+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Wind and Wildfire

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Emerging scientists research weather-related vocabulary terms, and map out where wildfires are most likely to occur. To bring this lesson to life, you could demonstrate what happens to a fire when you cool or remove the fuel, or cut off...
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Tree Growth

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students fill in a diagram. In this tree growth instructional activity, students view a model of a tree, learn how trees grow and explore the layers of a tree. Students complete a diagram where they label the layers of a tree.
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

When Nature Strikes: Natural Hazards Safety

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students observe the impact of natural disasters on humans, and become aware of the dangers of environmental hazards such as flash floods, tornadoes, and hurricanes.
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Blame It On El Nino

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students study the weather phenomenon El Nino is and what causes it, and recognize how remote sensing technology can detect and predict El Nino. Students discover how El Nino affects weather conditions throughout the globe through research.
+
Unit Plan
San Francisco Symphony

Quilt Making and Copland's Rodeo

For Teachers K - 2nd
Kids make quilts as they learn about pioneer life and the concept of tempo. The Aaron Copland piece, Rodeo is used to convey rhythm and tempo in music. As the children discuss tempo and rhythm, they also discuss what life was like for...
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Boom and Bust in the Ozark Forests

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Here is a hard-hitting, cross-curricular lesson plan on the effects that the deforestation of the Ozark forests in the 19th century had on the people, animals, and ecosystems of the area. The Dr. Seuss book The Lorax is used as a way of...
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Pastoralists and Agrarians: Identifying Connections between Historical and Contemporary Migration

For Teachers 7th - 10th Standards
Pastoralists and agrarians, livestock raisers and farmers. Using the conflict in Darfur as a lens, class members investigate the conflicts that arise when these groups are forced to migrate from one area to another.
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Comparing the Effects of El Nino and La Nina

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students examine the differences between an El Nino and La Nina year.  For this investigative lesson students create maps and graphs of the data they obtained. 
+
Lesson Plan
EduGAINs

Migration—Push and Pull Factors

For Teachers 7th - 10th
What causes people to move from one place, one city, or one country to another? Using the provided migration questionnaire, learners interview family members about the factors that cause them to be pushed from an area or pulled to an area.
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What's Holding Up the Water?

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students read about the history and locate dams in Arizona. In this Arizona dams lesson plan, students write a summary about what they read focusing on word choice, ideas, conventions, and geography content.
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water Saving

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Water conservation and management is the focus of this lesson plan. Students identify the need for being "water wise" in society through research and discussion. and present their findings in many different formats (short story, poetry,...
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Planting a Xeriscape Garden

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders use a plant database to discover new vocabulary associated with plants and ecosystems. Using a pile of dirt behind their school, they design a garden to make it a more enjoyable place. They print out the types of plants...
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Weather and Water in Ghana

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students research the rainy and dry season to investigate Africa's weather. In this African weather lesson plan, students use the given websites to research the rainy and dry seasons of Ghana in Africa. Students then read stories about...
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Dating a Volcanic Eruption

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students discover the various ways in which tree rings can give information. After a brief disucssion of concentric tree rings, they use cross section cut outs of tree rings to identify the time and type of various naturally occuring...
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Farming in Ancient Mesopotamia: An Ancient Civil Engineering Problem

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders identify the major obstacles in farming in Mesopotamia. They work together to design and build a model that solves these problems. They write a short essay that describes the problems and their possible solutions.
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Peace Corps Challenge Game-National Trees

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students explore trees around the world.  In this world geography and tree lesson, students compare familiar local trees and discuss similarities and differences.  Students give opinions about why the oak tree was chosen as our national...
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Salt Marsh in a Pan

For Teachers 4th - 12th
Students create a model of a salt marsh to discover the impact of pollution and human activities on water-based habitats including bays and the ocean. They recognize the relationship between natural and developed areas. Students impact...
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Forecast the Weather

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students analyze different weather conditions before creating their very own first-person report from the eye of a storm. They use maps to analyze different weather conditions, record an online weather script and write a first-person...
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Climate Change Effects on Organisms and Ecosystems: You are the Experts!

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders research about the effect of climate on different ecosystems. In this life science activity, 7th graders present their research by creating a poster, infomercial, skit or song. They discuss how organisms adapt to climate...
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Blame It On El Nino

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students understand what the weather phenomenon El Nino is and what causes it. Students recognize how remote sensing technology can detect and predict El Nino. Students discover how El Nino effects weather conditions throughout the globe...
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Weathering Agent 007

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students are introduced to the concept of weathering. In groups, they use the internet to research the various types of weathering agents and their effect on different materials. Using photographs, they discuss the role humans play in...
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The World On a String

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Learners connect a string to one another where they each represent a country and share problems of their imports and exports. In this imports and exports lesson plan, students pull on strings and the learners that feel the tug realize...
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Diaper Inquiry

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders carefully examine and investigate the products contained in a diaper. They particularly analyze the crystal sodium polyacrylate, a product developed for use in astronaut diapers. They follow the scientific method, forming...
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Ancient Maya

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students explore the culture of the Mayans through a variety of activities. In this lesson about Maya, students analyze pictures in books and on websites, produce scale models of Maya architecture, and create Maya mosaics. Students study...