Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Weather with Lewis and Clark: Then and Now

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders discuss how to accurately measure weather, gather materials in order to make instruments, and build weather instruments in which they measure and record different aspects of weather for a five-day period.
Lesson Plan
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The Water Cycle and Sources of Pollution

For Teachers 4th - 12th
Young scholars make an island that has a construction site on it. They spill siulated pollution and trash on top of the island and then water it to simulate rain. They will observe how the rain washes dirt, sand, and pollution off the...
Lesson Plan
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Causes and Effects of ENSO

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars analyze monthly sea surface temperature data from the Pacific Ocean to determine if the period is an El Nino or a normal year. They recognize signs to see if there are any patterns that signal either occurrence. Satellite...
Lesson Plan
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Water Resources Engineering

For Teachers 9th - 11th
Students illustrate the chemical differences between surface and tap-water. They investigate the common chemical and physical parameters relevant for water quality and gain hands on experience with water quality testing. They enhance...
Worksheet
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Is Global Warming Affecting Hurricanes?

For Students 7th - 12th
In this hurricane worksheet, students use data charts showing the number of hurricanes and the severity of these hurricanes to determine if global warming is causing an increase in hurricanes. This worksheet has 2 short answer questions.
Lesson Plan
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Conditions at Sea

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students examine wave formation. For this wave lesson, students discover how waves are formed and how the weather at sea is predicted. Students study ocean vocabulary and understand the Beaufort Wind Force Scale.
Lesson Plan
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Differences between Climate and Weather

For Teachers 4th - 7th
Students collect weather data over weeks, graph temperature data and compare the temperature data collected with averaged climate data where they live.
Lesson Plan
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Rocket Me into Space

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders study the concept of thrust and how it propels rockets into space. They discover why airplanes cannot travel into space while considering the engineering techniques use in designing rockets. They look at how space...
Lesson Plan
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Hands-On Weather Data Collecting

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders study weather in their community, in the United States, and around the world. They use thermometers, the beaufort wind scale, and simple weather symbols to measure and record the weather outside their school. They also look...
Lesson Plan
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Letters to the Man in the Moon

For Teachers 4th - 10th
Young scholars write and communicate mathematically with their classmates. They discuss the mathematics that it took to allow us to conquer space and land on the moon. They sketch a plaque they would leave on the moon.
Lesson Plan
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Using A Winogradsky Column to Analyze Microbial Communities

For Teachers 4th - 11th
Students use easily obtained materials to study ecological succession in a microbiological community. They collect water samples from outdoor sources in plastic bottles to observe and record changes.
Lesson Plan
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It's Okay to Exhale: Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students will observe the differences between photosynthesis and cellular respiration. Then they observe the links due to climate changes and relate how climate change affects their lives.
Lesson Plan
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The Quiz Game

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students are split into teams. Students travel to the stars lesson on a given web site and gather information about stars. Students then choose a category for the tag board that the teacher has made. The teacher asks a question and...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Human Impact on the Environment

For Students 7th - 9th
In this environmental science worksheet, students complete a crossword puzzle with 26 questions about human impact on the environment.
Lesson Plan
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What Does Plant Biology Teach Is About Climate?

For Teachers 8th - 10th
Students examine what factors influence climate.  In this investigative instructional activity students compare the factors that influence climate and how they effect tree growth.
Lesson Plan
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What are the Challenges?

For Teachers Pre-K - 6th
Students discuss energy. In this energy challenges lesson, students read about greenhouse gas emissions and global climate change. Comprehension questions from the reading are provided. 
Lesson Plan
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Troical Atlantic Aerosols

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners explore the effect aerosols have upon he weather and climate. They observe NASA satellite images to explore and draw conclusions about aerosol transport. From studying the images, students track the path of aerosols. They...
Lesson Plan
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Let's Take a Rock Apart

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Students take a crushed rock and sort the remains of the rock minerals into different categories based on the different properties. In this sorting lesson plan, students learn what makes up a rock and how to sort something into categories.
Lesson Plan
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Using the Very, Very Simple Climate Model in the Classroom

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students study the relationship between the average global temperature and carbon dioxide emissions.  In this weather lesson students develop a test scenario using a model then read and interpret graphs of data. 
Lesson Plan
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Endangered Species 1: Why Are Species Endangered?

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners are oriented to the plight of endangered species and to help them explain and gain perspective on human issues that continue to endanger species and threaten our global environment.
Lesson Plan
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Does Humidity Affect Cloud Formation?

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers use NASA's S'COOL database to identify factors that affect cloud formation.
Lesson Plan
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Exploring the Night Sky: Fall/Winter

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students explain how moon phases occur. They explain three ways that the night sky has been used through history. Students locate some of the constellations in the night sky. They discuss stories and myths surrounding stars.
Lesson Plan
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Visualizing the Greenhouse Effect and Global Warming

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students discover the differences between global warming and the greenhouse effect through hands-on classroom experiences. They use a 2-D globe and picture cards to identify the causes of both. Students visualize the human influence on...
Lesson Plan
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Why is the Sky Blue?

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students explore diffusion or scattering of light. In this physics instructional activity, students explain why the sky is blue and sunsets/sunrises are red.