Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water Conservation

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Open learners' eyes to the challenge of finding safe drinking water – something we often take for granted in our country. The PowerPoint presentation includes images, graphs, diagrams, and even a video to stimulate discussion on how we...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water in Earth's Hydrosphere

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Environmentalists test stream water for temperature, pH, and turbidity. Each group shares their information and then the class makes an overall evaluation of the water quality. A slide show sets the backdrop for the teaching portion and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Earth: Our Big Blue Marble

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students investigate Earth and its resources. In this Earth, space, and nature lesson plan, students collaborate to design presentations on the Earth, its cycles, and how humans have impacted the planet. Images, diagrams, and background...
PPT
Curated OER

Water, Oceans and Atmosphere

For Teachers 7th - 10th
There are some really nice diagrams and facts regarding the atmosphere and regulation of energy levels in this PowerPoint. It would be wise to double-check some of the details, but these slides would provide a nice visual recap of...
PPT
Glynn County School System

The Earth as a Planet

For Students 6th - 12th
What does our planet have in common with other planets? What makes it unique? Find out in a PowerPoint presentation highlighting many earthly facts! The lesson describes Earth's atmosphere in detail and adds many other important facts...
Activity
GLOBE Program

Observing Visibility and Sky Color

For Teachers K - 12th
What does a beautiful sunset have to do with the atmosphere? An inquiry-based lesson has learners make observations about the visibility and color of the sky during different time periods. They then relate their observations to...
Interactive
US Geological Survey

The Water Cycle for Schools: Intermediate Ages

For Students 3rd - 5th
Water can travel from the highest mountain tops to the largest oceans. Using an interactive, young scientists trace the movement using an interactive online resource. They follow the water cycle by reading pop-up explanations on a...
Lesson Plan
Space Awareness

Global Warming of the Atmosphere

For Teachers 7th - 9th Standards
Scientists know the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere today is higher than at any point in the last 800,000 years. Scholars learn about the amount of thermic radiation absorbed by air and what happens to the rest of the...
Lesson Plan
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Chicago Botanic Garden

Carbon, Greenhouse Gases, and Climate

For Students 10th - 12th Standards
Climate models mathematically represent the interactions of the atmosphere, oceans, land, sun, surface, and ice. Part two in the series of four lessons looks at the role greenhouse gases play in keeping Earth warm and has participants...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Connect the Spheres: Earth Systems Interactions

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Is everything really connected? Take your class on a walk outside, where they will make observations and write them down on a worksheet. Once they are back in the classroom, learners will work to determine if and how things like birds,...
Printables
US Geological Survey

Water Cycle Poster

For Students 2nd - 5th
How many parts make up the water cycle? How many things on Earth rely on water as a system? Learn more about the water cycle in an informative and colorful poster. Print and hang, or project the graphic in the classroom for optimal use.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Hydrologic (Water) Cycle

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners construct a model of the hydrologic cycle, and observe that water is an element of a cycle in the natural environment. They explain how the hydrologic cycle works and why it is important, and compare the hydrologic cycle to...
Activity
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NOAA

The Great, Glowing Orb What You Will Do: Make a Solar Heat Engine

For Students 6th - 8th Standards
How is solar energy able to move wind and water to control the climate? Scholars explore the concept of solar energy in the first of 10 activities in the Discover Your Changing World series. They follow instructions to build homemade...
PPT
Curated OER

Earth Materials Module

For Teachers 9th - 12th
This slide show progresses through a comprehensive review of the grounding principles of earth science. Get down and dirty with the details of fossil fuels! Help your geologists to have a rock solid understanding of the rock cycle. The...
PPT
University of Texas

Heat Transfer and Energy Balance

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learn about conduction, convection, and radiation with an illustrative presentation. It includes slides about atmospheric movement and how it affects the climate, solar radiation, and how latent heat can form storms. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Outgassing

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students demonstrate the concept of outgassing and to explain the origins of the earth's atmosphere. They perform a simple experiment using glass jars, two antacid tablets, and some water. This experiment does a good job in demonstrating...
Lesson Plan
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Chicago Botanic Garden

Greenhouse Gas Emissions – Natural and Human Causes

For Students 7th - 9th Standards
Part three in the series of seven has pupils discussing the different greenhouses gases, learning about the carbon cycle, and then watching a short video about the carbon cycle. Based on their knowledge, individuals complete a greenhouse...
Printables
National Weather Service

The Water Cycle

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Looking for a full-color, labeled water cycle diagram? You found one! From evaporation to precipitation to plant uptake and everything in between, it's all here and beautifully illustrated. 
Worksheet
Curated OER

Looking at the Water Cycle

For Students 5th - 6th
In this Looking at the Water Cycle worksheet, read an explanation of the water cycle and fill in missing words. Students also create a poster about the water cycle, deliver a weather forecast, and research further questions.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water Cycle Activities

For Teachers 4th Standards
Explore the water cycle in all aspects with a resource packed full of activities and lessons. The 37-page packet comes with vocabulary, a game, writing prompts, printables, and opportunities to journey through the stages in the water...
Lab Resource
Colorado State University

Can it Really Rain Fish and Frogs?

For Teachers 6th - 12th
You've heard of it raining cats and dogs ... but what about fish and frogs? It turns out, one scenario is much more likely than the other! Intrepid weather investigators examine the curious behavior of waterspouts using a leaf blower,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Earth's Atmosphere and Temperature

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore the layers of earth's atmosphere and conduct an experiment to identify carbon dioxide. They construct models using styrofoam to represent molecules in the atmosphere's layers. To discover how sunlight efffects...
Lesson Plan
National Wildlife Federation

Quantifying Land Changes Over Time in Areas of Deforestation and Urbanization

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Is qualitative or quantitative research more convincing when it comes to climate change? In the eighth activity during this 21-part series, scholars begin by performing a quantitative analysis of deforestation and urbanization. Then,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Much Water is Available in the Atmosphere for Precipitation?

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students explore the relationship between the amount of water in the atmosphere available for precipitation and the actual precipitation observed by satellite. They examine seasonal changes in precipitation. They practice using Internet...