Curated OER
The Absorption of Solar Energy
Two sequential parts to this lesson introduce your class to the electromagnetic spectrum, the ability to absorb radiant energy, and the pigments in leaves that are responsible for collecting sunlight to be used in the photosynthetic...
Curated OER
Changing Planet: Black Carbon - a Dusty Situation
Introduce your young meteorologists to black carbon produced by the burning of fossil fuels by showing the video, "Changing Planet: Black Carbon." Viewers discover that deposition of this carbon on polar ice impacts the absorption of...
Curated OER
Solar Kit Lesson #9 - Properties of Solar Radiation: Reflection, Transmission, and Absorption
Middle school science stars observe and record data on the solar radiation reflected off or transmitted through various materials. They predict properties for various materials, and test their predictions by touch. This lesson becomes...
US Department of Energy
Effects of Solar Radiation on Land and Sea
New ReviewEarth science enthusiasts experiment to compare the heating rates of soil and water. They relate their findings to the weather conditions near bodies of water. Consider also having middle schoolers measure the cooling rates to...
Wild BC
The Greenhouse Effect: Warming the Earth Experiment
First in a two-part lesson on the greenhouse effect, this lesson involves a classroom demonstration of the phenomenon, and a lab group experiment with color and absorption. Although there are easier ways to demonstrate the greenhouse...
Curated OER
My Angle on Cooling: Effects of Distance and Inclination
Students discuss what heat is and how it travels. They discover that one way to cool an object in the presence of a heat source is to increase the distance from it or change the angle at which it is faced.
Curated OER
Solar Cell Energy Availability From Around the Country
Young scholars determine areas that are the most likely to produce solar energy by using NASA data. In this solar energy lesson students analyze plots and determine solar panel use.
Curated OER
Incoming Solar Radiation
Demonstrate how the spherical shape of the Earth contributes to unequal heating of its surface and results in varying climates at different latitudes. This would be an illuminating addition to your meteorology lessons, especially when...
Curated OER
Seasons Worksheet #1
First, your earth science pupils determine what season is depicted in a diagram of the tilted Earth as it receives radiation from the sun. They answer multiple choice questions about occurrences at different points on Earth in the...
Curated OER
Investigating the Climate System: Energy, A Balancing Act
Earth science explorers design an experiment to demonstrate that the albedo of a surface affects its temperature. They test to find out if moisture on the surface affects temperature. They discover whether or not concrete or asphalt heat...
Curated OER
Night Golf Classroom Guide
Students read the story "Night Golf" and respond to questions that enhance their comprehension of the book's message. For this reading lesson, students participate in a literature circle to explore reading passages. Students ...
Curated OER
Measuring Soil Temperatures at South Penquite Farm
Students investigate soil temperatures. For this graphing and earth science lesson, students insert temperature probes into different types of soil at varying depths. Students complete a data chart and construct a related graph...
Curated OER
Aerosol Science
In this aerosol worksheet, students are given data for volcanic eruptions and the average temperatures of the Earth. They determine the change in temperature from the year of the eruption to the present year and use the means to...
Curated OER
An Overview of Solar Radiation
Students use the Stefan-Boltzmann Law and the Wien displacement law to determine the amount of energy the sun emits.
Curated OER
Exploring Solar Beads
Students discover solar energy beads and learn about ultraviolet light. In this solar energy lesson plan, students learn about solar energy beads, ultraviolet light, and UV radiation dangers. Students experiment with the beads to identify.
Curated OER
What is Climate?
In this climate worksheet, students review the components that make up climate including temperature and precipitation. This worksheet has 8 true or false and 2 short answer questions.
Curated OER
Sunrise and Sunset
Students utilize a Mesonet daily solar radiation to determine the times of sunrise and sunset and the length of the day. They describe how sunrise and sunset change with latitude and longitude and how the length of the day changes with...
Curated OER
Examples for Socratic Questioning: Climate And Solar Radiation
Students explore the various controls on the amount of solar radiation received at different parts of the Earth's surface by participating in a whole class discussion. They respond to prompts that lead them to conclusions about the...
Curated OER
Clouds and Solar Radiation
Learners use satellite imaging and Mesonet solar radiation maps to answer questions given to them by the teacher and look for differences and similiarities in the data.
Curated OER
A Solar Project
Young scholars make predictions about the global temperature of the earth and to see how this is dependent upon a number of variables. Students visualize how changing parameters can impact the global temperature of the earth.
Curated OER
Clouds and Solar Radiation
Students examine how clouds affect incoming solar radiation. They compare and contrast satellite images and incoming solar radiation measurements as methods to provide information about clouds.