Curated OER
Plate Tectonics Boundaries
Young scholars discover how to create a model of tectonic plates and study the interactions of these plates as they slowly move on the asthenosphere. They see and experience what happens at each type of plate boundary and why there are...
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Charting Seasonal Changes
Learners research the Earth's patterns of rotation and revolution, create a chart and graph of these patterns and use them to explain the causes of night and day and summer and winter.
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Exploration Yesterday and Today
Students compare and contrast the voyages of early explorers with the space explorations of the present day. After reading the biographies of Benjamin Banneker and Timothy Livengood, students create a Venn Diagram comparing and...
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Water and Ice: Part 1
Students observe the state changes in water. In this matter lesson, students observe, measure, and describe water as it changes state. Students explore how water can change from a solid to a liquid then back again. They journal their...
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Radiation Comparison Before and After 9-11
Using the NASA website, class members try to determine if changes could be detected in cloud cover, temperature, and/or radiation measurements due to the lack of contrails that resulted from the halt in air traffic after the attacks...
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Plate Tectonics
Learners watch a video about plate tectonics. in this Earth Science lesson, students watch a video clip from Bill Nye about Continental Drift and Plate Tectonics. They make a slight crack in a hard boiled egg and manipulate the egg to...
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Fossils and Geologic Time
High schoolers explore the development of the geologic time scale. They examine the major time periods in earth's history. Students discuss the role fossils play in helping us understand history.
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Tides of Change
Students use the Internet to gather information on tides and then use this information to determine the period of revolution of the moon around the earth (part 1) and the relative pull of the sun and the moon on the tides (part 2).
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Are we alone? Do aliens exist?
Students discuss the existence of aliens in the universe. In this alien lesson, students discuss the answers to the questions: What are the chances that aliens exist in the universe? and What are the chances that aliens have visited earth?
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Greenhouse Effect
Pupils investigate the greenhouse effect. In this environmental lesson, students investigate why the greenhouse effect changes the climate through an experiment. Pupils use vinegar to simulate how acid damages the environment.
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Make a Shadow Clock
Students make shadow clocks. In this earth science lesson, students follow the provided steps to make shadow clocks out of the provided pattern and tagboard. A game, a song, a craft, and a recipe are all included with the lesson.
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You Need How Much Food When? Where?
Ninth graders explore how human activities shape the earth's surface. In this awareness lesson plan, 9th graders create pictographs showing the relations of food, people, land, and resources. Students complete worksheet.
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Apple: Bare to Pick
Students investigate the seasons of the apple tree. In tree seasons lesson, students use a sun model and a globe to study the tilt of the Earth to create the seasons. Students discuss the tilt and the seasons. Students discuss...
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Industry and the Environment
Students study industrial processes and greenhouse emissions. In this research lesson students choose a manufactured product, research the life cycle of the product, and present it in a PowerPoint presentation.
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What's Dancing in the Water?
Young scholars learn about watershed, as well as the different forms and uses of water. In this water forms lesson plan, students brainstorm water sources and uses. Young scholars read the book Water Dance and discuss water examples....
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Building a Permanent Human Presence in Space
Students tudy space and what it takes to be an explorer. In this space explorer lesson students examine the characteristics of explorers and create an exploration log.
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Earthquakes
Students observe the melting of ice. In this phase change lesson, students observe ice as it melts. They discuss the process and create a Venn diagram comparing water and ice.
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The Water Cycle
Students access prior knowledge of the water cycle by completing a KWL. For this water cycle lesson, students follow the movement of water through the water cycle.
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Astronomy
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,...
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Oral History
Students interview a Native Elder to learn about oral history and cold weather. In this weather lesson, students ask an Elder about the coldest day they remember in their community and complete two worksheets for the topic.
Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics
Space Travel Guide
Looking to take a trip? Why not go to space? Here, scholars take on the role as travel agent to create a guide to their favorite planet including travel tips and sightseeing recommendations.
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Going My Way?
Students, in groups, study how a magnet works and how people use the Earth's magnetic field to orient themselves.
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Sundials: Keeping Time Like Native Americans
Young scholars explore the use of sundials. They observe the shadows cast by the sun and record the times at various points throughout the day. They create sundials and record the location of the shadows and the time of day. They view...
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Movement of Air II
In this movement of air worksheet, students determine the deflection of air masses that result from Earth's eastward rotation. Then they describe what winds provide for different trades. Students also identify and describe the imaginary...