Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Weather Emergency Safety

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners identify different types of weather emergencies that may happen during the seasons. They list the steps involved when taking cover and fleeing dangerous weather patters. A comprehensive list of service agencies that can...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

It Comes In Waves

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students investigate the behavior and different origins of tsunami waves, and they then research and chart the path of certain tsunamis from recent history using the Internet, maps and firsthand accounts.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Defining Drought

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine the hydrologic impacts of drought. Humans can change the course of the water cycle, to some extent, to meet their needs, but can they do so without imposing risks on the plants and animals?
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Buildings Have Lives, Too: Disasters and Their Effect on People

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students research natural disasters and their lasting effect on both people and the environment. In this environmental science lesson, students complete a group project on a natural disaster of their choosing. Students examine multiple...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Examining the Effects of Pollution on Ecosystems

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students examine the different types of tests used to measure the environmental effects of hazardous waste. They work together to determine the impact of pollution on different ecosystems. They read a case study and answer questions to...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Earthquakes

For Students 5th - 6th
After reading an article on earthquakes and tsunamis, students answer a series of multiple choice questions about what they have learned. All answers can be found within the article, making this a good way to prepare for reading...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Earthquake Damage

For Teachers 7th - 10th
Students identify that shaking may result in damage in the form of structural failure, soil liquefaction, and landslides. They also identify that earthquakes can cause damage that disrupts people's lives. Finally, students view a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Dynamic Earth

For Teachers K - 5th
Students show how earthquakes affect sea waves. In this tidal waves lesson students use a rubber mallet on a table to create waves in a box on top of the table. They experiment with striking the mallet in different locations on the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Weather Wizards II

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders explore weather. They follow the weather forecasts in the media and on the web. Students explore various facets of weather and create their own weather forecast. They prepare a multimedia stack.
PPT
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Auroras

For Students 9th - 12th
Learn the science behind one of the most beautiful acts of nature. A comprehensive lesson explores the causes and characteristics of auroras. The instruction also explains the differences among auroras and what the differences indicate...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Earth is a Changin'

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students view examples of different types of erosion. In this erosion lesson, students discuss the different types of erosion and how erosion changes Earth. Students explore erosion and the effect it has on engineering.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Defining Drought

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine the hydrologic impacts of drought. They look at drought from a variety of prespectives. Students first focus on the scientific definition of drought, including weather patterns, water cycles, water requirements by plants...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lead Detection

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore one method for the detection of lead in soil. The detection of the presence of lead in soil can be determined sensitively using inexpensive swabs. Pupils collect several spoonfuls of soil from various parts of their...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Shape of Things

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders develop their writing skills. For this paragraph structure lesson, 4th graders research natural disasters, compile their findings, create mobiles and write stories based on the mobiles.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

El Niño ~ The Return of El Niño

For Teachers 7th - 12th
El Niño sure creates a stir when it comes around! Why not stir up your earth science class with this data analysis activity that examines the temperature and precipitation over the 2002-2003 water year. A tracking chart is provided...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Erosion

For Teachers K - 12th
Students examine soil erosion and what causes it.  For this soil lesson students complete several experiments on soil erosion and the weathering process. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Waves Lesson Plan

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students demonstrate an understanding of tsunamis and possible causes.  In this investigative lesson students view a video and explore earthquakes and movement of tectonic plates. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Tsunami

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners examine what causes tsunamis and why they all behave differently.  In this tsunami lesson students complete a group activity after viewing a video. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Are You Ready to Shake

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars examine earthquakes and tsunamis. In this Earth science lesson, students investigate the causes and hazards associated with earthquakes and tsunamis.
Worksheet
Curated OER

The Little Ice Age

For Students 9th - 10th
In this Little Ice Age worksheet, students read about changes in weather and temperature resulting in changes in rain fall and glacier movement. Students answer three critical thinking questions about the Little Ice Age that occurred as...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Weather Records

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students write newspaper articles based on weather records set around the world. Students read and discuss weather records and their results, then write a newspaper article about how the weather records have affected people around the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

LIGHTNING MYTHS AND FACTS

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students compose lightning safety rules and explore facts and fiction about lightning. They examine the cause of lightning when a channel nears an object on the ground, a powerful surge of electricity from the ground moves upward to the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Tsunamis by the Book

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Young scholars use the Internet and other sources to investigate tsunamis. They construct books listing several tsunami facts and cite their sources. They read their books to another class.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Floods

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students investigate how hurricanes impact a stream flow.  In this floods lesson students predict the impact of storms on animals and interpret data.