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Lesson Plan
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Science 4 Inquiry

Journey Through the Spheres of the Earth

For Teachers 5th - 8th Standards
Each of the Earth's spheres interacts with the other spheres in predictable ways. Young scientists explore these interactions through a hands-on activity, graphing, and watching a video. They summarize their knowledge in a video or...
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Lesson Plan
National Wildlife Federation

I’ve Got the POWER! Solar Energy Potential at Your School

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Should every school have solar panels? The 19th lesson in a series of 21 has scholars research the feasibility of using solar panels at their school. They begin by gathering data on the solar energy in the area before estimating the...
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Unit Plan
Columbus City Schools

What is Up Th-air? — Atmosphere

For Teachers 7th Standards
Air, air, everywhere, but what's in it, and what makes Earth's air so unique and special? Journey through the layers above us to uncover our atmosphere's composition and how it works to make life possible below. Pupils conduct research...
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Unit Plan
Columbus City Schools

Constructive and Destructive Geologic Processes

For Teachers 8th Standards
Show the class the world as they've never seen it before—from way above! Learners try to unravel the mysteries presented by rich satellite imagery, learn to interpret topographic maps, and study erosion by constructing their very own...
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Lesson Plan
Maine Math & Science Alliance

Earth as a System

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Ecosystem, human body system, weather system. We hear the word system a lot, but what does it really mean? In the activity, pairs or groups of learners discuss how a bicycle is a system and then analyze objects in their classroom and...
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Lesson Plan
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NOAA

The Biogeochemical Cycle

For Teachers 9th - 12th
The biogeochemical cycle ... no physics? The fourth installment of a 23-part NOAA Enrichment in Marine sciences and Oceanography (NEMO) program introduces the biogeochemical cycle by having pupils simulate movement between Earth's...
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Unit Plan
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Curated OER

Unit 2: Global to Local: Understanding My Place in the Hydrosphere

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
What does the ground around your home have to do with water pollution? Young ecologists learn about their local watershed and create their own cause-and-effect models of the hydrosphere.
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PPT
Mr. E. Science

Introduction to Earth Science

For Students 6th - 8th
From the layers of Earth's spheres to latitude and longitude to looking at topographic maps, learners discover the elements of Earth's systems. 
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Activity
It's About Time

Volcanos and the Atmosphere

For Teachers 7th - 12th Standards
In the summer of 1815, snow fell every month in New England. Was this related to the volcanic eruption of Tambora in Indonesia earlier in the year? Young scientists design their own experiments to research the long-term effect a volcanic...
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Activity
UNESCO

The Water Cycle

For Teachers 4th - 6th Standards
Young scientists get their feet wet as they learn about the water cycle in this series of activities. Whether they are observing how evaporation causes puddles to dry up, or how plants put water into the atmosphere through transpiration,...
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PPT
Port Jefferson School District

Water and Climate

For Teachers 5th - 9th Standards
Dive into a lesson on the hydrosphere with this Powerpoint presentation. Building on prior knowledge of the water cycle, young scientists learn what happens to water after it falls as precipitation and explore the different factors...
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Activity
US Environmental Protection Agency

Non-Point Source Pollution

For Teachers 4th - 7th
Investigate the different types of pollution that storm drain runoff carries into oceans, lakes, rivers, and streams with this class demonstration. Using an aquarium and an assortment of everyday items that contaminants like motor oil,...
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Activity
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US Environmental Protection Agency

Water Purification by Evaporation and Condensation

For Teachers 4th - 7th
This easy-to-perform demonstration shows students how the water cycle, specifically the processes of condensation and evaporation, purifies Earth's water supply. Just mix up some water, dirt, and gravel in a glass bowl, place a cup in...
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Activity
US Environmental Protection Agency

Protecting Your Drinking Water

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Having a clean, reliable source of drinking water is essential for any community, but in many cases this is easier said than done. Engage young environmentalists in exploring the five factors affecting vulnerability of a groundwater...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water in Earth's Hydrosphere

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Environmentalists test stream water for temperature, pH, and turbidity. Each group shares their information and then the class makes an overall evaluation of the water quality. A slide show sets the backdrop for the teaching portion and...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Connect the Spheres: Earth Systems Interactions

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Is everything really connected? Take your class on a walk outside, where they will make observations and write them down on a worksheet. Once they are back in the classroom, learners will work to determine if and how things like birds,...
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Interactive
Scholastic

Study Jams! Lithosphere, Hydrosphere & Atmosphere

For Students 4th - 8th
Three of Earth's spheres are introduced to your earth scientists: lithosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere. Each are described with text, while a combination of photographs and computer images are displayed. One of the best ways to use...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Gallery Walk Questions on Earth's Radiation Balance

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Questions that can be used in a instructional activity on Earth's radiation balance are suggested in this resource. It is not a lesson plan, per se, but it is a list of questions for stations within a "Gallery Walk" instructional...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water Around Us

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students create a collage of human land use activities around a body of water. Students evaluate the effects of different kinds of land use on wetland habitats, and create a list of pros and cons for each land use.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Investigating the Earth

For Teachers 6th - 8th
In this Earth worksheet, young scholars investigate the interactions between the four major parts of the earth-the atmosphere, the geosphere, the biosphere and the hydrosphere. Students discuss their findings as a class.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Change of a River

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore changes in the Missouri River. For this Missouri River lesson, students discover that changes in the atmosphere cause changes in the river. Students search the Internet for information about the Missouri River and its...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

The Impact of Human or Natural Events on the Spheres

For Students 8th - 10th
In this hydrosphere and atmosphere worksheet, learners work in groups to present an assigned topic's effects on the atmosphere and the hydrosphere. They identify the topic as human activity or natural activity and it's impact.
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Changes in the Atmosphere or Hydrosphere

For Students 8th - 10th
In this atmosphere and hydrosphere worksheet, students work on assigned topic which are either categorized as human activity or natural activity which impact the atmosphere and the hydrosphere. Students work in groups and answer...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Change of a River

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students describe the changes that have affected the Missouri River over the past 200 years by identifying transformations in this area's atmosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, and lithosphere. They research online in groups assigned to...