate without shoes until they become uncomfortable as an example...
Curated OER
Renewable Energy Sentences
Students construct sentences using nouns and verbs from a "renewable energy" word bank. In this cross curriculum ecology and sentence structure grammar and mechanics lesson, students listen to the book Our Earth: Clean Energy by Peggy...
Curated OER
Deserts
What is it like in the desert? Inform your class on what makes a desert, the type of climate they'll find there, and the interesting plant and animals that live in the desert environment. This is a text-rich presentation that will...
Curated OER
Utah Weather
Fourth graders explore Earth science by researching weather patterns on the Internet. For this Utah climate lesson, 4th graders discuss why each climate on our planet is exposed to different weather settings and how they are measured....
Curated OER
Dendrology Scavenger Hunt
Students examine leaves that are assigned to them. In this earth science activity students work in groups and find examples of leaves that the instructor asks for.
Curated OER
Edible Coal Mining
Learners explore the concept of bituminous coal and the role it plays within our world. In this economic and earth science lesson, students discover and model the extraction methods with hands-on activities. Learners also...
Curated OER
Our Treasured Trees
Students discuss natural resources and renewable resources with trees being considered renewable resources which need special attention. In this Earth science lesson plan, students write a list of reasons for why it would be good to stop...
Curated OER
Mineral Lab
Eighth graders examine the physical properties of different minerals. In this earth science lesson, 8th graders explain the uses of minerals in their daily lives. They complete the mineral identification table during the lesson.
Curated OER
Weather Instrument Use and Application
Eighth graders measure temperature, wind speed and pressure using Skymaster SM-28. For this earth science lesson, 8th graders collect data and record observations taken from outdoors. They explain why numerical values are different in...
Curated OER
Weather Elements and Instruments
Eighth graders identify the different weather elements. In this earth science instructional activity, 8th graders explain the difference between relative humidity and dew point. They discuss the different instruments used to predict...
Curated OER
Soil Comparison and Analysis
Students perform tests on different soil samples. In this earth science lesson, students classify the soil into groups according to test results. They write a lab report following a certain criteria.