Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Greenhouse Effect

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Why does it get so hot inside of our cars in the summertime? The greenhouse effect! Lab groups experiment to see what happens to an ice cube enclosed in a jar and placed in sunlight as compared to an ice cube outside of the jar. They...
Lesson Plan
National Wildlife Federation

Ghost Town

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Around 93 percent of the reefs on Australia's Great Barrier Reef have been bleached, and almost one quarter of them are now dead. Scholars research the sea temperatures, especially around the areas with coral reefs, to make connections...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Going Local with Global Warming

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students examine climate change by using recent temperature records.  In this data analysis lesson students plot weather data and study the differences between weather and climate. 
Worksheet
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Climatic Changes

For Students 6th - 8th
In this weather instructional activity, middle schoolers read an excerpt describing the climate and extinction. Then they explain what the climate was like during the Age of Dinosaurs. Students also determine some factors that affected...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Understanding Climate

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders create two dioramas out of household materials to compare the influence of various factors that impact climate. Each group discuss how the change in factors influenced the climate, flora, and fauna of their area.
Lesson Plan
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Glacier Presentations

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

Mountain Pine Beetles

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students research and develop power point presentations that answer the question, "What is changing our forests?" In this ecology lesson, students research the niche of Pine Beetles and their increased effect on the forests in...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Climate Mime-it

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students pantomime new climate vocabulary words.  In this climate lesson plan, students go over new vocabulary words and their meanings.  Students form groups and pantomime these word's definitions.
Lesson Plan
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Chicago Botanic Garden

Impacts of Climate on Forest Succession

For Students 10th - 12th Standards
Part two in a series of four explores the effects of climate on succession or the changing of plant species in a forest. Groups review how to identify trees and then spend a day in the field collecting extensive data on trees to...
Lesson Plan
Space Awareness

The Big Meltdown

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Explore the world (our world) of melting ice caps. Why are these caps melting? What is the effect of melting ice caps? Dive into the ever-present issue of global warming with a resource that has learners looking at data and participating...
Lesson Plan
Polar Trec

Can Carbon Dioxide Act Like a Greenhouse Gas?

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
Ninety-seven percent of scientists who study climate agree that human activity is warming the planet. Learners explore carbon dioxide as a greenhouse gas, a gas causing this warming, through a hands-on experiment. Once complete, they...
Lesson Plan
Safe Routes to School

Pollution & Evolution

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Bring together a study of two major scientific topics with a lesson on the relationship between pollution and evolution. With the help of a PowerPoint presentation, hands-on activity. and class demonstration young scientists learn...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Odyssey 2050

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students view and respond to The Odyssey 2050 film. In this climate change lesson plan, students view the film and discuss ways to take action to stop global warming. Students complete several activities prior, during, and concluding the...
Interactive
Curated OER

Nowhere to Run

For Students 6th - 10th
In this environmental science worksheet, students explore the different climate change around the world and summarize them. They fill in the table provided.
Lesson Plan
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Project Jukebox

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students analyze an interview with the Climate Change Project Jukebox in order to help them undertand how to use a concept map. In this writing and climate change lesson, pairs of students log onto the Internet site for Climate...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Polar Day: Canada's Arctic Barometer

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Learners study Polar Day. In this climate change instructional activity, students use specific Internet sources to complete a webquest regarding Canada's Northern Region and how it acts a barometer.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What are the Challenges?

For Teachers Pre-K - 6th
Students discuss energy. In this energy challenges lesson, students read about greenhouse gas emissions and global climate change. Comprehension questions from the reading are provided. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Class Eco-war

For Teachers 5th - 11th
Students debate environmental issues. In this global issues lesson, students listen to lectures and conduct research on global climate change and discuss methods to sustain the global environment.
Lesson Plan
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Predicting the Future

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Young scholars examine how scientists predict the effects of global climate change. In this environmental science lesson, students participate in a discussion about using computer generated data to create climate predictions. Young...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Paleoclimates and Pollen

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students analyze soil for types of pollen to determine the probably climate conditions. In this earth science lesson, students make conclusions on what a climate is like based on soils samples. Students use a model soil...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Differences between Climate and Weather

For Teachers 4th - 7th
Students collect weather data over weeks, graph temperature data and compare the temperature data collected with averaged climate data where they live.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rising Temperatures Threaten Penguins

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Young scholars examine the continent of Antarctica, then read a news article about the decline in the Antarctic penguin population. In this current events lesson, the teacher introduces the article with a discussion and vocabulary...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lesson Plan: Global Warming

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore the concept of global warming. For this climate change lesson, 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 Greenhouse Effect in a Jar

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students explore climate change by participating in a physical science experiment. In this greenhouse effect lesson, students discuss the impact global warming has on our environment and how it works. Students utilize a glass jar,...