Activity
Newspaper Association of America

Cereal Bowl Science and Other Investigations with the Newspaper

For Teachers K - 12th Standards
What do cereal, fog, and space shuttles have to do with newspapers? A collection of science investigations encourage critical thinking using connections to the various parts of the newspaper. Activities range from building origami seed...
Assessment
Sunburst Visual Media

Clouds

For Teachers 5th - 9th Standards
Support science instruction with a combination of engaging activities and skills-based worksheets that focus on clouds. Learners take part in grand discussions, write an acrostic poem, complete graphic organizers, solve word...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Investigating Native Plants

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students explore Earth science by participating in a gardening activity. In this botany lesson, students discuss a group of non-native plants that would grow well in a school garden. Students complete a plant science graphic organizer...
Lesson Plan
US Department of Energy

Geothermal Energy

For Teachers 5th - 8th
With Earth Day quickly approaching, as well as many science fairs, why not challenge your class to investigate geothermal energy or other renewable energy resources? There are five driving questions explored in depth here, as well as...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sun and Shadows

For Teachers 4th - 5th Standards
Why do shadows look different in the summer than in the winter? What causes day and night? How can a sundial be used to tell time? Answer these questions and more through two engaging lessons about light and shadows. Fourth and fifth...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Plate Tectonics: An "Eggs"periment

For Teachers 3rd - 7th
Learners investigate plate tectonics by observing a cracked egg shell.  In this Earth science lesson, students draw borders of continents on an egg shell, only to watch it crack in a glass.  Learners record the breakup of the...
Activity
Curated OER

The Gopher Tortoise

For Teachers 3rd - 5th Standards
Can you believe the gopher tortoise was around when the dinosaurs were walking the Earth. Learn all about this creature that is one of Florida's most popular reptiles. Hands-on-activities and a glossary full of scientific terms...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Tic-Tac-Toe for Layers of the Earth

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders identify the different layers of the earth. In this earth science lesson, 8th graders choose a project to do from a given list according to their learning style. They present their finished project in class.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What's Down There?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Investigate the coral reefs around Mokolai Island, Hawaii by researching and writing about improving the reef ecosystem.  Students map threats to the ecosystem and use the list of key words to assist in their descriptions
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Pangaea Puzzle: Exploring the Tectonic Forces That Shape the Earth

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders follow in the footsteps of early scientists as they put the pieces of Pangaea back together and discovered the forces that create the variety of landforms and sea-floor features of our Earth.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Investigating the Soil

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students explore the Earth's crust by researching pH levels and acidity. In this environmental safety lesson, students identify the pros and cons of acidity within soil and how it affects plants. Students collaborate in a pH level...
Lesson Plan
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PBS

Climate Change as a Scientific Theory

For Teachers 8th - 12th Standards
Get your class thinking about climate change as a scientific theory. Guided by a handout, emerging earth scientists read articles and take notes about glaciers and sea ice. To conclude, they write an evaluation of the evidence for...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Floods

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students explore Earth science by answering study questions on-line. In this natural disasters lesson, students research Australia flood statistics over the past 40 years and identify patterns. Students utilize the web to view...
Lesson Plan
Energy for Keeps

The Energy Times

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Extra! Extra! Read all about past and present energy use in a classroom-made historical newspaper. Useful as a cross-curricular assignment between science, history, and language arts, the project is sure to get young journalists...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Cyclones

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students explore Earth science by researching natural disasters in class. In this cyclone instructional activity, students discuss the creation of cyclones and what their potential destruction can be in the wrong environment. Students...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sampling Rocks

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students explore Earth science by identifying types of rocks in their schoolyard. In this geology lesson, students collect a group of rocks from their playground and categorize them based on color, shape and size. Students read the book...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduction to Earth Sun Relationships Incorporating P.E.

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders investigate space science by performing physical activities.  In this solar system lesson, 3rd graders perform a relay activitiy with their class in which they race between different "planets".  Students define...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Fossil Fuel Sources, Usage and Alternatives: What are the Options?

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students identify the different sources of fossil fuels. In this environmental science lesson, students research about how these impact our environment. They explore renewable energy sources that could replace fossil fuels.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Building A Solar Still

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students investigate the water cycle by viewing an online video.  In this drinking water lesson, students create solar stills at their campus in order to purify water that is tainted.  Students view a video on their computers...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Gandhi's Ashrams and School Sustainability

For Teachers 2nd
Explore philosophy and religion by researching Gandhi. Lead your young students to investigate the life and accomplishments of Mahatma Gandhi by reading the assigned text. Your class will define sustainability and create a sustainable...
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...
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

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

Microscope Investigation

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