Lesson Plan
Curated OER

WHO CARES FOR THE LAND?

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Students explore the importance of natural resources. They are given copies of the story, "Who Cares For The Land," and students follow along as the teacher reads it. Students identify the key points in the story. (Soil, water and air...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Mayan Calendar

For Teachers 9th - 11th
Students analyze the Mayan calendar and define its meaning. In this algebra lesson plan, students explain what the Mayan calendar means and how it works. They define the symbols and recreate a simplified version of the Mayan calendar.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Earth and Seasons

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders comprehend that the path Earth takes as it revolves around the sun is called its orbit. They also comprehend that the axis is an imaginary line that passes through Earth's center and its North and South Poles. Students...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Properties of Earth: Word Search

For Students 4th - 8th
In this word search worksheet, students search for words related to the Earth, the sun and it's movements. Terms include seasons, features, and movements.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Day and Night

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders view a classroom simulation that demonstrates how the Earth's rotation creates day and night.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Exploring the Night Sky: Fall/Winter

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students explain how moon phases occur. They explain three ways that the night sky has been used through history. Students locate some of the constellations in the night sky. They discuss stories and myths surrounding stars.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Navigating a Spacecraft

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students work with a partner to plot the trajectory of a spacecraft traveling between Earth and Mars in the 2018 and returning in 2020. They examine the key factors when planning a mission to and from Mars such as travel time, distances...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Astronomy

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students explore space science by utilizing education software. In this moon cycles instructional activity, students discuss the importance of the moon and the different phases we observe from earth. Students demonstrate the earth's...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

NIGHT AND DAY: DAILY CYCLES IN SOLAR RADIATION

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers examine how Earth's rotation causes daily cycles in solar energy using a microset of satellite data to investigate the Earth's daily radiation budget and locating map locations using latitude and longitude coordinates.
PPT
Curated OER

Water, Oceans and Atmosphere

For Teachers 7th - 10th
There are some really nice diagrams and facts regarding the atmosphere and regulation of energy levels in this PowerPoint. It would be wise to double-check some of the details, but these slides would provide a nice visual recap of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Shadow Knows - Creating Shadows

For Teachers K - 1st
Young learners recognize a shadow and witness how shadows occur when light is blocked. They access streamed video, standard video, and websites in order to engage in their study of how light is naturally blocked to create shadows. An...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Seasons Worksheet

For Students 7th - 10th
Middle and high schoolers are given a diagram of the Earth rotating around the Sun. They label the seasons in the proper place, highlight special days such as the vernal equinox and autumnal equinox, the dates the special days fall on,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Exploring the Night Sky: Summer

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Learners explain how moon phases occur. They describe and explain at least two common misconceptions that people have about the moon. Students explain what a star is. They explain 3 ways that the night sky has been used throughout history.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Astronomy with a Stick

For Teachers 6th - 11th
Learners describe the movement of the Earth as it relates to the sun and formulate a hypothesis for the movement and the changing length of the shadow. They express the relationship between the sun and the Earth and how that causes the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

In a Giants Garden

For Teachers K - 3rd
Young scholars explore the effect of the earths rotation and its relationship to the suns position and the effect that the longer and shorter amount of daylight has on a pumpkin plant which they have planted.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What Causes the Seasons?

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students conduct experiment to examine how tilt of globe influences warming caused by lighted bulb. They monitor simulated warming of their city by sun in winter and in summer by using light bulb, interpret results, and submit lab report.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Out of This World

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders animate their own planets.  In this solar system lesson, 5th graders use smartphones and the software, GoKnow Sketchy, to create images for presentations on their created planets that appear to be animated when played...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Exploring Meteorite Mysteries: Building Blocks of Planets

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students simulate the formation of chondrites and asteroids. In this astronomy instructional activity, students demonstrate accretion using balloons and static electricity. They compare and contrast their models to the actual process of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Astronomy

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students explore the rotation of the Earth and observe the shapes of constellations. After discussing how the Earth moves. volunteers use a flashlight and globe to model the movement of the sun-Earth system. Using Digitalis technology,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Circular Motion

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students research physical science by completing worksheets. In this gravity lesson, students read assigned text regarding the rotation of Earth and the gravitational force caused by the speed of which it rotates. Students complete a...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Planet Earth Group Creative Writing

For Students 4th - 5th
In this creative group writing worksheet, students have twenty-five minutes to write a brief story about planet Earth using the words listed in the word bank.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Space Science: Constellations and the Sun

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students review the zodiac signs and illustrate their movement using constellations on the wall and themselves to represent earth. Individually or in groups, they stand in the center of the room while a shadeless lamp is placed between...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Does Santa Claus use the Coriolis Force to Travel East?

For Teachers K - 9th
Students are given a visual demonstration of the Coriolis Force in the Northern Hemisphere. They are encouraged to find locations around the globe and try to predict what the weather circulation patterns might be like.
Worksheet
Curated OER

The Air Around You

For Students 7th - 12th
In this air worksheet, students will answer questions about the Earth's atmosphere, including the layers, air masses, and heat transfer. Students will explore how the difference in atmospheric temperature can create weather patterns....