Curated OER
Dimming the Sun
Young scholars collect, interpret and analyze weather variable data. They describe atmospheric variables that affect evaporation. Students create graphs and analyze the information collected.
Curated OER
Addendum to the Written Curriculum: Measuring Solids
Students use standard rulers to measure the length of common classroom items - such as pencils, books, desk tops - in inches and centimeters, and measure weight in pounds. They also answer math questions, such as "How long is the front...
Curated OER
Fossil Fuel and the Ticking Clock
Students study energy sources to learn about fossil fuels and environmental concerns. In this energy sources instructional activity, students watch demonstrations for various energy examples. Students find hidden pennies, make a bar...
California Academy of Science
Carbon Cycle Poster
Humans can have a big impact on the environment, specifically the influence they have on the carbon cycle. First, the class will define and discuss each of the earths four major spheres, the biosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and...
Center Science Education
CO2: How Much Do You Spew?
Split your earth science or environmental studies class into groups and give each a scenario card. Scenario cards describe the lifestyles of 10 different fictitious families, focusing on their energy usage. Carbon dioxide emissions are...
Curated OER
Human Activity and Cllimate Change
Students perform activities to explore the affect of human activity on climates. They examine graphs of GHG emissions and their increases that are associated with human activity. Using a Global Climate Changing website, students explore...
Curated OER
Smog Be Gone
Learners begin the instructional activity by identifying greenhouse gases. In groups, they observe and record the effect of the gases on the atmosphere and the temperature of the Earth. They participate in activities that describe the...
Curated OER
Photosynthesis: An enlightening experience
Students observe the effect of light on plants. They illustrate the exchange of gases between the atmosphere and the plant. Students see that plants are part of many natural cycles. They investigate how green plants use the sun's energy...
Curated OER
Fast Fact-Finding
Ever wonder why the sky changes color so often? Readers examine an informational excerpt from John Farndon's How the Earth Works. They underline key points as they read and then answer five response questions. Prompts review main...
Curated OER
Linkages Between Surface Temperature and Tropospheric Ozone
High schoolers use data microsets of mean near-surface air temperature and tropospheric ozone residual averages to infer patterns. Students analyze changes in tropospheric ozone and then hypothesize about the consequences of these changes.
California Academy of Science
Carbon Cycle Role Play
Anytime you make concepts clear with role playing or hands-on experience, it's a win for the whole class. Ping-Pong balls are used to represent carbon in a carbon cycle role-play activity. In small groups, children first discuss what...
Curated OER
How Pollution Disrupts Our Natural Environment
Students conduct experiments to illustrate global warming. For this air pollution lesson, students first examine how a layer of greenhouse gasses might impact the earth's atmospheric temperature, then evaluate how the layer of gasses...
Curated OER
Greenhouse Effect: A Computer Simulation
Students complete an online simulation of the greenhouse effect. For this lesson on the greenhouse effect, students use a website, similar to a webquest, to simulate and answer questions on how the greenhouse effect works. This lesson is...
Curated OER
Greenhouse Effect: Pop Bottle Experiment
Students explore global warming by conducting a weather experiment. In this greenhouse gas lesson, students define the greenhouse effect and the impact on our ozone layer. Students utilize a soda pop bottle, floodlight bulb, thermometers...
Curated OER
Mayonnaise Jar Greenhouse
Third graders examine the Greenhouse Effect, how it operates and finally allows the student to experiment using a model created in the classroom. They explain how the greenhouse effect affects the Earth.
Curated OER
Studying Exothermic and Endothermic Reactions
Students explore the mesosphere and lower thermosphere globally and achieve a major improvement in our understanding of the fundamental processes governing the energetics, chemistry, dynamics, and transport of the atmospheric region....
Curated OER
Clouds and Rain
Students study how clouds form, what different types there are and what rain is. In this atmospheric lesson students make a cloud and create evaporation.
Curated OER
Photo Synthesis and Transpiration
Middle schoolers germinate pea seeds and plant the seeds. They experiment with different amounts of light and darkness on the plant growth.
Curated OER
Choosing Between Affect and Effect
After reading a review of the meaning and usage of affect and effect, pupils complete a practice exercise to demonstrate their understanding of this tricky pair. An answer key is provided.
Curated OER
What Do Concentrations Mean?
High schoolers investigate the concept of climate gases and practice using the appropriate measurement terms. The instructional activity includes information that is used by the teacher to conduct class discussion or as a source of...
Curated OER
Losing An Island
Students examine carbon dioxide and determine the impact of greenhouse gases on the earths spheres. In this pollution lesson students complete a lab activity to see the impact of gases on the environment,
Curated OER
Lake Ice Out Lessons
Students explore the greenhouse effect. In this environment lesson, students describe how "ice out" affects animals and plants who live in a Maine lake. Students graph "ice out" data and make predictions about the upcoming...
Curated OER
Suspended Particulates lab
Middle schoolers observe differences between suspended particulates and a solution, and classify common atmospheric gases and particulates. They explain what they think the word suspended means. Students observe the differences between...
Curated OER
Air Pollution Control
Students examine two devices used to clean up the air waste stream before it enters the atmosphere. They construct and use a wet scrubber and an electrostatic precipitator, and answer discussion questions.