Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics
Planetary Distances on the Playground
There's no need to stay inside; get out of the classroom and create a scaled map of the solar system on your playground field! In collaborative groups, scholars identify the distance between the sun and other planets, place planet...
University of Colorado
Planetary Distances on the Playground
Earth is 149,600,000 km, or 92,957,130.4 miles, from the sun. Young astronauts create an interactive model to learn the distances between planets. Nine groups, each representing a different planet, are spread around at class-calculated...
Curated OER
Biodiversity
Fifth graders visit the playground to look for signs of life. They search for insects, birds, animal tracks, feathers, nests, trees, soil, etc. They then compose a class list that shows all findings in the schoolyard and post it in the...
Curated OER
The Seasons
Students identify seasonal changes. In this seasons instructional activity, students choose a tree on the playground to observe each season. Students record their observations throughout the year and create personal seasonal booklets.
National Park Service
It's Not Easy Being Grizz
Grizzly bears can be up to 600 pounds and require a great deal of food, especially to survive hibernation. Comprised of multiple games, the third lesson of five only uses one setup. Pupils run around a large field, sorting and collecting...
Seussville
What Can Your Class Do?
Inspire scholars to do their part for planet Earth with a read-aloud of Dr. Seuss's The Lorax, and variety of activities designed to boost the environmental activist in us all. Activities include writing poems about the Earth,...
Curated OER
Identifying Erosion
Students identify erosion in various forms and explain its causes. They look for evidence of erosion on school grounds, describe it in their journals, and draw labeled rough sketches of the erosion.
Curated OER
Ecosystem Game
Students examine the ecosystem by playing a game. In this ecosystem lesson, students are put into groups of decomposers, consumers, and producers. Students create a list of animals that fit into each group and items that represent...
Curated OER
Habitat Awareness
Second graders build a habitat. In this wildlife activity, 2nd graders work in groups to build a mammals habitat. They share their habitat with the class.
Curated OER
Modeling Martian Motion
Pupils explore the difference between stars and planets and take on the role of these objects to simulate the relative motions of Mars and the Earth around the Sun.
Curated OER
Where's the Grass
Students participate in a grassland game. In this grassland lesson, students simulate the impact of grazing animals and invasive weeds on grasslands.
Curated OER
Altimetry
Fifth graders accurately measure the distance to eight points on an uneven surface by conducting a simulation of sattelite altimetry. They create a two-dimensional model of the simulated ocean surface by graphing data from the Radar Run...
Curated OER
Factors That Shaped Indiana
Fourth graders construct a model of Indiana which displays the effects of the glacial period on the state's physical structure. Students work in groups to plan and execute their model based on an established rubric.
Curated OER
Erosion and Deposition
Fifth graders study the processes of erosion, transportation, and deposition in soil. They walk outside the school to see examples and then accurately create a physical model which shows each type of soil movement and allows them to...
Curated OER
Science: Exploration Tubs
First graders develop skills of scientific inquiry. They determine which objects float and which sink.