Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Siting Wind Power

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars analyze a variety of curves that describe the power extracted from the wind by a variety of commercially produced wind turbines. They utilize site specific topographic maps and political boundary data to evaluate and make...
Worksheet
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Boosting Your Memory

For Students 7th - 10th
For this memory worksheet, students learn about three different ways to memorize given information. They make up phrases to help remember lists and they create mental maps to remember terms. They put what they learned to the test and...
Lesson Plan
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How would an oil spill affect a Marine Sanctuary?

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students explore the concept of environmental stewardship. In this science instructional activity, students discover how scientists assess damages to the environment following oil spills. Students conduct a simulation of a public meeting...
Lesson Plan
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The Formation and Value of Temperate Grasslands

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students study the Temperate Grasslands biome of North America. They explain that it is an endangered ecosystem because the rich soils have been converted to farming in most areas. They view videos imbedded in this plan, then complete...
Lesson Plan
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The Marsh Land as a Changing Environment

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders continue their examination of the state of Connecticut. After taking a field trip, they identify the types of birds, plants, invertebrates and vertebrates who make their home in the salt marshes. In groups, they identify...
Lesson Plan
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Importance of Rice

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders explore the importance of rice in our world. For this rice farming lesson, 3rd graders discover how much rice we use on a daily basis. Students also discover myths from other cultures about rice. Students color code a map...
Worksheet
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Endangered Giant Pandas

For Students 3rd - 4th
In this giant panda activity, students read and complete 5 pages of information and activities pertaining to the giant panda. Students study maps of the area, read fun facts about pandas, cut and paste life cycle sequencing, and read...
Lesson Plan
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The Atmosphere Then and Now

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students recall details about the formation of the earth and early atmosphere. They name the layers of the atmosphere and compare amounts of atmospheric nitrogen, oxygen, and argon. Formulate questions about global warming.
Lesson Plan
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Salad Tray 3D Topographic Model

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore the characteristics of topographical maps. They examine the relationship of contour lines and vertical elevation. Students create a three-dimensional model of a landscape represented by a topographic contour map.
Worksheet
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Vocabulary for Dimensions of the Earth

For Students 7th - 12th
In this Earth dimensions learning exercise, students define 24 terms associated with contour maps, latitude, longitude, and time zones.
Lesson Plan
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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
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The Grand Canyon

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders study the Grand Canyon. They research the Grand Canyon and locate the Colorado River on the map of Arizona. They discuss erosion and read how sedimentary rock was formed. They view photographs of the Grand Canyon and...
Lesson Plan
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The Earth's Rain Forests

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners study the importance of the world's rain forests. In this rain forest instructional activity, students read about the role of the rain forests in the world's environment. Learners then write a formal letter to a member of...
Lesson Plan
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Science: What Is a Barometer?

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders discover how barometers help to predict the weather. Using newspapers, they examine the weather forecast and determine the meaning of high and low as they pertain to pressure. After making cluster diagrams, 4th graders...
Lesson Plan
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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
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Science: Hurricanes As Heat Engines

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
Learners conduct Internet research to track the path of Hurricane Rita. They record the sea surface temperature of the Gulf of Mexico during and after the hurricane and draw conclusions about how hurricanes extract heat energy from the...
Lesson Plan
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Science 4 Inquiry

Deforestation

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Young scientists observe deforestation from satellite photos and discuss the importance of forests to the global environment. They then simulate a plot of forest when farmers move into the area over the course of seven years. Finally,...
Lesson Plan
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Fossil Fuels (III), The Geology of Coal: Interpreting Geologic History

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students hypothesize about why various samples of coal have different characteristics. Pupils use information that they found during Internet searches to ascertain the validity of their hypotheses and verify the "story" of coal. ...
Lesson Plan
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Where in the World? The Basics of Latitude and Longitude

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Learners are introduced to the concepts of latitude and longitude. In groups, they identify the Earth's magnetic field and the disadvantages of using compasses for navigation. They identify the major lines of latitude and longitude on a...
Lesson Plan
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Plate Tectonics

For Teachers 4th - 6th
In this geology worksheet, students will cut a map of California along the San Andreas fault line to see how California might change in the future. Then students will compare a world map from 50 million years in the future with a present...
Worksheet
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Active Volcanoes, Plate Tectonics and the "Ring of Fire"

For Students 8th - 10th
In this volcanoes, plate tectonics and "Ring of Fire" worksheet, students view the location of volcanoes on a map of the Earth, they see the "Ring of Fire" and they locate the major plates of the Earth's crust. They use the map as...
Worksheet
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Plotting Earthquakes and Volcanoes

For Students 8th - 10th
In this earthquakes and volcanoes activity, students are given the latitude and longitude of earthquakes and volcanoes and they plot them on a world map. They answer questions based on their results.
Interactive
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Drought in Your State

For Students 6th - 10th
In this drought instructional activity, students study the "US Drought Monitor" and complete 8 short answer questions on the causes and effects of drought.
Lesson Plan
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Simulation: Yum, Yum Trees Simulation: Yum Yum Trees Conservation of Resources

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students weigh the uses of the yum yum tree against the problem of conserving them. In this conservation lesson, groups of students discuss and make suggestion to conserve the yum, yum trees. Students apply knowledge to renewable and...