Unit Plan
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12: Physical Science: Why Earth Is a Magnet

For Students 9th - 10th
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Why the Earth is a magnet and how its inner structure relates to its magnetic field.
Unit Plan
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12: Fifth Grade Science: Physical Science: Earth as a Magnet

For Students 5th
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Looks at the Earth as a magnet and how Earth's magnetism benefits living things.
Activity
Exploratorium

Exploratorium: Science Snacks: Circles of Magnetism

For Students 9th - 10th
Create a magnetic field that is stronger than Earth so a compass needle will orient itself to the new field in this activity.
Activity
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Northward Ho!

For Teachers 6th - 8th
In this activity, students will create their own simple compass, be able to explain how a compass works, understand that the Earth's magnetic field has both horizontal and vertical components, and learn more about cardinal directions.
Website
PBS

Nova: See a Reversal

For Students 9th - 10th
The earth's magnetic field is due for a reversal. Find out what causes the magnetic field and view an animated model that shows it reversing.
Handout
National High Magnetic Field Laboratory

Magnet Academy: Oersted Satellite, 1999

For Students 9th - 10th
Named in honor of Danish physicist Hans Christian Oersted, Denmark's first satellite has been observing and mapping the magnetic field of the Earth.
Website
NASA

Nasa: Image Science Center: Ask the Space Scientist Earth

For Students 9th - 10th
Site from NASA contains a collection of 91 questions pertaining to the Earth's atmosphere, magnetic field, ionosphere, rotation and origin of life.
Activity
Texas Instruments

Texas Instruments: Where Is North?

For Teachers 9th - 10th
In this activity, Students can use a Magnetic Field Sensor to measure the magnetic field of the Earth and to determine magnetic north. They will also calculate the magnetic inclination and declination at their location.
Handout
National High Magnetic Field Laboratory

Magnet Academy: William Gilbert

For Students 9th - 10th
William Gilbert was an English physician and natural philosopher who wrote a six-volume treatise that compiled all of the information regarding magnetism and electricity known at the time. The work included descriptions of many of...
Website
Other

Spacetech's Orrery: Earth Our Home Planet

For Students 9th - 10th
This site provides a very interesting overview of our home planet, Earth. Content includes a focus on the atmosphere, the pull of gravity, and the active surface.
Handout
Other

This Old Earth: Geology Online: Paleomagnetism and Continental Drift

For Students 9th - 10th
Discusses discoveries that laid the foundation for scientists' understanding of paleomagnetism, continental drift, and magnetic reversals.
eBook
Other

Earth ref.org: Magnetics Information Consortium: Essentials of Paleomagnetism

For Students 9th - 10th
This is the fifth version of a free textbook on paleomagnetism, published in 2018. The material is advanced but does provide information on many different topics for students doing research. Chapters include problems for students to...
Handout
Wikimedia

Wikipedia: The Black Hole

For Students 9th - 10th
This site examines the black hole as an object in astrophysics. Delve into this comprehensive resource that covers this concept from its history, to qualitative physics, the reality of black holes, mathematical physics and more.
Unit Plan
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12: Earth Science: Earth's Interior

For Students 9th - 10th
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Discover how scientists learn about Earth's interior using seismic waves, meteorites, density, and the magnetic field. Additional resources are available for download.
Unit Plan
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12: Earth Science: Magnetic Evidence for Seafloor Spreading

For Students 9th - 10th
How magnetic reversals on the seafloor provide evidence for seafloor spreading. [Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.]
Website
Other

Space Weather Center: Our Protective Shield

For Students 9th - 10th
The Earth's magnetosphere helps shield us from cosmic and solar radiation. This segment offers a great explanation of this abstract concept along with numerous images and diagrams. An interactive game is provided as well.
Unit Plan
National High Magnetic Field Laboratory

Magnet Academy: Magnetometer 1832

For Students 9th - 10th
The Earth, the moon, the stars and just about everything in between has a magnetic field, and scientists use magnetometers when they need to know the strength of those fields.
Website
NASA

Nasa Star Child: The Planet Earth

For Students 3rd - 8th
Facts about the Earth including its orbit, its atmosphere, and its landforms. Includes a discussion question on seasons, with facts about them, and the answer. A linked page covers similar material in a "Level 2" version, and has a...
Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Geophysical Demos Properties and Processes of Earth's Interior

For Teachers 9th - 10th
These demonstrations allow students to develop a conceptual understanding of geophysical principles. Each demonstration provides background information and a complete explanation of how to use and discuss the demo in class.
Handout
National High Magnetic Field Laboratory

Magnet Academy: Humphry Davy

For Students 9th - 10th
Humphry Davy was a pioneer in the field of electrochemistry who used electrolysis to isolate many elements from the compounds in which they occur naturally. Electrolysis is the process by which an electrolyte is altered or decomposed via...
Website
Other

Space weather.com

For Students 9th - 10th
Want to know what the current weather conditions are in space? Find everything here you may want to know about the latest solar flares, sunspots, asteroids and more. Site also includes essential web links to quench any user's thirst for...
Graphic
Curated OER

Science Kids: Science Images: Aurora Borealis, Northern Lights

For Students 9th - 10th
The aurora borealis (also known as the northern lights) is a spectacular light display that can be seen at night in regions near the North Pole (auroras can also be seen near the South Pole). Auroras occur because of charged particles...
Handout
NASA

Nasa Space Place: Sunspots and Solar Flares

For Students 3rd - 8th
Learn about sunspots and solar flares and the effects of solar activity on Earth.
Graphic
Curated OER

Aurora

For Students 9th - 10th
The Earth's magnetosphere helps shield us from cosmic and solar radiation. This segment offers a great explanation of this abstract concept along with numerous images and diagrams. An interactive game is provided as well.