Curated OER
The Weather
Students explore earth science by reading articles in class. In this weather identification lesson, students analyze weather science articles on the Internet and view their own local weather patterns as well. Students define a list of...
California Mathematics Project
Meteorology
See how estimation is essential to making temperature weather maps. Scholars use ratios and rates of change to estimate temperatures at locations where temperature readings have not been made. They connect this idea to linear functions.
Curated OER
Is the Hudson River Too Salty to Drink?
Students explore reasons for varied salinity in bodies of water. In this geographical inquiry activity, students use a variety of visual and written information including maps, data tables, and graphs, to form a hypothesis as to why the...
Curated OER
Weather, Data, Graphs and Maps
Students collect data on the weather, graph and analyze it. In this algebra lesson, students interpret maps and are able to better plan their days based on the weather reading. They make predictions based on the type of clouds they see.
Curated OER
Rivers, Maps, and Math
Students use maps to locate and label the major rivers of North and South America. Using the internet, they identify forests, grasslands, mountain ranges and other landforms on the continents as well. They compare and contrast the...
Curated OER
Interior of the Earth
Sixth graders identify and describe the composition and physical properties of the layers of the Earth. They also explain how scientists used the scientific process to know about the center of the Earth. Finally, 6th graders read a...
Curated OER
Principles of Flight: Where are We?
Students explore the concept of topographical maps. For this topographical map lesson, students discuss how airplanes know where to fly. Students use topographical maps to simulate a field trip on the computer.
Curated OER
Studying Snow and Ice Changes
Students compare the change in snow and ice over a 10 year period. In this environmental science lesson plan, students use the live data on the NASA site to study and compare the monthly snow and ice amounts on a map of the entire...
Curated OER
NIGHT AND DAY: DAILY CYCLES IN SOLAR RADIATION
Students examine how Earth's rotation causes daily cycles in solar energy using a microset of satellite data to investigate the Earth's daily radiation budget and locating map locations using latitude and longitude coordinates.
Curated OER
TE Activity: Nidy-Gridy
Middle schoolers make a grid and coordinate system map of their classroom as they investigate why it is important to have a common map making system. They look at how landmarks are used for navigating an area.
Curated OER
Cartography
Students research about cartography and how to be a cartographer. For this math lesson, students draw a map of their classroom. They use a robot to explore navigation using a compass rose.
Curated OER
Migration of the Neo-Tropical Songbirds
Fifth graders plot the migration of birds using Google Earth. In this lesson on bird migration, 5th graders work in groups to plot the migration of a group of birds using Google Earth. Students present and discuss their findings and look...
Curated OER
Science: Reading a Compass
Students demonstrate how to take bearings using a compass. In pairs, they select objects in the classroom then write down its first initial and bearing. They exchange papers and try to disciver their partner's object.
California Academy of Science
California's Climate
The United States is a large country with many different climates. Graph and analyze temperature and rainfall data for Sacramento and Washington DC as you teach your class about the characteristics of Mediterranean climates. Discuss the...
Curated OER
Infrared-Hot
Students describe how the sun heats the Earth, explain the nature of infrared light, explain how thunderstorms are formed and use infrared maps to predict severe weather.
Curated OER
Temperature High and Lows
Young scholars gather high and low temperature readings through email. In this temperature graphing lesson, students use a spreadsheet to input data for a graph. young scholars interpret the graphs to compare and contrast the data from...
Curated OER
Trouble in the Troposphere
Students Use data sets from MY NASA DATA to produce graphs comparing monthly and yearly ozone averages of several U.S. cities. They analyze and evaluate the data and predict trends based on the data. In addition, they discuss and...
Curated OER
Geography: Snow Cover on the Continents
Students create maps of snow cover for each continent by conducting Internet research. After estimating the percentage of continental snow cover, they present their findings in letters, brochures or Powerpoint presentations.
Curated OER
What's Its Slope
Students identify the slope of a lines.In this algebra lesson plan, students define the meaning of slope and write an equation given the slope. They graph linear functions using the slope and y-intercept.
Curated OER
High Mountain Retreat
Students explore and analyze atmospheric conditions for a high mountain retreat. They examine the relationship between altitude, atmospheric pressure, temperature and humidity at a particular location. In addition, they write reports...
Curated OER
Building a Scale Model
Third graders create a model of the solar system. In this solar system lesson plan, 3rd graders create a scale model of the solar system. Working in pairs students solve mathematical problems to correctly measure the distance each planet...
Curated OER
Clean Water vs. Dirty Water
Students study the importance of clean water to the survival of organisms and what activiities and material pollute water. They measure the temperature of water samples and create a class graph.