Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Learn: Atmospheric Science Explorers

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Learning modules created by teachers for teachers to increase the "knowledge of and interest" in the atmospheric sciences. Modules include background information, hands-on activities, and assessments. Modules cover topics such as ozone,...
Website
University Corporation for Atmospheric Research

Ucar: Atmospheric Science Explorers: Global Climate Change

For Students 9th - 10th
A detailed overview of global climate change, with explanations of Earth's climate change, the carbon cycle, ecosystems, and greenhouse gases, and how the movements of matter and energy impact on climate. All information is reinforced...
Lesson Plan
Other

Digital Library for Earth System Education (Dlese)

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This resource provides materials for teachers on a huge array of topics. Search site by topic, grade level, and desired output (such as lesson plan, case study, assessment or tutorial). Site is focused on earth science, geography, and...
Website
American Geosciences Institute

American Geosciences Institute: Earth Science Week

For Students 1st - 9th
This site includes learning resources and activities for Earth Science Week 2016. The goal of the week is to "engage young people and others in exploring geoheritage throughout the Earth systems, including the geosphere, hydrosphere,...
Handout
Encyclopedia of Earth

Encyclopedia of Earth: Environmental Chemistry: Carbon Cycle

For Students 9th - 10th
Article explaining the importance of carbon as the basis for life, carbon dioxide's role in photosynthesis and respiration, carbon in the ocean and lithosphere, the impact of human activities on the carbon cycle, carbon that seems to be...
Lesson Plan
University Corporation for Atmospheric Research

Ucar: Elementary Globe: Earth System in a Bottle

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
If you have seeds at home, try this activity to help kids learn what a seed needs to grow. Students will create experimental conditions in terrariums to study what plants need to live. They will learn about the importance of the...
Lesson Plan
American Geosciences Institute

American Geosciences Institute: Earth Science Week: Geoscience and Petroleum Careers

For Teachers 9th - 10th
In this activity, students think about how various real-world careers relate to personal interests and Earth's systems- the geosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere.
Activity
American Geosciences Institute

American Geosciences Institute: Earth Science Week: Dangerous Atmosphere

For Students 5th - 8th
For this activity, students research what types of severe weather their county has had over the past 50-60 years. They will look at the severity of these events and the number of injuries and deaths they caused. They will then decide...
Activity
Khan Academy

Khan Academy: Activity: Living in the Extremes of the Biosphere

For Students 9th - 10th
In this activity, you'll describe what you think it might be like for humans to live in the extremes of the biosphere. Think about the challenges associated with living either underwater or in the upper atmosphere. Also, think about what...
Activity
American Geosciences Institute

American Geosciences Institute: Earth Science Week: Surficial Features

For Students 9th - 10th
Using a surficial features map, students see the connections between those features and other Earth systems. They will consider the interactions of the geosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, and atmosphere.
Lesson Plan
American Geosciences Institute

American Geosciences Institute: Earth Science Week: Look Up!

For Teachers K - 1st
Get ready to set a course for sky exploration. The following activity is designed to help students learn to listen, read, and communicate in both written and oral formats about the sky.
Activity
American Geosciences Institute

American Geosciences Institute: Earth Science Week: Chemistry of Burning

For Students 6th - 8th
In this activity, students use pipe cleaners and foam balls to build a model of a hydrocarbon molecule. They then modify it to demonstrate the chemical reaction that happens when the hydrocarbon is burned.
Interactive
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution: Global Carbon Cycle

For Students 9th - 10th
Interactive learning activity examines the global carbon cycle and describes the exchanges of carbon between the Earth's atmosphere, oceans, land and fossil fuels.
Website
US Environmental Protection Agency

Epa: Greenhouse Gas (Ghg) Emissions

For Students 9th - 10th
Earth's atmosphere contains greenhouse gases. Find out what these gases are and where they come from. Also link to other information about how greenhouse gases contribute to climate change.
Handout
Encyclopedia of Earth

Encyclopedia of Earth: Physics & Chemistry: Carbon Dioxide

For Students 9th - 10th
Explains what carbon dioxide is, where it is found, sources of it, and describes human activities that contribute to carbon depletion and increased levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. (Updated: February 22, 2013)
Lesson Plan
University Corporation for Atmospheric Research

Ucar: Comparing Planetary Gases

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Use jelly beans to compare the compositions (amounts of different gases) of the atmospheres of Earth, Mars, and Venus.
Activity
PBS

Nova Teachers: Einstein Revealed: What's Your Wavelength: Classroom Activity

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Investigate the wavelength properties of visible light and the scattering effects of the earth's atmosphere on different wavelengths.
Activity
University Corporation for Atmospheric Research

Ucar: Learn: The Greenhouse Effect

For Students 9th - 10th
A detailed overview of the greenhouse effect, with explanations about Earth's atmosphere gases referred to as greenhouse gases, and the factors that influence the heat-trapping ability of a greenhouse. All information is reinforced...
Lesson Plan
American Geosciences Institute

American Geosciences Institute: Earth Science Week: Mapping the Atmosphere

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Young scholars explore weather maps to study the atmosphere.
Activity
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Distorted Disturbances

For Teachers 4th - 7th
Students pass around and distort messages written on index cards to learn how we use signals from GPS occultations to study the atmosphere. The cards represent information sent from GPS satellites being distorted as they pass through...
Lesson Plan
University Corporation for Atmospheric Research

Ucar: The Sun Earth Connection: Sunspots and Climate

For Teachers 5th - 9th
Through graphing data and interpretation, young scholars learn about sunspots and their effect on the climate of our planet.
Interactive
Scholastic

Scholastic: Diagramando a La Ciencia

For Students 3rd - 5th
Fun interactive Spanish site where students will be able to review science vocabulary related with the earth, atmosphere, respiratory system, flower parts and fish anatomy. It provides the English version and different levels of difficulty.
Activity
Science Museum of Minnesota

Science Museum of Minnesota: Air Cluster

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Interesting site with links to activities about wind and air in many forms. Browse the different activities and investigations on the properties of air on the toolbar to the left of the page.
Handout
University of California

Ucmp: Creating an Earth System: Interactions in the Earth System

For Students 9th - 10th
A brief description of the four spheres of the Earth, with an activity where students brainstorm interactions among them.