Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Crowley's Ridge: An Upland in the Lowlands

For Teachers 4th - 6th
This clever lesson combines elements of geography, art, literature, and storytelling. Pupils take a close look at the six geographical regions of Arkansas, and pay close attention to Crowley's Ridge - which is one of the six. In groups,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Plate Tectonics Day 3 Sea Floor Spreading: Evidence for Continental Drift

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students are introduced to Sea Floor Spreading and how it provides evidence for Hess's and Deitz's theory of Continental Drift. They use paleomagnetic data to calculate the rate of Sea Floor Spreading.
Lesson Plan
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NOAA

Exploring Potential Human Impacts

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
Arctic sea ice reflects 80 percent of sunlight, striking it back into space; with sea ice melting, the world's oceans become warmer, which furthers global warming. These activities explore how humans are impacting ecosystems around the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Arkansas: A Changing Climate, a Changing Land

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Here is a lesson on the climate zones and geography of Arkansas. In it, learners look at maps (embedded) of different climate zones found throughout Arkansas. They engage in discussions regarding how global warming and climate change is...
Activity
American Museum of Natural History

Finding Fossils

For Students 6th - 12th
How does one go about finding fossils? Find out with an informative webpage that looks at the digging process, showcases rocks and common fossils, helpful tips, and a list of archeological do's and don'ts. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Good Vibrations Remote Sensing data Collection: Thermal Emission Spectrometer

For Teachers 4th - 8th
The Mars Global Surveyor spent two years creating a mineral map of the planet Mars using thermal emission spectrometry. To help young astronomers understand this remote sensing instrument, have them simulate how data is collected and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Relative Dating - Telling Time Using Fossils

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students use fossil range charts to explain relative dating. They graph for ammonites, marine organisms that went extinct at the same time as dinosaurs.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Look at those Leaves!

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students observe and measure tree leaves.  In this leaf lesson students do on a "leaf walk" then use the leaves they find to complete a few activities. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Impact Craters

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students investigate the factors affecting the size of a crater. In this space science instructional activity, students collect data from the activity and graph them. They explain how velocity of impact relate to crater size.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Stream Quality Assessment

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students investigate many of the factors that affect water quality. They take measurements and water samples at a local stream and evaluate the health of their community's watershed. They write a report detailing their findings.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Marine Animals: Stranded on the Coast

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Students identify marine animals that could become stranded due to coastal features and currents. They plot data on worksheets for locations of sea turtles actually beached or stranded. After plotting their points, they hypothesize...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Customized Topographic Maps and Models

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Young scholars explore the information depicted on topographic maps. They construct a 3-D topographic map of a local area. They go on a field trip to the depicted area and compare the 'real world' with their models.
Lesson Plan
Smithsonian Institution

Watching Crystals Grow

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Amazing science can sometimes happen right before your eyes! The class gets cozy as they watch crystals grow. They use Epsom salts, rocks, and food coloring to create crystals. They'll observe the entire process, documenting every step...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Plate Tectonics

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students research separate elements of the theory of Plate Tectonics, then share that information with each other, drawing conclusions from the culminated information.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Hunting Invertebrate Fossils in the Classroom

For Teachers 2nd - 8th
Students acquire a general knowledge of fossils and paleontology, the study of evidence of life in the past and identify the major invertebrate groups (phyla) commonly found in the fossil record.
Worksheet
Curated OER

Digging Into Science Lesson Plans

For Students 5th - 7th
In this biology worksheet, students identify and write the various species that are still present today. Then they define evolution using three words. Students also describe what a fossil is and give some examples related to a particular...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What's the Difference?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students investigate volcanic processes at convergent and divergent tectonic plate boundaries. They read and analyze diagrams, complete a worksheet, and write an essay.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Acid Neutralization Lab

For Teachers 11th - Higher Ed
Students discuss and design a lab to measure pH of limestone, pyrite, limestone-pyrite mixtures and their control. They have their labs approved by the instructor before they begin. Students preform the lab and explore the acid-base...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Building Up, Breaking Down

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students investigate how rocks are modified into construction materials. In this building up and breaking down lesson plan, students explore what happens to building materials over time and how people modify natural materials. Students...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Relative Dating-Telling Time Using Fossils

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students explore how to read fossil range charts. They develop an knowledge of the strengths and weaknesses of the fossil record. Students become familiar with the concepts index fossil and fossil range. Students use bar graphs to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Impact Craters: Holes in the Ground!

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students simulate crater formation through a lab activity. In this space science lesson, students calculate how much energy is transferred during meteorite impact. They identify different factors affecting the size and depth of craters...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

I Robot, Can Do That

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine how underwater robots can be used to assist scientific explorations. They read and discuss an article, conduct Internet research, complete a worksheet, and present an oral report.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mineral Scavenger Hunt

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students complete a scavenger hunt worksheet as they find examples in their classroom, at home, etc., of minerals. Excellent worksheet!
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Create a Classroom Exhibit: Rocks and Minerals

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students bring in rocks and minerals from home. They observe them and describe them carefully, completing a worksheet. Finally, a classroom exhibit is created.