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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Why Is It Hotter At the Equator?

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students investigate the different heating effects of sunlight. They conduct an experiment that demonstrates the way sunlight strikes the equator, the poles and other parts of the globe.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Learning About the Equator, The Seven Continents and the Four Oceans

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Students use a globe or map to locate the equator, oceans and continents. Using the internet, they spend time surfing through predetermined websites on continents and oceans. They write facts on different parts of the globe on index...
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Lesson Plan
University of Colorado

Terra Bagga

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
One way to identify possible volcanic activity on other planets is by testing the planet for magnetism. A science lesson begins with pupils constructing their own planet from a dead battery, magnets, paper, and tape before labeling the...
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Lesson Plan
Boston University

Scramble for Africa

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
In this fantastic simulation, your young historians take on the roles of imperialistic European countries in the nineteenth century and then "scramble" to carve up the continent of Africa! This is a very hands-on activity that will help...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter Fact Sheet

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
In this space worksheet, young scholars will read facts about Mars and the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. Students will also find 24 space related words in a word search.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Tracking an Active Sunspot Region

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders plot the location of a single active region for 12 days.  In this sunspot lesson plan students track an active region across the face of the sun. 
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Our Solar System and Seasons

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders investigate the relative diameters of planets and distances between them and the cause for seasons on Earth using the 5-E Learning Model. They appreciate the size and distances involved with objects in the real universe....
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rain Forest Adventures

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students identify and describe where tropical rain forests are located and examine the geographical correlation between rainfall and rain forest. They brainstorm what they think they know about tropical rain forests - where they're...
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Interactive
Curated OER

Student Exploration: Summer and Winter

For Students 3rd - 4th
In this recognizing the seasons online/interactive worksheet, students explore the Earth's positions and determine the summer and winter season. Students answer 21 short answer questions
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Atlantic Rainforest Weather Facts!

For Teachers 4th - 5th
In this rainforest fact worksheet, students learn about rainforest weather by participating in a question/answer group activity. There are 8 questions on small cards and 8 corresponding answers. Students with questions circulate...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Plotting Sunspot Activity

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Learners explore how to graph sunspots using a solar graph.  In this sunspots instructional activity students investigate sunspots and complete and evaluation worksheet. 
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Seasons in 3D: Student Exploration

For Students 5th - 6th
In this seasons exploration worksheet, students review vocabulary and answer prior knowledge questions, then use the Seasons in 3D Gizmo to complete exploration activities.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduction to Oceans

For Teachers 1st - 2nd
Students complete a variety of activities in preparation for a unit on oceans. They discuss their own proximity to the ocean, identify and name the oceans on a globe, and in small groups identify facts about a selected ocean. Students...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What is the Rainforest?

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Students investigate rainforests. In this rainforest lesson, students brainstorm on a KWL chart about what they already know about the rain forest. Students are shown pictures of the rain forest and describe what they see in the photos....
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

America's Heartland

For Teachers 8th - Higher Ed
Students complete geography and trade activities about global trade. In this geography and trade lesson, students read information to learn about absolute advantage, comparative advantage, trade factors, U.S. trade partners, and...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Is it Really Winter in Australia? It is June!

For Teachers 8th - 12th
The purpose of this activity is to determine how the location of a place on the Earth (hemisphere) determines what season that place is experiencing relative to the Sun's rays. Day one the pupils will be introduced to the terms equator,...
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Activity
It's About Time

Where are the Volcanoes?

For Teachers 7th - 12th Standards
Middle school geologists map the volcanoes closest to themselves, learn about map distortion, and infer possible future volcano locations. A focus on latitude, longitude, and volcanoes beneath the ocean helps connect the lesson. 
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Seasons and Day Time

For Students 8th - 10th
Learners label a diagram of the Earth rotating about the sun and indicate the direction of the rotation and the seasons at each location. They indicate the seasons, the poles, the hours of daylight at each pole, the direction of rotation...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Weather Lesson 1

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Learners describe and compare the layers of the atmosphere. They explain how to measure the temperature of the atmosphere. They also explain what causes the atmosphere to heat up in some places more than in others.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Map Making

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students use a tennis ball and paper to construct a student-made globe. They sketch in continents and major map features and then compare a flat map to a globe.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Waldseemüller’s Map: World 1507

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students take a closer look at historical maps. In this primary source analysis lesson, students examine the first world map produced by Martin Waldseemuller. Students complete the included map analysis worksheet and then write letters...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Save The Forest

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students summarize their role as a (particular) specialist. They select items needed for their research in the rainforest. Students explain the problems that their team is faced with and describe how the two assignments relate to botany.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Global Winds

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students extend their understanding of convection to consider global winds and the effect of the earth's rotation on the creation of patterns of prevailing wind direction.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Muppet Treasure Island

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students watch the movie "Muppet Treasure Island" and then taking on roles of characters in the movie answer navigational questions to try discover the location of a treasure hidden by the teacher.