Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Discovering the Wetlands!

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Students name wetland plant and animal life.  In this ecosystem instructional activity students go birdwatching and interpret native plants through art. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Seasons and Cloud Cover, Are They Related?

For Teachers 4th - 12th
Students use NASA satellite data to correlate cloud cover over Africa to the solar declination.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Globe Lesson 12: Global Time

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore the concept of global time. In this geography skills lesson, students use standard meridians and the hour scale on globes to determine global time as they respond to questions in this self-directed lesson.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

It's Gettin' Hot In Here, So Transfer Energy

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Pupils study the means by which energy is transferred from the sun through the Earth's atmosphere. They examine radiation, conduction, and convection. They complete a lab to determine how the different transfers affect the atmosphere and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Crop Circles

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students calculate the area and circumference of a circle. In this geometry instructional activity, students solve word problems with circles and create formulas to calculate the area. They find the rate and complex area of a circle.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Agriculture is a Cycle

For Teachers 1st - 5th Standards
What do a bicycle and the life cycle have in common? Cover this and more with the series of cross-curricular activities included in this plan. Learners do everything from making bracelets that represent the life cycle to checking out the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Weather Versus Climate

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students differentiate weather and climate. For this earth science lesson, students investigate the climate of a zone they chose. They create a presentation and share their findings with the class.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Time Zones

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students are able to read and also use a variety of timetables and charts. They perform calculations with time, including 24-hour clock times and time zones. These are very important concepts that Students probably have to bear in mind...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sundials: Observing and Using Shadows

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Students build sundials and observe changes in shadows over the course of one or more days. They identify patterns in the shadows and discuss how shadows may be used to tell time.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Big Crush

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students examine weather maps from their state from the past few days. They examine the Highs and Lows on the maps to determine what kind of weather they produce. They use that information to better prepare for their activities and what...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Modeling Celestial Motion

For Students 7th - 12th
In this modeling celestial motion instructional activity, students fill in the blank about the motion of celestial bodies: planets and stars. Students complete the blanks with information about the scientists and philosophers responsible...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

DASH Sunrise and Sunset/ Seasons Chart

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders rotate as the person to enter the information of sunrise and sunset into a spreadsheet. The teacher also demonstrates how to convert the spreadsheet into a chart.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water: The Liquid of Life

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders complete a lesson on the properties, types and amounts of water on Earth. In groups, they travel between stations to identify water resources in Illinois and pollution sources. They complete the lesson with a field trip...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Solar System Slide Show

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Pupils work in small groups to research a planet in our Solar System in order to compare it to Earth. They examine the planet's size, atmosphere, rotation and revolution periods, temperature, and other attributes. They collect...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Astronomical Data

For Students 9th - Higher Ed
In this astronomy worksheet, learners use a chart with planetary data comparing the inner planets to each other. Students will use the period of rotation, period of revolution, and distance from the sun for these inner planets to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Science Super Saturday

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students share their science expertise with elementary students in a conference format. Elementary students rotate through sessions of different science disciplines (Biology, Earth Science, Physics, Chemistry, Computers).
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Inner Planets

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students create a booklet about the inner planets after researching the characteristics of each planet. Students research the following items for each planet: moons, size, rotation, orbit, atmosphere, an interesting fact. Their final...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Solar System: Let's Take a Trip

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders consider outer space. In this introductory solar system lesson, 3rd graders complete a KWL chart and listen to the story The Magic School Bus: Lost in the Solar System, by Joanna Cole & Bruce Degen. They will contribute...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Fourth Grade Science Quiz

For Students 4th
In this science instructional activity, 4th graders take a multiple choice quiz about the weather, moon, electricity, and more. Students complete 15 questions total.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Summer Sky Tour

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore space science by participating in a constellation identification activity. In this astronomy lesson, students view star charts based on the different seasons and define a list of astronomy related terms. Students...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Limpet Shell Exercise

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students review the terms and concepts: evolution, selection, biotic, and abiotic factors. They come up with hypotheses about limpet shell types based on what we discuss about intertidal environments. Students use ratios to compare...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sunlight and Warm Air

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Pupils discuss radiant energy from the sun, performing a simple experiment with sun glasses and bright light to demonstrate the concept. Students further participate in simple in-class experiments to demonstrate: air density as it...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Dig Into Ireland

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore environments and wildlife of Ireland to find out how they were formed, and how they helped form Irish culture. Students research online to determine connections between present elements in Irish culture and wildlife and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Storms and Extreme Weather

For Teachers K - 5th
Students explore hurricanes and tornadoes by conducting an experiment. In this weather pattern lesson, students define many extreme weather vocabulary terms and discuss the relationship with static electricity. Students utilize plastic...