First graders listen as the teacher reads a story involving cross-continent traveling. Students collect a random sample by tossing an inflatable globe and recording whether they touch land or water each time they catch the globe in order...

Young scholars experience and participate in a journey through a "Voyage" exhibition of the Solar System and the frontier it covers. They build a dynamic model of the Earth and Sun. Descriptions are given on the relative sizes of the Sun...

Students investigate where volcanos come from. In this volcano lesson plan, students watch videos do Internet research and participate in experiments to discover the cause of volcanos.

Students explore cycles in nature. In this cross curriculum agriculture lesson, students define "cycle" and research weather and planting folklore. Students make a bracelet in which individual colored beads represent the many "cycles" of...

Learners explore the earth's atmosphere, weather, and climate. They begin class with a discussion about weather patterns, atmosphere, and the layers of the earth. After the class discussion, students rotate through four stations to...

Students explain the greenhouse effect. In this global warming instructional activity, students participate in an activity where they experience how greenhouses gases work and how they contribute to global warming. Students complete a...

Sixth graders investigate the phases of the moon. In this moon phase lesson, 6th graders discover that the moon changes in a cycle as it orbits Earth. Students label pictures of moon phases and keep a moon phase journal. Students...

Students define and read an article on polar energy.  In this polar energy lesson, students answer questions about the article.  Students participate in activities related to isotopes, half-life and radiocarbon.  Students...

Fourth graders study the details of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake including the fires that lasted for three days. They participate in discussion describing what they feel the city looked like after the earthquake and fires. They...

Fourth graders, after viewing a video on "The Future" Fossil Fuel grade, participate in an energy consumption simulation game in order to analyze how consumption, population, and choice of resource affect the availability of future...

Learners, after researching and brainstorming about aquifers and locating aquifer maps of Texas, participate in the building of a model of an aquifer complete with a pumping station. They also answer a variety of questions at the...

Young scholars explore basic cloud types and the weather associated with each one.  In this earth science lesson, students participate in numerous activities including going outside to observe the clouds they see, making a...

Students investigate craters and marea. In this crater and marea instructional activity, students conduct an experiment to create craters. Students participate in a dance activity.

Fourth graders discuss how to accurately measure weather, gather materials in order to make instruments, and build weather instruments in which they measure and record different aspects of weather for a five-day period.

Ninth graders participate in a simulation of a select scientific team from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

First graders examine the human environmental impact and discover ways to lessen effects. They create a pollution damage flow chart and write down what they think Mother Earth might say. They create inventions from recyclable materials.

Young scholars discuss decomposition, bacteria, fungi and other microscopic organisms. They participate in an experiment to grow fungus on bread. As the fungus colonies grow, students observe them under a microscope to identify and...

Young scientists identify the rock cycle. In this earth science activity, students participate in web-based research to understand how sedimentary, metamorphic, and igneous rocks form. As a follow-up, they collect various rocks and...

Sixth graders participate in mapping and other activities to understand why ancient civilizations developed as they did. In this ancient civilization lesson, 6th graders recognize that there were three important climate zones and...

Where does the water we use come from? To understand the concept of a watershed, class members study the water cycle and then engage in an activity that simulates a watershed.

Volition, or will-power, is the focus of a lesson that brings forth the Native symbol, the Circle of Life, to instill the importance of responsible decision-making. Scholars take part in six activities that empower them to reflect on...

First graders explore culture by researching U.S. history. In this American Indian lesson, 1st graders discuss the geography of Kansas and the different Native American tribes that inhabited the state and the types of homes they lived...

First graders use their observations to describe daily and seasonal cycles. through a demonstration using a suspended ball and flashlight, they determine the time of day in various locations. Next, 1st graders participate in a...

Middle schoolers are able to explain the suspected causes of relatively recent climate changes, specifically the observed global warming. They discuss how unusual or extreme global warming disrupts the balance of the earth's geo-spheres.