Lesson Plan
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The Mathematics of Convection: Nature's Model for Energy Production

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers conduct a series of experiments to investigate density, buoyancy and climate. In this math activity, pupils design and build a hot air balloon to demonstrate convection. They research and write a paper about solar chimneys.
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Investigating the Climate System - Clouds

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Here is a fabulous lesson on the Earth's radiant energy system. This amazing, 31-page document is chock-full of great activities, worksheets, lab sheets, quizzes, rubrics, and assessments. Learners model and explain cloud formation,...
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Earth Energy Budget Pre Lab

For Teachers 4th - 7th
Learners explore energy by conducting an in class experiment. In this climate change instructional activity, students conduct a water vapor experiment in a soda bottle. Learners utilize graphs and charts to analyze the results of the...
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Energy and the Environment: What Can We Do?

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Pupils consider the impacts of global warming and brainstorm ways to help decrease their contribution to the problem.  In this climate change lesson plan, students are exposed to facts concerning global warming and think of ways to...
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Sunlight and Warm Air

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students discuss radiant energy from the sun, performing a simple experiment with sun glasses and bright light to demonstrate the concept. Students further participate in simple in-class experiments to demonstrate: air density as it...
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Create a Cloud In a Jar

For Teachers K - 6th
Young scholars investigate cloud formation. In this weather lesson, students examine how clouds are formed. Young scholars participate in experiments that model how water vapor in the air works.
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Making Clouds: Aerosol-Cloud Interactions in a Beaker

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students observe a teacher demo on how clouds form. In this earth science lesson, students discover how cloudiness affects relative humidity. They explain the scattering of light by clouds.
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Air and Weather

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders study Earth's materials. In this air and weather lesson, 2nd graders note changes in the weather and examine tools that help us study the weather. Students analyze how changes in the environment make changes in the...
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Global Change- Earth as Home

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Learners create their own environment. In this environmental protection lesson, students pretend they are the owners of a tropical island. They create jobs for the citizens and develop the island as a model environment.
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Volcanic IntEruptions

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders research about a devastating eruption of a certain volcano. In this earth science lesson plan, 7th graders discover the climate changes that occurred due to a volcanic eruption. They create a presentation about their...
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Your Own Greenhouse

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Young scholars discuss the similarities between the Earth's atmosphere and a greenhouse. In this science lesson, students make their own greenhouses out of plastic bottles and thermometers. Young scholars record the temperature different...
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Biogeochemical Cycles

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students research an assigned biogeochemical cycle. In this cycle activity, students need to determine that all cycles need energy to continue. The students will look at a given cycle to describe it, research and draw an assigned cycle,...
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Asteroids

For Teachers K - 12th
Young scholars examine the different types of asteroids and how they enter the atmosphere.  In this space lesson students use mashed potatoes to create an asteroid they can eat.
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The Greenhouse Effect in a Jar

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Learners explore climate change by participating in a physical science experiment. In this greenhouse effect lesson plan, students discuss the impact global warming has on our environment and how it works. Learners utilize a glass jar,...
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Weather and Wind

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Students study wind and its effect on weather.  In this investigative activity students write a report on wind and weather and create a movement sequence. 
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The Future of Arctic Sea Ice

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students research about the importance of sea ice to world climate and sea organisms. In this earth science lesson, students create a model of present and future Arctic sea ice communities. They discuss how ice melting affects...
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Weather, Sea Level Rise and Climate Change Course

For Teachers 8th - 10th
Learners explain the impact of glacial melting to global climate change. In this environmental science lesson, students design an experiment to investigate the effect of salinity change to melting glaciers. They share their results to...
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Breaking it Down

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers will identify the factors that contribute to erosion and weathering. They will start by differentiating between chemical and mechanical weathering. They then apply what they learned by playing the online jeopardy game. Key...
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Meteors

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students identify the different types of meteorite using an interactive website. In this earth science lesson, students simulate how meteors crash on a surface. They relate meteor size to crater size.
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Layering the Air

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students study the layer of the atmosphere. In this lesson on the atmosphere, students discuss the composition of the air around us and how the atmosphere was formed. Students create a scale model of the layers of the atmosphere.
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Water Cycle Reading and Writing

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Here is a great way to get pupils to express a scientific concept in a fun way. After hearing the story of Walter the Water drop and learning facts about the water cycle, the class will write a creative expository piece describing what...
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Fossil Fuel and the Ticking Clock

For Teachers 6th - 7th
Students study energy sources to learn about fossil fuels and environmental concerns. In this energy sources lesson, students watch demonstrations for various energy examples. Students find hidden pennies, make a bar graph on their data,...
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Green House Effect

For Teachers 2nd - 8th
Young scholars read about the green house effect and how our environment is deteriorating and what we can do to help it. In this green house effect lesson plan, students conduct a home and school energy audit, and create a rap.
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Exploring Ultraviolet (UV) Light From the Sun

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students identify the different energy given off by the sun. In this earth science lesson, students predict where the UV beads will turn the darkest color. They explain the importance of using UV protection.