Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Earthquake Experiments

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students discuss the effects of earthquakes. In this earth science activity, students create earthquake models and earthquake-proof buildings. They construct their own seismograph.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Using the Synoptic Code for the Prediction of Water

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students construct a thermoscreen for the experiment. In this earth science lesson, students make observations and interpret them using synoptic codes. They predict the weather based on gathered information.
Lesson Plan
Polar Trec

Beacon Valley Weather

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
In Beacon Valley, katabatic winds regularly knock fit adults to the ground. The lesson compares the actual temperatures to the wind chill after factoring in katabatic winds in Beacon Valley. Scholars learn to calculate wind chill and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Fantastic Fossils

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students learn about the kinds of fossils and what scientists can learn from them.  In this earth science lesson plan, students are told how engineers and paleontologists work together.  Then students create a "fossil fondue"...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Basics of Earth Science

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students discuss and define the term "scientific theory." They work in small groups to draft an overview of one theory including details about the theory's evidence and significance.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Earth Day - Grow A Seed Garden

For Teachers K - 6th
Students discover how things grow and how they can take better care of the environment in this Earth Day instructional activity for the elementary classroom. The activity can be accomplished in one day and left in the sun until the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Origin of Life

For Teachers 9th - 10th
In this origin of life worksheet, students write answers to five questions. They describe characteristics of the first life forms and how scientists believe oxygen accumulated in the Earth's atmosphere.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Earth's Biomes

For Teachers 10th
Tenth graders examine characteristics and animals of terrestrial biomes. In this Earth's biomes lesson, 10th graders view a PowerPoint, take noes, sort pictures, research biomes, and create a diorama of a biome for presentation.
Lesson Plan
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PHET

Planet Designer: Martian Makeover

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Mars used to have liquid water, can you make it come back? Use the lesson and simulation to understand why Mars lost its magnetic field, why atmosphere is important, and what gravity has to do with it. This is the third lesson...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

High School EcoHouse Curriculum

For Teachers 9th - 12th
How has the level of carbon dioxide changed over recent years, and what is contributing it? Groups work together to research and present their findings in a creative way. Also built into the lesson is a visit to a sustainable house, but...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Layers of the Earth (Crust, Mantle, Inner and Outer Cores)

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Learners study the layers of the Earth.  In this Earth's crust instructional activity students complete an activity, divide into groups and diagram and define given terms. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Culminating Alternative Energy Project

For Teachers 10th - Higher Ed
Students work in teams to complete an alternative energy project. For this alternative energy lesson, students are assigned a city and decide on the most appropriate alternative energy source for their city. Students use maps from Google...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Earthquake Activity

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students design and build a vehicle using Lego. In this earth science instructional activity, students analyze the factors they need to consider when building their vehicles. They present their finished project in class.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Talking Trees: Earth Day

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students complete a tree poster activity to learn about Earth Day, stewardship, and the environment. In this environmental stewardship lesson, students read The Story of the Tree and discuss stewardship with trees. Students act out tree...
Lesson Plan
Maine Math & Science Alliance

Earth as a System

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Ecosystem, human body system, weather system. We hear the word system a lot, but what does it really mean? In the activity, pairs or groups of learners discuss how a bicycle is a system and then analyze objects in their classroom and...
Lesson Plan
Science Matters

Earthquake Building/Shaking Contest

For Teachers 6th Standards
Japan is one of only a handful of countries that constructs buildings that are almost earthquake proof. The 13th instructional activity in the 20-part series challenges scholars to build structures to test against earthquakes. With...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Testing and Refining Aircraft Design

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers design and make a flying device. They work in small groups to brainstorm ideas for the design of their device. They choose an idea or combination of ideas to use for their design and create a sketch of their design. The...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Classifying Plants and Insects

For Teachers K - 12th
Art and science come together in a lesson based on Flower Still Life by Ambrosius Bosschaert the Elder. Learners classify plants and insects in the painting by color, leaf shape, size, reproduction, and season of bloom.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Swimming with Crabs

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students explore Earth science by completing several graphic organizer activities in class. In this oceanography lesson, students research ocean inhabitants such as blue crab and oysters. Students complete graphic organizers about the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Using Newsprint as a UV Detector

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students investigate the effects of UV radiation. In this earth science lesson, students explain how the time of day relate to UV abundance on Earth. They determine if weather affects the amount of UV that Earth receives.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Energy Inspiration Document and Website Production

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders conduct a web quest to find information on types of energy found in US. In this earth science lesson, 7th graders investigate the environmental consequences of using these resources. They develop a creative presentation...
Lesson Plan
Alabama Learning Exchange

A Rockin' Investigation

For Teachers K - 2nd
Young scientists identify the rock cycle. In this earth science activity, students participate in web-based research to understand how sedimentary, metamorphic, and igneous rocks form. As a follow-up, they collect various rocks and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Dig In - Grow your own grub

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students monitor the growth of a plant over several weeks. In this earth science lesson, students plant a courgette plant, take digital photos, and upload them to the BBC gallery. They turn their photos into live animation...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Now We Teach Six Rs

For Teachers K - 4th
Students explore recycling.  In this ecology lesson, students sort classroom garbage into items that can be reused, reduced, or recycled.  Students brainstorm ideas for reusing items and discuss ways to celebrate Earth Day at...