UAF Geophysical Institute
System Interactions: The Lorax and the Truffula Tree
If the Lorax were to write a letter, what would he write? Introduce your class to systems and feedback loops through the whimsical stylings of Dr. Seuss. Learners take on the Lorax's point of view to write a letter, among other activities.
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Dateline: El Niño
Students explore El Nino and take the role of a reporter gathering the facts for a news story. Reports are presented orally, like a newscast, written or in whatever form the teacher prefers.
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Tracking a Hurricane
Students play the role of amateur meteorologists and track a hurricane. In this hurricane lesson, learners follow a hurricane by tracking its coordinates on an overhead map. Students work in small groups to place dots on the map showing...
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Is Global Warming Affecting Hurricanes?
In this hurricane worksheet, students use data charts showing the number of hurricanes and the severity of these hurricanes to determine if global warming is causing an increase in hurricanes. This worksheet has 2 short answer questions.
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Wind Energy
Students explore wind energy by making a pinwheel to model a wind turbine. They experiment with their turbine by placing it in different locations for optimal energy.
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What Causes Irregular Temperature Patterns?
Students examine common trends in climate across the U.S. They identify the anomalies in hot-cold temperature differences in the U.S and locate them on the map using latitude and longitude coordinates.
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Troical Atlantic Aerosols
Learners explore the effect aerosols have upon he weather and climate. They observe NASA satellite images to explore and draw conclusions about aerosol transport. From studying the images, students track the path of aerosols. They...
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High and Low: Pressures and Fronts
Students investigate basic information about high- and low-pressure fronts and how they affect the weather. They observe weather patterns and cloud formations. Students study the basic pattern of movement of high- and low-pressure...
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Contrails and the Climate
In this contrails and climate worksheet, students read a short article about the effects of contrails on the weather and the climate. They answer 5 questions about the article.
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Trees: Are They Thriving or Surviving?
In this trees survival lesson plan, 8th graders discuss what trees need to grow, brainstorm things that could adversely affect tree growth, and compare characteristics of thriving trees vs. surviving trees. Students learn about the...
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If You Can’t Stand the Heat
Young scholars design and build their own solar cooker. In this math lesson, students determine the relationship between the angles of the sun, reflection and cooking time of the solar cooker. They test their project, collect data...
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Understanding Cloud Formation
Learners view a demonstration that simulates cloud formation. They read a poem about clouds, participate in a class demonstration using warm water and ice and write a paragraph summarizing their observations.
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Shining the Light on Skin
Students investigate the relationships between certain environmental factors and levels of exposure to sunlight. The variables of location, time of year, and day, and the weather which affect the intensity of the sun are explored in this...
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Science: Suddenly Snow
Students engage in snow-related activities during the first winter snowfall. After explaining the elements needed for it to snow, they preserve snowflakes on frozen slides and observe them under a microscope. Then, they write diamante...
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Hurricanes
Students use the internet to research the characteristics of hurricanes. Using this information, they read about past hurricanes and use a weather map to trace current disturbances in the oceans. They also discuss hurricane safety and...
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The Geography of Tornadoes OR
Students learn some basic facts about tornadoes and map two selected tornado statistics by state, and observe, analyze and speculate about the pattern(s) created by the completed map.
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Reasons for the Seasons
Sixth graders conduct and analyze a survey that explores public perceptions about the reasons for seasonal change. They measure the changing length of days, observe shadows and discuss how the Earth's axis of rotation affects the seasons.
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Hottest US Cities Quiz
In this online interactive geography quiz worksheet, students respond to 20 identification questions about the hottest cities in the United States. Students have 4 minutes to finish the timed quiz.
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Coldest US Cities Quiz
In this online interactive geography quiz worksheet, students respond to 20 identification questions about the coldest cities in the United States. Students have 4 minutes to complete the quiz.
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Seasons
First graders create a KWL chart about the four seasons. In this four seasons lesson plan, 1st graders continue the chart by watching videos and drawings.
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Express Yourself
Sixth graders write to Key pals. In this description lesson, 6th graders describe a place to their key pals and the pal has to draw a pictures based off their description. They also create a Fun Facts Worksheet about their...
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The Shape of Things
Fourth graders develop their writing skills. In this paragraph structure instructional activity, 4th graders research natural disasters, compile their findings, create mobiles and write stories based on the mobiles.
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Changes Close To Home
Students interview the senior citizens in their community. While interviewing them, they identify perceptions they have about the local climate. Using the internet, the compare the results of the interview to those of public thirty...
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Science: Hurricanes As Heat Engines
Students conduct Internet research to track the path of Hurricane Rita. They record the sea surface temperature of the Gulf of Mexico during and after the hurricane and draw conclusions about how hurricanes extract heat energy from the...