Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Earth Changes

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students explore the make-up of the earth and the changes it undergoes in an earthquake. In this earth science lesson, students have two activities as part of a unit. First, to use a Styrofoam ball to model the earth's structure, and...
Interactive
Curated OER

Layers of the Earth

For Students 4th - 6th
In this earth science worksheet, students read about the characteristics of the Earth's layers such as the mantle, core, and crust. They answer 10 mixed type questions using the online application.
Worksheet
Curated OER

What is Energy?

For Students 8th - 12th
For this potential and kinetic energy worksheet, students will learn how potential energy and kinetic energy are used to make a roller coaster go. Then students will complete 2 short answer questions based on what they read.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Can You See What I See?

For Teachers K - 8th
Learners gain an understanding of the methods used to explore the earth's surface. Students create a time line leading to the first satellite image of the Earth that includes the various methods utilized to observe the earth's surface.
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
NASA

Earth, Earth’s Moon, Mars Balloons

For Teachers K - 8th Standards
Very specific diameters are given for blowing up three different balloons to represent, in scale, the moon, Earth, and Mars. In groups of three, amateur astronomers explore scale measurements and distance in space.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Earth Egg

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students discuss plate tectonics and the layers of the earth's interior. They use eggs as models of the earth and answer questions regarding which part of the egg would represent which part of the earth.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Earth Day

For Teachers 4th - 7th
Learners explain that there are pollutants in the Anacostia River, what those pollutants can cause, and how to prevent further pollution. They read about pollution and graph levels of fecal coliform in the water.
Worksheet
San Francisco Public Utilities Commission

Hetch Hetchy: The Story of San Francisco's Water

For Teachers 2nd - 4th Standards
How did San Francisco supply enough water for its residents over the last two centuries? Learn about droughts and water conservation in California, as well as specific historical events that led to the water system today. Kids read...
Lesson Plan
National Wildlife Federation

It's A Bird...It's A Plane...It's...CARBON!

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
An interesting lesson takes pupils on a trip through the carbon cycle. A reading passage allows scholars to take notes and make choices about what happens to the carbon on its journey. This third lesson in a series of 21 discusses...
Lesson Plan
3
3
California Academy of Science

Kinesthetic Astronomy: Moon Phases

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
We are the world! Each of your class members models Earth and holds a styrofoam ball to see its phases. Thorough teacher background information and a detailed lesson plan will make this a cinch to teach. If you do not want to purchase...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Floods and Flash Floods

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Junior geologists, hydrologists, or meteorologists simulate what happens during the flooding of a river and demonstrate factors that contribute to flash flooding. This outstanding resource provides a vocabulary list, online resources,...
Interactive
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1
NOAA

Plate Tectonics Interactive

For Students 6th - 12th
Here is a plate tectonics interactive that will really move your class! The first of a 13-part series introduces young geologists to the fundamental concepts and vocabulary they need to understand the interactions between...
Lesson Plan
National Wildlife Federation

Quantifying Land Changes Over Time in Areas of Deforestation and Urbanization

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Is qualitative or quantitative research more convincing when it comes to climate change? In the eighth lesson during this 21-part series, scholars begin by performing a quantitative analysis of deforestation and urbanization. Then, they...
Lesson Plan
Carnegie Mellon University

International Perspectives to Climate Change 1

For Teachers 8th - 12th
After a lecture about how the first industrial revolution triggered the path to climate change, your environmental studies class discusses what the impacts are. In a culminating activity, they get into groups and identify countries on a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

High School EcoHouse Curriculum

For Teachers 9th - 12th
How has the level of carbon dioxide changed over recent years, and what is contributing it? Groups work together to research and present their findings in a creative way. Also built into the lesson is a visit to a sustainable house, but...
Lesson Plan
American Chemical Society

Exploring Moisture on the Outside of a Cold Cup: For Dry Environments

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
If the area you live in is arid, or the preceding experiment in this unit didn't yield obvious results, use this one in place of it to help reveal where condensation comes from. The mini unit that this is part of a comprehensive...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Earth Rotation

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine the rotation of the Earth as it occurs in the 24 hour cycle. They use models of planets and the globe to make observations of movements made. Students brainstorm prior knowledge and then participate in a demonstration of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What on Earth is a Biome?

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students explore organisms and their environments. They examine change over time demonstrate an understanding of physical positions on Earth. They survey earth's diversity, write a report, fill in a data table created on the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What is Science?

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Students explore physical science by conducting a plant experiment. In this scientific method lesson plan, students discuss questions scientists ask in order to properly explore certain subjects. Students utilize two plants and place one...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Cool! Awesome! What is it?

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Learners work in small groups to brainstorm hypotheses about mysterious science photographs, read and interpret answers to the science photographs, cooperatively develop a set of clues for the images and develop their own science photo...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What is the Rainforest?

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Students investigate rainforests. In this rainforest lesson, students brainstorm on a KWL chart about what they already know about the rain forest. Students are shown pictures of the rain forest and describe what they see in the photos....
PPT
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1
Curated OER

Minerals of the Earth

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Unearth this gem of a resource to use in your geology unit! With colorful images, bullet-point text, and links to related videos, it deals with the characteristics, properties, and identification of minerals. There are also slides...
Lesson Plan
University of Colorado

The Moons of Jupiter

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Can you name the three planets with rings in our solar system? Everyone knows Saturn, many know Uranus, but most people are surprised to learn that Jupiter also has a ring. The third in a series of six teaches pupils what is around...