Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Disappearing Sand

For Teachers 5th - 9th
Students discover what sand looks like, how sand dunes form and what minerals can be found in sand. They also examine how beach erosion occurs. They explore how to stay safe at the beach.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Minerals, Crystals, and Gems

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students discover the relationships between minerals, crystals and gems. They bring in rocks that they find at home, in the schoolyard, etc. and examine them and attempt to identify them. They set up a classroom exhibit that includes all...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Climate and Cultures of Africa

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students gain an understanding of the relationship between climate and culture in the sub- Saharan Africa. Students will complete short exercises pertaining to the various cultures of Africa and the climate in which they live....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lift and Drag: Principles of Flight and the Soaring Imagination

For Teachers 2nd - 8th
Learners construct models of early gas balloons and gliders. In this balloon and glider lesson, students create models of early gas balloons and gliders, discover how the forces of lift and drag effect aircraft in flight, and put on...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Plants and Animals: Partners in Pollination

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students identify the plant parts and bee structures that are involved in pollination. They simulate pollination in a group activity and process the information.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Earthquakes

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders explain that earthquakes are sudden motions along breaks in the crust called faults. They list the major geologic events including earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and mountain building, which are the result of crustal plate...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Climate Systems - Which Location Is Best For Me?

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students study the difference between weather and climate.  In this climate systems instructional activity students search the Internet for the parts of the Earth's system, gather climate data and complete a challenge scenario. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Get Smart

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students study sustainability and smart growth.  In this geography lesson plan students identify the benefits that are expected from smart growth. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Saving the Bay

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students investigate water pollution prevention. In this ecology wastewater lesson, students activate prior knowledge about sewage, then view a video explaining the waste water sewage system used in the San Francisco Bay area. Students...
Unit Plan
Intel

Energy Innovations

For Students 8th - 12th Standards
Collaborative groups examine the importance of energy resources on quality of life by researching different energy sources and alternative energy sources through data analysis. They make a comparison of different countries and cultures,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

"Hard" Data from Space

For Teachers 9th - Higher Ed
Students use satellite images to analyze development patterns within Baltimore City. They prepare a land cover map for Baltimore indicating the prevalence of impervious surfaces and explore how these patterns affect water pollution.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Power of Germs

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students view the film, Guns, Germs, and Warfare. They create projects based on the impact of germs on the development of societies and countries.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Water Cycle

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers describe the water cycle. Students identify the processess in the water cycle. They draw an illustration of the water cycel with arrows showing the path water takes through the cycle. Middle schoolers label condesation,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Build-A-Horseshoe Crab

For Teachers K - 6th
Students discover many facts about horseshoe crabs. Students identify the main body parts of horseshoe crab. They explore the habits of the horseshoe crab and their importances to the ecosystem. Adaptations for younger students are...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Fossil Fuels vs. Alternative Fueling Systems

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders brainstorm the differences between the fossil fuels that people use in their transportation now and what they could use to minimize greenhouse gas emissions. They use a variety of techniques from webquests to writing...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Oceans and Weather

For Teachers 4th - 9th
Pupils analyze the impact the ocean and its currents have on weather. In this oceans and weather lesson, students analyze data comparing inland and coastal weather, and analyze satellite data for evidence of El Nino.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

SETI WebQuest and the Drake Equation

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students complete a WebQuest where they research the Internet for extraterrestrial intelligence. In this extraterrestrial lesson plan, students also explore how the Drake Equation can predict the occurrence of life elsewhere.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Energy Efficiency Ambassadors

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students compare two products that provide the same function but require different amounts of energy.   In this energy efficiency lesson students research and demonstrate energy efficiency in action and how it applies to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What are the Challenges?

For Teachers Pre-K - 6th
Students discuss energy. In this energy challenges lesson plan, students read about greenhouse gas emissions and global climate change. Comprehension questions from the reading are provided. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Weightlessness

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Students use a coffee cup to demonstrate weightlessness. After a lecture/demo, students read an article on free-fall. They perform a simple experiment which helps them explain the concept of weightlessness.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Expanding Universe

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students explore the expanding universe.  In this science lesson plan, students use balloons to model the expansion of the universe. Students take measurements of the balloon expansion and answer questions directed to develop...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sea Connections

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students, after locating different marine habitats on a globe, play a card game about ecosystems, food webs and organisms.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

From Above

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Young scholars use maps and other geographic representations, tools, and technologies to acquire and report information from a spacial perspective.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Different Kind of Rock Star: Part 2

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Students examine our society's fascination with Mars.  In this journalism lesson students read an article that outlines the various ways Mars has captured our imagination and are given topics for discussion and a chart to...