Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Core

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders examine conditions that can lead to the formations found and correlate the layers.  In this rock layers lesson students complete an activity that allows students to take their own "core sample".
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Powered Up About Electricity!

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students study the process of turning coal into electricity. In this electricity lesson, students are guided by their teacher through the steps required to turn coal into electricity. Students complete a worksheet answering questions...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

WATTS UP?

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders research the Internet as they classify different forms of energy, investigate electrical energy and how to conserve energy.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Transport

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students analyze wind barbs and determine which way the wind is blowing and how hard the wind is blowing. They access near real time wind data and pollutant animations to track the transport and destination of pollutants.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Biology: Natural Selection

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Young scholars explore evolutionary processes and theories using the spotted fish applet. They observe what happens to fish in a closed environment with both food and predators. Students run the model several times and answer questions...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Finding Coal Products in Your Home

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students identify items in their homes that come from coal. They divide into groups and decide as a group which items are made from coal by-products. They then divide their poster board into three columns and label the first - items made...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

People Changing the Atmosphere Lab

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students examine ways to reduce the greenhouse effect. Students keep a "CO2 Journal" to help establish a connection between their own behavior and its impact on global warming as well as discover ways to reduce global warming.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Not Just For A Baby's Bottom

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders investigate the presence of talc in the geologic record. The different characteristics of talc is covered. The lesson includes background information for the teacher.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Carbon Dioxide: The Heat is On

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students examine the greenhouse gases affecting the atmosphere. In groups, they participate in activities in which they examine the effects of heat on the atmosphere and phytoplankton. They research how the phytoplankton differ in warm...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Tread Lightly

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students investigate the use of carbon fuels and how they effect the environment. They conduct research using a variety of resources. The information is used from the reading to calculate one's personal influence upon the environment.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Scale of the Earth

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students create a scale model of the different eras, periods, and epochs of Earth's 4.6 billion year history. In addition to different time periods, other major events will also be added to the model from fabricated radioactive decay...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Archaeology Volunteers

For Students 4th - 5th
In this archaeology worksheet, students read about 4 tasks involving archaeologists. Students also answer 3 questions about the reading.
Lesson Plan
Teach Engineering

Algae: Tiny Plants with Big Energy Potential

For Teachers 5th - 7th
My, what big energy potential you have! Scholars learn about the energy potential of using algae as a biofuel. A PowerPoint presentation first describes the structure of algae and then how researchers use algae as biofuel to produce energy.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

CO2 and You

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students study the scientific evidence about carbon dioxide emissions. They learn to calculate the amount of energy used by different appliances. They complete a worksheet which analyzes the amount of energy that their home uses.
Lesson Plan
Consumers Energy

The Cost of Electricity

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
How much is your toaster costing you every day? Young environmentalists calculate the monetary costs of household appliances based on their average consumption of wattage.
Activity
Teach Engineering

Efficiency of a Water Heating System

For Teachers 8th - 10th Standards
Tired of waiting for hot water? Groups of three determine the efficiency of an electric water-heating device. They calculate the amount of energy it takes to heat the water and the theoretical amount of energy required to heat the water....
Activity
Teach Engineering

Efficiency of an Electromechanical System

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
How efficient is a motor in a LEGO set? Future engineers conduct an activity where a LEGO motor-generator system raises an object to a specified height. They then show what they learned and use their measurements to calculate the energy...
Interactive
American Museum of Natural History

What's This?: Early Humans

For Students 6th - 12th
Early humans crafted shelters out of whatever materials they could find. A one-question quiz asks learners to identify the type of bones used to construct the hut pictured in a display.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water Power

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students observe a model of a waterwheel to investigate the transformations of energy involved in turning the blades of a hydro-turbine into work. They work as engineers to create a model for a new waterwheel while considering resources,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Not Just a Corny Idea

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Young scholars explore ways in which ethanol can be created using alternate energy sources.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lost World Dinosaurs

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students determine how accurate the dinosaur-makers were in creating realistic dinosaurs for the Jurassic Park ride. They explore how the ride designers are going to top themselves How could the next ride be even better?
Worksheet
Curated OER

Leonardo the Genius

For Students 6th - 9th
In this artists history worksheet, students read an excerpt about Leonardo Da Vinci. They suggest what natural abilities, attitudes, and personal characteristics he would have needed to do all the famous works that he painted. Students...
Worksheet
Curated OER

ESL: Journalism Article Comprehension

For Students 6th - 9th
In this ESL comprehension worksheet, students read a passage, then complete a variety of warm-up and pre/post reading activities. Homework suggestions are included.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Limited Resources - Understanding Our Cultural Resources

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars examine and compare preserving natural resources and preserving cultural resources. They conduct Internet research on two topics, and write a position paper on whether cultural resources or natural resources are more...