Unit Plan
Other

Digital Library for Earth System Education: Teaching Box: Essentials of Weather

For Teachers 9th - 10th
A suite of lessons focusing on the basic elements of climate and weather. Inquiry-based exploration of extreme weather events and the factors of weather including clouds, wind, air pressure, temperature, and the water cycle.
Activity
Science Buddies

Science Buddies: Observatory Satellite Measures Motion of Coronal Mass Ejection

For Students 9th - 10th
The sun sometimes releases huge bursts of electrified gases into space. These bursts are called coronal mass ejections (or CMEs). When CMEs are directed towards Earth they can generate auroras, the spectacular atmospheric displays also...
Handout
Rudiments of Wisdom

Rudiments of Wisdom: Science

For Students 9th - 10th
Browse this index to find fun, hand-drawn cartoons that simplify and explain many science topics, including atmosphere, evolution, fusion, static electricity, and time. Cartoons are created by engineer-turned-cartoonist, Tim Hunkin,...
Article
Other

Few: Human Impact on the Environment & Environmental Impact on Humans

For Students 9th - 10th
Human beings have an enormous impact on the natural environment, and ultimately on each other. The way we chose to house, clothe, shelter, and meet the needs for vital resources such as food, energy, and water, not only affect the...
Website
NASA

Nasa Star Child: The Sun

For Students 3rd - 5th
Get to know our nearest star with this introduction to the sun. Listen to the information in an audio file. Vocabulary words are linked to a glossary of terms. Features include links to other interesting facts and a printable version of...
Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Carbon Footprint Exercise

For Teachers 9th - 10th
A three-step assignment for students in introductory geoscience that asks them to calculate their carbon footprint during one specific week. The goal of the assignment is to increase student awareness of the various sources of energy...
Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Mn Step: Why Is the Sky Blue?

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students will learn about refraction and the scattering of sunlight as it enters the atmosphere, which causes the colors in light to separate, giving us blue skies and colorful sunrises and sunsets.
Activity
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Plant Cycles: Photosynthesis & Transpiration

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
What do plants need? Students examine the effects of light and air on green plants, learning the processes of photosynthesis and transpiration. Student teams plant seeds, placing some in sunlight and others in darkness. They make...
Website
University of Oxford (UK)

Oxford University: Faq: Physics of Rowing

For Students 9th - 10th
From the Department of Atmospheric Physics at Oxford University, this page gives a scientific look at the techniques involved in the activity of rowing. Discusses the concepts of propulsion, resistance, kinetic energy, and much more...
Article
University Corporation for Atmospheric Research

Ucar: Why Does Climate Change?

For Students 5th - 9th
Factors that have the power to change global climate can be natural, like volcanic eruptions and changes in solar energy, or caused by humans, like the addition of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere.
Unit Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Boiling Water Below Its Boiling Point

For Students 9th - 10th
Mars has such low atmospheric pressure that any water at the surface would boil away. In this activity, students see that they can get water to boil below its "typical" boiling temperature when they drop the pressure in a closed...
Lesson Plan
PBS

Pbs Learning Media: Environmental Public Health: Understanding Air: Air Pollution & Modeling Pollutants With Lego Bricks

For Teachers 5th - 8th
For this lesson, students learn about the chemical reactions that release various pollutants into the atmosphere and what happens when pollutants in the air are exposed to sunlight. They model incomplete combustion using LEGO bricks, and...
Lesson Plan
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Planting Thoughts

For Teachers 3rd - 7th
Students gain an understanding of the parts of a plant, plant types and how they produce their own food from sunlight through photosynthesis. They also learn about transpiration, the process by which plants release moisture to the...