See how Earth's temperature would change if the Sun's brightness increased or dimmed or if Earth's albedo was different.

As viewed from space, the Earth appears beautiful and serene. As you well know, however, here standing on Earth, it's complicated! Complex, that is. And, it's constantly changing. Often changes on Earth happen so slowly it would be...

In this lesson, students will understand that temperature changes can cause density changes in water and in air.

This unit contains a series of lessons that allow young scholars to explore the effect of sunlight on Earth's natural surfaces of sand, soil, rock, and water. In addition, students explore how the color and material of a surface affects...

Students are guided in how to build their own weather station that will measure temperature, humidity, precipitation, atmospheric pressure, and wind direction and speed.

Students perform many inquiry activities related to Earth's orbit. Included are recording daily temperatures, observing the sun's path over several weeks, tracking sunrise and sunset times, and angle of sunlight. Diagrams make lessons...

[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Covers metamorphic rocks, which form from previous rocks exposed to heat and/or pressure.

In this investigation, students make a simple model of how gasses can form from decaying material. They will also explore the effects of temperature on gas formation.

Students act as citizen scientists and take and record the local temperature, and compare it with national readings.

Discover the hottest place on Earth, how this record is determined, and some other places that can be called extremely hot using different criteria.

A suite of lessons lead inquiry-based exploration of melting sea ice and evidence that it is affecting sea level, namely glacial evidence, geologic evidence, fossil evidence, and isotopic evidence.

This site provides information on grassland biomes such as temperature, precipitation, and vegetation.

This instructional activity introduces and describes the main types of erosion (i.e., chemical, water, wind, glacier and temperature). Students learn examples of each type of erosion and discuss how erosion changes the surface of the...

This article talks discusses the climbing temperature and how it is affecting our lives here on earth. It examines El-Nina, global warming, and the greenhouse effect.

Discover thoughts about the Earth's changing climate and how these changes may impact people and the environment.

Say good-bye to cold temperatures and short days, spring is here!! Mud puddles, blossoms, songbirds are just a few things that call us outdoors during this season. Start here for some cool ideas to celebrate spring!

The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) offers a section focusing on frequently asked questions about global warming. Learn what causes global warming, if the earth is really getting hotter, whether or not there is cause for...

This resource discusses the causes and effects of global warming.

In this lesson plan, students will trace the flow of water in the environment, investigate simulated effects of global temperature change on oceanic levels, evaluate changes within the water cycle, and explain several different...

This video segment adapted from First Light explains why the highest peak in the Pacific, Mauna Kea, is an ideal site for astronomical observations. Featured are new telescope technologies that allow astronomers to explore the universe...

Learners are introduced to the basics of the Earth's weather. Concepts include fundamental causes of common weather phenomena such as temperature changes, wind, clouds, rain and snow. The different factors that affect the weather and the...

Why is the earth just the right temperature to support life? The answer is the greenhouse effect, and you can learn more about it using this resource.