Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Listening To The Prairie

For Teachers K - 1st
Young scholars investigate the concept of agriculture and how it is part of the ecology and economy of the United States. They participate in a number of different classroom activities intended to raise agricultural awareness. The...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Differences Between Ground and Air Temperatures

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students examine the differences between air temperature and ground temperature.  In this investigative lesson students find NASA data on the Internet and use it to create a graph. 
Lab Resource
Colorado State University

How Can Freezing Make Something Warmer?

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Crazy fact—freezing liquid actually gives off heat! Young scholars investigate the transfer of energy when liquids freeze using a chemical heat pack. The heat pack gives off heat as its liquid core freezes.
Interactive
American Museum of Natural History

Journey to Deep Sea Vents

For Students 6th - 12th
Take a deep dive into oceanography. The online interactive allows for learners to board a submersible to dive to the bottom of the ocean to investigate sea vents. On the way down, individuals see different marine life at different...
Lesson Plan
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Mary Pope Osborne, Classroom Adventures Program

Mummies in the Morning Egyptian pyramids, hieroglyphics

For Teachers 1st - 4th Standards
Visit the Magic Treehouse and take your class on a trip through time with a reading of the children's book Mummies in the Morning. Using the story to spark an investigation into Egyptian culture, this literature unit engages...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Climatic Changes

For Students 6th - 8th
Investigate the greenhouse effect and global warming with this weather activity: scholars describe the seasonal variations of temperature and day length at its greatest and its least. Then they describe the effects of El Nino and how...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Structure of the Earth

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders investigate earthquakes and volcanoes. They demonstrate fault lines with a folded piece of paper, conduct an erosion experiment, and construct a volcano using clay, baking soda and vinegar.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Earth Kids: Kindergarteners Taking Care of the Earth

For Teachers K
Students explore a variety of ways of how to care for the environment in the nine lessons of this unit. They observe how to be responsible "Earth Kids."
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Earth's History

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders investigate how fossils are formed. They analyze a photo of the Grand Canyon, and create a fossil cast and mold using plaster of paris and shells.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Structure of the Earth

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders examine the forces that are constantly acting on the Earth. They describe the theory of tectonic plates and demonstrate the two kinds of earthquake waves. They also examine the role of volcanoes in the structure of the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Earth's Revolution and Rotation

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders investigate the regular motions of the sun, Earth and the moon and explain how these are related to days, years, seasons, eclipses, tides and moon cycles. They participate in an exercise where they explore the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How We Impact the Earth

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students work in cooperative learning groups to create PowerPoint or KeyNote presentations on how humans impact the earth. This lesson can be accomplished in three different parts.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Weather and Oceans: Uneven Heating of the Earth

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Learners investigate what causes the heat on Earth.  In this Earth heating instructional activity, students experiment with different heat sources and determine where the Earth gathers the most heat.  Learners explore...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Earth's Hydrologic Cycle

For Teachers 1st - 12th
Learners examine the water cycle. In this hydrologic cycle lesson plan, students follow the provided procedures to demonstrate the how water moves around the planet through the dynamics of the water cycle.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Science NetLinks: Fossils and Geologic Time

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students investigate the development of the geologic time scale. Also, to introduce them to the major time periods in earth's history, as well as to the role fossils play in helping us understand this history.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Life Beyond Earth

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students investigate the solar system and what makes a planet habitable. They complete an online Webquest, simulate a NASA training program online, take an online quiz, answer discussion questions, and locate newspaper articles about the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Earth, Sun Mood and Stars Unit (Planets too!)

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders prepare five activities to do then show their energy saving skills.  In this investigative lesson students create five projects then participate in an energy saving demonstration. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Images of Our Changing Earth

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students identify and explain that remote sensing can detect changes on the Earth's surface that occur over time, and name at least three: urbanization, deforestation, and succession. They select a global change issue to investigate and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Investigating the Dynamic Martian Polar Caps

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students download NASA Hubble Space Telescope images of the Martian polar ice caps in summer and winter, and measure and compare various images of the changing Martian and Earth polar ice caps.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Happy Birthday, Earth!

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Students visualize the Earth's ecosystem at a specific time period and how Earth has changed over time. They create a detailed journal entry for a specific time period and create a birthday card to Earth.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Deep Sea Vents

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students study the vent and non vent deep sea and see the differences in habitats.  In this investigative lesson students complete a worksheet and work in groups.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What's Your Sign? The Science Behind The Zodiac

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students investigate the concepts dealing with the motions of celestial objects, the ancient origins of the Zodiac and the science behind the Zodiac.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Investigating Tropical Birds

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students investigate tropical birds. They write letters for rain forest preservation to protect tropical birds. They interview a bird professional from a local bird store or a zoo and discuss how to take care of a parrot. They use Kid...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Microscope Investigation

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Pupils explore physical science by participating in a science examination. In this microscope tutorial lesson plan, students read the book The Naked Eye and discuss the purpose for using a microscope in the field of science. Pupils...