Lesson Plan
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Watercolor Ways

For Teachers K - 2nd
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

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students examine ocean currents. In this investigative lesson plan, students examine ocean currents and the relationship between the ocean, our atmosphere, and the weather. They will create a model of an ocean current.
Lesson Plan
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World's Most Dynamic Force

For Teachers 5th - 8th
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. ...
Lesson Plan
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Winds of Destruction

For Teachers 4th
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

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students identify renewable and nonrenewable resources. In this earth science instructional activity, students construct a T-chart of renewable and nonrenewable resources.
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Erosion: Slip Sliding Away

For Teachers 4th
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...
Lesson Plan
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Greenhouse Effect: Pop Bottle Experiment

For Teachers 5th - 7th
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

For Teachers 9th
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

For Teachers 4th - 5th
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.
Lesson Plan
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Getting A Charge Out of the Sky

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Students investigate electricity from the sky. In this electricity instructional activity, students participate in an experiment to simulate the electric charges from the sky. Students discuss results.
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Understanding Tsunamis

For Teachers 6th - 8th
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...
Lesson Plan
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Making Waves: A Study of Earthquakes and Tsunami

For Teachers 10th - 12th
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

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
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...
Lesson Plan
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Tornado Chasers

For Teachers 6th - 12th
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

For Teachers 4th - 6th
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

For Teachers K
Students explore winter, spring, summer, and fall. For 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!

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students study glaciers and their terminology.  In this investigative lesson 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...
Lesson Plan
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For the Last 10,000 Years...

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students study the National Estuarine Research Reserve System and discuss why they have important cultural artifacts.  In this estuarine weather lesson students use the Internet and complete a worksheet.
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Dirt: Making Dirty Water Clean!

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders study soil and water.  In this water lesson students work in groups and use a filter to clean water. 
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Wind

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders watch an experiment that demonstrates the causes of wind. They design and make an original weather craft.
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Perpetual Motion

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers discuss movement of air currents and then experiment to create visible models of air currents. Students connect the model to weather patterns.
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Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders discuss the weather and how it changes during the different seasons. They listen to a read aloud of Judy Barrett's, Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs. They write and illustrate a news article about the weather that is found...
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Cloudy Days Are for Reading and Writing

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students consider a variety of well-known proverbs that refer to the weather. They research the scientific validity of these proverbs, conduct interviews about public perception of the proverbs and summarize their findings in writing.
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Seasons' Journey : Putting it All Together

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders complete a diagram of the revolution of the earth around the sun and write a one paragraph explanation of the factors that cause seasons.