Curated OER
Fossil Adventure
Students work as a class to write a general definition of fossil based on their discussion and examine pictures of the different types of fossils. Once discussion is complete, they write and illustrate a book about a T Rex that has died...
Curated OER
Lunar Field Trip
Learners take a virtual tour on Google Moon of what human life would be like on the moon. In this moon lesson plan, students also compose web diagrams, make charts, make a time line, investigate problems, and more.
Curated OER
Baleen Whales vs. Toothed Whales
Second graders review mammal characteristics and study two types of whales. In this mammal study lesson, 2nd graders discuss mammals and define their five characteristics. Students complete a whale worksheet and define differences...
Curated OER
Changes Inside Planets
High schoolers investigate the concept of planetary differentiation. They complete an experiment to simulate it using gelatin and food. The lesson includes vocabulary to increase reading comprehension skills as part of the inquiry. The...
Curated OER
Creating and Analyzing Graphs of Tropospheric Ozone
Students create and analyze graphs using archived atmospheric data to compare the ozone levels of selected regions around the world.
Curated OER
Sea Surface Temperature Trends of the Gulf Stream
Students use authentic satellite data to produce plots and graphs of sea surface temperature as they explore the seasonal changes of the Gulf Stream.
Curated OER
Sea Surface Temperature Trends of the Gulf Stream
Students explore the importance of the Gulf Stream. Using a NASA satellite images, they examine the sea surface temperature. Students collect the temperature at various locations and times. Using spreadsheet technology, they graph the...
Purdue University
Purdue University: 3 D Earth Structure Model
Take a journey to the center of the Earth and learn about the structure, material properties, and conditions inside our planet.
American Museum of Natural History
American Museum of Natural History: O Logy: Stuff to Do: Edible Earth
Take a look at the layers that make up our Earth: inner core, outer core, mantle, and crust. Then have fun making a model of the Earth's interior that you can eat up.
American Geosciences Institute
American Geosciences Institute: Earth Science Week: Oil Trap Model
Students make and study a 3-D model of a cross section of the earth where oil has formed.
Alabama Learning Exchange
Alex: Learning the Three Layers
This lesson will help students visualize the Earth's crust (lithosphere), mantle, and core. The students will work in groups to research and design a model of the Earth's layers. Some of the types of models include: computer, fruits such...
NOAA
Noaa: Structure of the Earth [Pdf]
Create a model to help learn the layers and structures within the Earth. Identify characteristics of each layer of the Earth.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Let's Build the Earth!: The Structure of the Earth's Crust and Interior
For this activity, students will make observations then construct a "sample" model representation of the Earth's layers. They will compare and contrast the movement and material in each layer explaining the location and what it contains.
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Scale Model of the Earth
In this activity, students gain an understanding of the layers of the Earth by designing and building a clay model.
American Geosciences Institute
American Geosciences Institute: Earth Science Week: What's Down There?
Students build a model to learn about the cycle of erosion and deposition by water and wind which deposits layer upon layer of rock, soil, and organic material to the surface.
BioEd Online
Bio Ed Online: Fossil Fuels and the Carbon Cycle
In the following lesson students learn how geologists locate fossil fuels by using a straw to extract "core samples" from a model that has different layers. Student sheets are provided in English and in Spanish.
Idaho State University
Global Wind Systems [Pdf]
A great description of the global scale circulation and heat energy. Discusses a single-cell model, a three-cell model, jet streams and more.
Better Lesson
Better Lesson: Building the Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon is an excellent model for learning about Earth's rock formations. Students will look at fossils and the differences in layers to understand how the Earth changed over time. Resources included are detailed instructions...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Lab 2: What's a Watershed?
Students build a physical model to simulate watershed features, then use Google Earth software to tie the model to a real place. By exploring several layers of map-based images and data, students learn the complexity of a watershed and...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Natural Disasters
Students are introduced to our planet's structure and its dynamic system of natural forces through an examination of the natural hazards of earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides, tsunamis, floods and tornados, as well as avalanches, fires,...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Air Pollution
Students are introduced to the concept of air quality by investigating the composition, properties, atmospheric layers and everyday importance of air. They explore the sources and effects of visible and invisible air pollution. By...
Indiana University
Indiana University Bloomington: Cupcake Drilling [Pdf]
In this lesson, students will model geologic drilling using layered cupcakes to learn about rocks below the Earth's surface. Students will locate features on a geologic map and observe cupcake cores to evaluate the scientific techniques...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Earthquake Formation
Students learn about the structure of the earth and how an earthquake happens. In one activity, students make a model of the earth including all of its layers. In a teacher-led demonstration, students learn about continental drift. In...