Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Solar Cars

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students research the causes and effects of air pollution. Using the internet, they examine the specific effects of carbon dioxide on the environment and discover the benefits of using solar power. In groups, they build a model of a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Measuring the Diameter of Our Star

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students conduct an experiment to measure the diameter of the sun. In this astronomy lesson,  students construct a simple equipment to collect scientific data. They calculate the sun's diameter using a given formula.
Activity
DiscoverE

Touch Down

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Protect the marshmallows! Groups create contraptions that will keep marshmallows in a cup, even after dropping them from a certain height. This is a fun way to model the shock-absorbing capabilities of spacecraft.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Layering the Soil

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students study and classify soil. For this soil science lesson, students classify soil by texture and size and study soil horizons. Students label the soil types with their specific soil horizon and learn about permafrost. Students...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Cloud Observations using GLOBE Protocols

For Teachers 4th - 12th
Students observe which of ten types of clouds are visible and how much of the sky is cloud covered. They see that by observing clouds, we can get information about temperature, moisture, and wind conditions in different places in the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Climate Change Skeptic's Argument: Natural Solar Cycles or Human Activity?

For Teachers Higher Ed
Teachers explore patterns in sunspots and total solar irradiance to understand the counterpoint to the human effect of global warming. In this professional development tool, teachers work through a lesson plan on the sun's natural...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

It's A Meteor

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Learners complete a webquest to find Earth's relationship to the sun.  In this webquest lesson, students complete tasks to understand the effect of the sun on weather and time. Learners create a multimedia presentation as an...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Space: Stars and Planets

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Learners observe and report that the moon can be seen sometimes at night and sometimes during the day. They describe how changes to a model can help predict how the real thing can be altered. Students explain the essential fact of the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Creating Craters

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Young scholars explore parts of an impact crater and compare and contrast craters found in Earth, the Moon, and Mars. Crater formation is modelled and the relationship of mass, velocity, and size of the projectile to the crater formation...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Review for Chemistry

For Students 8th - 11th
In this review for chemistry worksheet, students decide if given statements are true or false. Students relate information learned about introductory knowledge gained in chemistry to accurately answer the given questions.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

To Boldly Go Where No One Has Gone Before

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students study pictures of space vehicles and make their own space vehicle. In this space vehicle lesson, students study pictures of the vehicles and compare and contrast the pictures. Students classify the space crafts and then create...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Satellites and Solar Cells

For Students 8th - 10th
In this satellite and solar cells worksheet, students determine the electrical power generated by the solar cells on the IMAGE satellite. Students solve 3 problems including finding the usable area of the satellite, determining the power...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Scientist Tracking Network

For Teachers 8th - 9th
Students correlate surface radiation with mean surface temperature of several geographic regions. They observe how these parameters change with latitude and construct an understanding of the relationship of solar radiation to seasonal...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Planetary Diversity

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students explore the infrared radiation and the part of the spectrum that is not always visible.  In this electromagnetic lesson plan students complete a lab activity on the different wavelengths.
Writing
Curated OER

Inside an Atom

For Students 9th - 12th
In this atom worksheet, students read about the history of the discovery of the atom. Students write a story, poem, song or other creative project in which they shrink to an incredibly small size and are trapped in a carbon atom.
Lesson Plan
NASA

Earth, Earth’s Moon, Mars Balloons

For Teachers K - 8th Standards
Very specific diameters are given for blowing up three different balloons to represent, in scale, the moon, Earth, and Mars. In groups of three, amateur astronomers explore scale measurements and distance in space.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Seasons and Cloud Cover, Are They Related?

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students use NASA satellite data to see cloud cover over Africa.  In this seasons lesson students access data and import it into Excel. 
Lesson Plan
Virginia Department of Education

Hurricanes: An Environmental Concern

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Hurricanes, typhoons, and tropical cyclones are the same type of storm, but their names change based on where they happen. Scholars use a computer simulation to learn about hurricanes. Then they hypothesize ideas to prevent hurricanes...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rotating Rings of Ice

For Teachers 1st - 2nd
Students work together to develop a model of Saturn and its rings. They identify what types of materials make up the rings and how they revolve around Saturn. They write a short paragraph describing the rings.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Make a Comet Model and Eat It!

For Teachers 4th - 7th
Students create models of comets. They develop a comet model in a team and exchange samples with other teams. They use their senses to demonstrate the filters on a spectrometer and record their data. They discuss the contents of their...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Far Away is SOHO?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students create a scale model of the Earth and the sun that demonstrates where the SOHO satellite is in relation to the Earth.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Using Vegetation, Precipitation, and Surface Temperature to Study Climate Zones

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Young scholars begin their examination of the climate zones found around the world. Using a software program, they identify the relationship between the vegetation, climate and temperatures of the different zones. They also plot...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Transpiration

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students interactively explore the term transpiration. In this science/ecology lesson, students discuss what they would do if they were thirsty while conducting research in Brazil. Additionally, students write descriptive words to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Classification of Clouds

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students view progressive slides of cloud formations and identify which type of cloud is shown as it forms. They estimate the cloud's height while viewing each image.