Curated OER
Wave Math
Students identify the different factors affecting the size and shape of ocean waves. In this math lesson, students calculate wave speed and wavelength given a mathematical formula.
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What are Metamorphic Rocks and How are They Formed?
Even though the student handouts are not included in the write-up, this lesson contains the instructions for terrific activities to use when teaching middle schoolers about metamorphic rocks. First, they compare granite to gneiss and...
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Drip... Drop... Raindrops
Students demonstrate the steps of evaporation, cloud formation, and precipitation within the water cycle. They make and demonstrate how to use a hygrometer to record daily humidity and describe how rain, snow, and sleet form.
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Melts in Your Bag, Not in Your Hands
Students study how the sun transfers heat to the earth through radiation. They examine how animals absorb energy from the sun to warm their bodies by experiment with chocolate melting. They examine sun safety.
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Watercolor Ways
Students investigate the concept of being part of a global community. In this global community lesson, students learning the definition of stewardship as it relates to taking care of the Earth. They listen to the lyrics of the song,...
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Ocean Currents
Students examine ocean currents. For this investigative lesson, students examine ocean currents and the relationship between the ocean, our atmosphere, and the weather. They will create a model of an ocean current.
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World's Most Dynamic Force
Students explore the Earth's forces. They review an assessment task and its accompanying rubric. They classify ten items as long-term or short-term interactions of the Earth's components and rank the destructive impact of the forces. ...
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Winds of Destruction
Fourth graders discuss the problems that have arisen from the lastest string of hurricanes and tsuanamis. They watch a video about severe weather. After the film, 4th graders write four facts they found out about severe weather. ...
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Renewable and Nonrenewable Resources
Young scholars identify renewable and nonrenewable resources. In this earth science lesson plan, students construct a T-chart of renewable and nonrenewable resources.
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Erosion: Slip Sliding Away
Fourth graders investigate the causes of erosion. Through several demonstrations including one using sugar cubes and warm water, they observe the effects of erosion. In groups, 4th graders conduct similar experiments and record their...
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Greenhouse Effect: Pop Bottle Experiment
Students explore global warming by conducting a weather experiment. In this greenhouse gas lesson, students define the greenhouse effect and the impact on our ozone layer. Students utilize a soda pop bottle, floodlight bulb, thermometers...
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Greenhouse Gases: The Chemistry Behind the Culprits
Ninth graders investigate the effect of different gases in the atmosphere. In this chemistry lesson, 9th graders explain how these gases contribute to global warming. They suggest possible solutions to this growing problem.
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Wind Energy
Students explore wind energy by making a pinwheel to model a wind turbine. They experiment with their turbine by placing it in different locations for optimal energy.
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Getting A Charge Out of the Sky
Students investigate electricity from the sky. In this electricity lesson, students participate in an experiment to simulate the electric charges from the sky. Students discuss results.
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Understanding Tsunamis
Students discover the causes of tsunamis in oceans and fjords. They perform an experiment to discover how calving icebergs can create different wave patterns in the ocean and in a fjord. In addition, they draw a diagram to illustrate the...
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Making Waves: A Study of Earthquakes and Tsunami
Students examine plate tectonics and the causative effect of earthquakes. In this tectonics lesson students differentiate between the types of energy waves that cause earthquakes and tsunamis and how waves travel at different...
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Countdown to Disaster
Students discover the potential dangers of weather in their hometown. In this environmental lesson, students research Hurricane Hugo and the devastation it caused South Carolina in 1989. Students record weather data from...
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Tornado Chasers
Students explore how tornadoes are the most violent storms on earth. Raging at speeds of up to 300 miles per hour, their awesome winds can flip cars through the air like leaves, snap trees like matchsticks, and reduce entire towns to...
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Nice Angle
Students experiment with paper, light, thermometers and measurement to explore how the Sun's angle affects the temperature on Earth.
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All The Seasons
Students explore winter, spring, summer, and fall. In this science and technology lesson plan, students use "Kid Pix" to draw pictures that represent the four seasons.
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You're As Old As Ice!
Students study glaciers and their terminology. In this investigative lesson plan students get into groups and watch the life cycle of a glacier on a web site then answer questions. They will then use play dough to show how...
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For the Last 10,000 Years...
Learners study the National Estuarine Research Reserve System and discuss why they have important cultural artifacts. In this estuarine weather lesson plan students use the Internet and complete a worksheet.
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Dirt: Making Dirty Water Clean!
Fourth graders study soil and water. For this water lesson students work in groups and use a filter to clean water.
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Wind
Fourth graders watch an experiment that demonstrates the causes of wind. They design and make an original weather craft.