Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What is the Rock Cycle and Its Processes?

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Geology beginners examine three different rock samples and determine their origin by their characteristics. By making and recording observations, they become familiar with features of igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rock types....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What Effect Does Climate Have on Wildlife?

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Young scholars explore the international scope of climate change. They identify variables that cause changes in the climate. Students examine how changes in climate affect the food chain.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Manduca

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers study the definition of a "global society". They take this knowledge and speculate about the positive and negative ramifications of living in a global society.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Follow a Fish

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students choose a fish from anywhere within the Ocean Center. They observe it for a given time, recording its behavior. Students comprehend the concept that living things have individual characteristics that enable them to live in their...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

On the Surface

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Young scholars draw and label the 15 major rivers in Texas. They then draw and label another map with the major lakes and reservioirs of Texas. Students use the maps and locate and label the location of the following major Texas cities:...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Star Patterns

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders create constellation maps and record their own legends of how constellations came into existence. After observing the sky at night, 3rd graders discuss star maps, read previously recorded legends on the origin of stars. ...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Surface Water Supplies And The Texas Settlements

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students engage in a lesson that is concerned with the allocation and finding of water resources. The location of different settlement areas is considered as one looks how the water is distributed. They map some of the early Spanish and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Weather Symbols

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students study weather symbols. In this weather symbols lesson, students review the symbols for cold, warm, and stationary fronts. Students use a weather map to study the weather symbols, complete a weather illustration and prediction...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Earthquake Analysis

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students analyze and plot the coordinates for several recent earthquakes on a world map. They learn not only about research and geology, but about map-making and data analysis. They think of other ways to analyze the data given.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water Resources

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore the differences between surface water and ground water. They collect data using maps and graphs and investigate a Texas river basin and a nearby aquifer. They complete a written report of their findings regarding the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Oregon Rainshadows

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Young scholars brainstorm list of possible highest locations in Oregon, identify and label places from list on map using color code, and discuss and identify causes of a rain shadow.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Plot Studies

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders are introduced to how to properly read a plot map. As a class, they take a field trip to an area surrounding the school and work together in groups to examine small sections of the different environments. To end the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Investigation 4 - Plot Studies

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders use a plot map to study the plants and animals living in a small area of their environment.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sea Secrets

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students study the following: For centuries, people have been challenged by the mysteries that lie beneath the blue depths of our ocean planet. Very little was known about the ocean until late in the nineteenth century, although nearly...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Earthquakes on the Surface

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students view topographic or relief maps of Southern California and discuss what they see. They make predictions based on the topography of the region.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Loss of Wetlands: Subsidence

For Teachers 2nd - 8th
Students observe subsidence and the effect it has on wetlands with a classroom demonstration. They think about the impact of global warming and the sea level and how it affects the marsh.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Meteorology

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders examine the job of meteorologists. They decide which characteristics of the atmosphere that meteorologists focus on. They use local weather maps from newspapers to predict weather in their area.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

San Francisco Bay Watershed

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students examine relief maps of California and discuss the San Francisco Bay watershed. Discussion continues with the class helping complete a journey of water through seasons in a "finish my sentences" style lecture. They label rain...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

San Francisco Bay Watershed

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students locate important landmarks on a map and explore the watersheds in California. In this watershed lesson plan students complete a worksheet and discuss what they learned. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Natural Features as a Resource

For Teachers K - 3rd
Learners research how people use land and water features to meet their basic needs. For this natural features lesson, students review land and water features. Learners discuss how the land is used to meet needs using a landscape picture...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Newspaper Weather

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students use their knowledge of the weather to evaluate information from the newspaper. They also take this knowledge and construct a weather map predicting the next day's weather.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Pangaea Puzzle

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students test evidence for the existence of Pangaea in the Earth's past. They create a current map of the Earth's continents and put them together like a puzzle. They compare this result to a a picture of the shape of Pangaea.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Native Plant Restoration Project

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students distinguish between exotic and native plant species. They work in groups in the field to restore a natural habitat. A class map is created to reflect their work in the field.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Brand New Day

For Teachers 1st - 2nd
Students locate Maine on a classroom map and discuss if Maine is where the nation's first light is found, where would the nation's last light be seen. They explore the idea of the sun rising in the east and setting in the west.