Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ocean Botttom Profile

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Learners interpret a graph of ocean depths and topographic features. This task assesses students' abilities to interpret figures, organize and represent data, apply knowledge of scale to a profile, and apply theoretical knowledge.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Investigation 2 - Classifying Rocks

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders identify basic properties of minerals and rocks. They access websites and utilize worksheets imbedded in this lesson to further their understanding of rock classification.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Volcano!-Thar She Blows!

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners describe how volcanoes are formed. They name the types of boundaries where volcanoes occur. They utilize models to illustrate the occurence of volcanoes and earthquakes along plate boundaries. They compare and constrast the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Storm Watch: Knowing What To Do

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Learners study the different types of weather and how storms form.  In this weather instructional activity students make their own "tornado in a bottle" and create brochures.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rock of Ages

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students use a video, the Internet and hands-on activities to explore how to determine the age of rocks and fossils based on radioactive decay data.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Impact of Acid Rain and the Greenhouse Effect on the Environment

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students study acid rain and complete several activities that show how it affects the environment. They role play members of the community involved in a major decision involving the protection of the environment.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Formation of Rain

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students sequence the steps leading to the formation of rain, and design a model to represent these steps. This task assesses students' abilities to classify, generalize, infer, interpret and communicate data, and construct a pictorial...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water-Holding Capacity

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers design and conduct an experiment to compare the water-holding capacity of sand, soil, and moss. They measure the change in weight for each material after adding the same amount of water to each material.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Reflection and Absorption of Light

For Teachers Higher Ed
Students use a microcomputer connected to a light sensor and temperature probe to explore the reflection and absorption of radiation for different surfaces. Students follow instructions in this guided inquiry based lab and are then asked...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Create a Cloud in a Jar (Hands-on Version)

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers examine the conditions necessary for cloud formation.  For this clouds lesson students complete an activity that shows them atmospheric pressure.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ride the Arctic Climate Rollercoaster

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students view interactive CD-ROM entitled The Arctic Climate Roller Coaster, research evidence of changes in climate through the years, record ways people responded to changes, and create short presentations to share evidence with...
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...
Unit Plan
Curated OER

Meteorology Madness

For Teachers 4th
Students probe the dynamic weather changes through several hands-0n activities in this seven lessons unit. The hydrologic cycle, clouds, atmosphere, air movement, fronts, and forecasting form the components presented in this unit.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Understanding Cloud Formation

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Learners view a demonstration that simulates cloud formation. They read a poem about clouds, participate in a class demonstration using warm water and ice and write a paragraph summarizing their observations.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Animal Adaptations

For Teachers 4th
students in groups to work on bulletin board, making a list of animal adaptations. They write an example of each body covering and find pictures of animals with these coverings. They mount pictures and label the covering. They should be...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Day an Egg Solved the Mystery of the Cell

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Learners conduct an experiment comparing human cells to chicken cells. In this cells lesson plan, students conduct an experiment to see how nutrition moves through cells and how to better take care of their bodies.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water Pollution

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students study four samples of "rain water". They asked to determine the pH of the samples and then to neutralize them. Students are asked to predict any negative effects which might be associated with water having a low pH and to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rising Tensions Over The Nile River Basin

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Pupils analyze the concept of global commons dilemma.  In this investigative lesson students read an article on the Middle East Media Research Institute and answer questions accordingly. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Formation of Wind

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students correctly sequence the steps leading to the formation of wind, and describe the cause and effect relationships involved in the formation of wind. This task assesses students' abilities to classify, generalize, infer, interpret...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water Pollution Hot-Spots

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Pupils complete internet research in small groups to identify types of water pollution, spotlight water pollution hot-spots, and design a plan for water prevention.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Diversity And Adaptations Of Organisms

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders study how and why animals are classified into eight groups in the animal kingdom. They work together to identify organisms. They use the key to determine the phylum for the included problems.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Whole Lotta Shaking Going On

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students explore earthquake activity in California. They observe the historical data and create databases and graphs of the earthquakes. Students analyze the data and form a hypothesis about future earthquakes.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Hurricanes and Climate

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students investigate maps and data to learn about the connections between hurricanes and climate. In this exploratory lesson plan students describe and graph the 6 regions where hurricanes happen and discuss how hurricanes have changed...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Which Way is Up? The Tree of Life in Africa

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Learners read a book titled This is the Tree about a baobab tree and draw a picture and label the tree. In this tree lesson plan, students also write a paragraph explaining why they drew that tree.