Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Controlling the Flow of the Colorado River: A Study of Dams

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students research and map the Colorado River and its dams and predict the effects of a dam on an area. They suggest reasons a dam would be built and compare the Colorado River system with other major river systems within the US and...
Lesson Plan
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The Geography of Tornadoes OR

For Teachers 5th - 7th
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.
Lesson Plan
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Rock Cycle

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders participate in a Rock Cycle game to gain an understanding of the cycles that form metamorphic, sedimentary and igneous rocks.
Lesson Plan
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The Forecast Factory

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students role play weather forecasting activities. They investigate weather forecasting processes such as equations, data analysis, announcing by role playing in a large lecture hall.
Lesson Plan
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Look At What Nature Has Done!

For Teachers 4th - 7th
Students examine how easy it is to break rock. They investigate weathering and erosion in a number of activities.
Lesson Plan
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Land Use in Australian Agriculture

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders research and map agricultural practices of Australia. They complete a worksheet about their research.
Lesson Plan
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Louisiana Purchase

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Pupils use maps to locate and describe the area purchased by the Louisiana Purchase. In groups, they write a letter to Thomas Jefferson in which they evaluate the topography, climate and geography of the land. They determine the land's...
Lesson Plan
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LOSING GROUND

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Students will observe wind erosion and how crop residue prevents erosion.Point out the three kinds of fields to the students. Do as much or as little instruction as needed to explain the pan with crop residue. Conservation tillage...
Lesson Plan
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How Do You Dew?

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students examine how the processes of condensation and evaporation occur. They describe the relationship between heat energy, evaporation and condensation of water on Earth. They give examples of the processes of evaporation and...
Lesson Plan
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The Water Cycle

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Learners list the nine places on earth where water is found. They define the terms cycle and water cycle. Students explain how energy from the sun powers the movement of water molecules through the water cycle. They name and describe...
Lesson Plan
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Monsters of the Deep

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students describe major features of cold seep communities and list the organisms that are typical in these communities. In this deep sea environment lesson students work in groups and research their given cold seep group. 
Lesson Plan
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The Robot Explorer

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students design a robotic vehicle to explore underwater caves. In this robot technology lesson, students brainstorm, research, and report about a robotic vehicle design capable of sensing objects and taking appropriate actions to avoid...
Lesson Plan
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The Making of a Coat

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Students read the story A New Coat For Anna and discuss their knowledge on how to make a coat. In this reading and coat making lesson plan, students discuss coat making and listen to a speaker that spins thread to make coats.
Lesson Plan
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Plant Power

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders discuss the role of plants on Earth's biological system. In this life science lesson, 7th graders explain the process of transpiration and its importance in establishing Earth's climate patterns.
Lesson Plan
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Phases of the Moon

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students research and identify the phases of the moon. They consider the moon's rotation, as well as that of the earth and sun. They write a description of their research and present it to the class.
Lesson Plan
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Investigation 6 - Dinosaur Extinction

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders research and analyze theories on why dinosaurs became extinct. They need to find clues as to what the cause may have been. They record the evidence that they find to support their theory on the Dinosaur Extinction Theory...
Lesson Plan
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Ground Water: Construct a Model Aquifer

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students recognize that one source of drinking water is ground water located in aquifers. They create a model of an aquifer and summarize their experience in a report.
Lesson Plan
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Rocks, Rocks, Rocks

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students are introduced to how the different types of rocks formed. As a class, they are read a book about rocks and create a list of what they already know about them. Using examples of rocks they find around the school, they discover...
Lesson Plan
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Hold on Tight!

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students explore the close connection between plant roots and the soil in which they grow. They investigate the roots of plants, make models of plant roots using pipe cleaners, and examine photos and images to explore the connection...
Worksheet
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Absolute Ages of Rocks

For Students 9th - 12th
In this ages of rock learning exercise, students review the processes involved with determining the ages of rocks which includes the radioactive decay of carbon-14. This learning exercise has 5 matching and 5 short answer questions.
Lesson Plan
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Demonstrating Erosion in Action

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
Young scholars easure and record volume of water, then measure and record mass of soil. They explain the effects of the following in controlling erosion: Contouring, cover crop, strip cropping, reforestation, inter-seeding.
Lesson Plan
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Meteorology (Condensation)

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders define condensation and evaporation. They identify and describe the steps in the water cycle. They ask questions to end the lesson.
Lesson Plan
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Daisyworld: Stella Mac or PC

For Teachers 11th - Higher Ed
Students investigate Daisyworld, a very simple planet that has only two species of life on its surface - white and black daisies, and bare ground. They construct a Stella model of Daisyworld and perform guided experiments to explore the...
Lesson Plan
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Writing about the climate

For Teachers 11th - Higher Ed
Students research the contributing factors to the Earth's paleoclimate. They determine the relevant climate data and use it to construct a science argument. In the process, they access data, capture images of the data plots, and...