Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Take a Leap!

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders discuss the flight of the Wright Brothers at Kitty Hawk. They study artwork of various sculptors showing the concept of flight. They write a paragraph and design a papier-mache' sculpture that shows movement.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Analyzing the Relationship between Snowpack and River Flow

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students use the Internet to research current and past snowpack levels and river gauging station readings. They determine the relationship between snowpack and river flow. They predict future river flow.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lunar Learning

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students learn about the phases of the moon. In this moon phases lesson, students learn about what causes the moon to look different to us everyday and how the Earth and Sun's position determine what phase the moon is in.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Solar History

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Using the sun's light as a source of energy is not a new concept. Give your environmental studies, engineering, or physical science class this list of how humans have used solar energy throughout history. Assign groups a certain time...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Tall as a Mountain, Flat as a Plain

For Teachers K
Students examine a variety of landforms that are found on the Earth and compare and contrast the distinguishing qualities of these forms. A topographical model of the landforms is made.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Earth, Sun Mood and Stars Unit (Planets too!)

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders prepare five activities to do then show their energy saving skills.  In this investigative lesson students create five projects then participate in an energy saving demonstration. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Bite Sized Core Sampling

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students define the origin of rock samples and how surface core samples can tell us about the history and make-up of Mars. Candies are used as a Martian surface sample. Students study the samples and make a hypothesis about the cause of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

History of Flight Timeline

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students research flight timelines and record their findings. In this flight lesson plan, students brainstorm with a KWL chart on what they want to learn about the history of flight. They then make a timeline of their findings, and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Oceans

For Teachers 1st
First graders recognize that nearly three quarters of the Earth is covered by ocean. They locate the Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Arctic and Antarctic oceans on a map. They describe the difference between ocean water and fresh water.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Exploring Marine Objects

For Teachers 1st - 7th
Students identify the sources of water on Earth. In this life science lesson, students list the different plants and animals that live in the ocean. They explore marine objects in the lab and draw them.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Blast Off with Model Rockets

For Teachers 8th - 9th
Students investigate science and math by building a rocket. In this geometry lesson, students build a rocket using paper towel tubes while investigating questions about launching a rocket. They discuss balance and unique structure as...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Beads, Balls, and Beakers

For Teachers 10th - 11th
Students analyze the amount of space required to pack round objects. In this geometry lesson, students practice using space economically by practicing packing spheres into beakers. They then translate this concept to molecules being...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Growing Your Own Snow Crystals

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students grow snow crystals in your classroom with a few materials and a two-liter bottle!
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Greenhouse Effect: A Computer Simulation

For Teachers 4th - 7th
Students complete an online simulation of the greenhouse effect. In this lesson on the greenhouse effect, students use a website, similar to a webquest, to simulate and answer questions on how the greenhouse effect works. This lesson is...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Jackie Gore

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students identify the amount of heat given off by solar energy. In this solar energy lesson, students complete an experiment using soil and sand measuring the heat from solar energy.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Earth Energy Budget Pre Lab

For Teachers 4th - 7th
Students explore energy by conducting an in class experiment. In this climate change activity, students conduct a water vapor experiment in a soda bottle. Students utilize graphs and charts to analyze the results of the experiment and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Plant Growth - Light and Shade

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders conduct an experiment comparing plants.  In this plant lesson plan, 3rd graders plant seeds and grow two varieties of plant comparing the light needed for it to grow.  Students make predictions and record their...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rocks and Their Properties: Day 5

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students demonstrate their knowledge of rock formation processes in varied ways by sharing their cooperative research projects with the class. They generate well-framed questions in response to each presentation.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Web of Life

For Teachers Pre-K - 1st
Students construct a food web to learn how living things in an ecosystem are interconnected. In this food web simulation lesson, students will be assigned an animal and the teacher will represent the sun. Students and teacher discuss...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Scientific Sampling

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students take a sample of fish and try to determine how many fish are in the sea.  In this scientific sampling lesson, students explore the way scientists measure large areas of samples. Students record the distribution in a quadrant.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Bone Known

For Teachers 1st - 2nd
Students explore the human skeleton. In this biology lesson plan, students view a diagram of the human skeleton and identify the names of bones. Students define the role bones play in protecting the human body and construct a paper...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Woodwind Instruments and Pitch

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students explore musical pitch. In this cross curriculum musical instruments and "sound" physics lesson, students identify and describe common traits of woodwind instruments. Students research "pitch" and what causes pitch fluctuation by...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What Shape is the Moon Tonight?

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Students understand that the moon appears differently throughout the month. In this phases of the moon lesson, students observe and record the phases of the moon.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Phases of the Moon Flip Book

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Learners make a flip book. In this moon lesson, students review the moon phases and how they occur. Learners make a flip book to show the moon's motion around the Earth.