Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Be a "Fossil Detective" an Effective Tool in Earth Science Education

For Teachers 4th - 7th
Students examine the geological time scale: the Earth is ancient; time can be divided into periods based on its fossil content.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Basics: Earth Science

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students define terms and watch a segment from a film.  In this scientific theory instructional activity students work in small groups and draft a theory that was discussed in the program. 
Lesson Plan
Virginia Department of Education

Greenhouse Gas Modeling Activity

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Why are greenhouse gases called greenhouse gases? Young Earth scientists learn about greenhouse gases though experimentation in the second installment of a 3-part series. They use lamps to model radiant energy as well...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Earth's Changing Atmosphere

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students examine the constant changing of the Earth's atmosphere. After labeling the layers of the Earth, they identify various processes inside the Earth that can cause gases to be emitted. Using the internet, they research how the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Earth's Systems

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students study the three components that comprise the Earth's system.  In this investigative lesson students develop an understanding of the Earth's structure and identify the three major components of the system. 
Lesson Plan
US Department of Energy

Draft-O-Meter

For Teachers K - 8th
Help your class improve the energy efficiency of their homes with the draft-o-meter. Simply tape a sheet of plastic wrap to a pencil and use it to observe any air leaking through windows, doorways, and other locations around the house....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Plotting a Hurricane Using Latitude and Longitude

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners define and use "absolute location," latitude, and longitude. They locate on a map or globe the Earth's poles, circles, tropics, and beginning points of measurements for latitude and longitude.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Space Science: Phases of the Moon

For Teachers 6th - 7th
Looking for a terrific activity on the phases of the moon that has lots of good worksheets? With two excellent websites are embedded in the plan, the activity is sure to spark some interest in your astronomy unit. Some common...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Life Cycle of the Plant - The Pumpkin

For Teachers 1st
First graders access prior knowledge about pumpkins and read the story Pumpkin, Pumpkin. They will sequence the life cycle of the pumpkin through the use of picture cards and then sing a song about the life cycle of the pumpkin and plant...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Hello, Sunshine!

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students investigate how the sun travels across the sky at different latitudes using Solar Motion Demonstrator. In this earth science lesson, students explain why seasons change. They study how the tilt of the Earth's axis affects...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Solar System: The Four Inner Planets and Earth's Moon and Astronauts

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders read THe Magic School Bus: Lost in the Solar System. For this language arts and science lesson, 2nd graders explore the four inner planets. Students view the inner planets using Google Earth.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Earth Science: Create a Star Clock!

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students identify and use the starts to tell time just as people had for thousands of years. They identify the stars that appear to rise in the east and set in the west, and that those stars near the North Pole appear to go in circles...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

8th Grade Earth Science: Density

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students draw upon their prior knowledge of the density of water and practice writing a hypothesis, making an observation, and analyzing data while watching a density demonstration.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water Cycle

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students identify the different stages in the water cycle. In this earth science lesson, students calculate the residence time of water in oceans using a mathematical formula. They explain how this cycle regulates the Earth's climate.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Glaciers As Indicators of Global Climate Change

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Students research about glacial ice melting on the four major spheres of the Earth. In this earth science activity, students explain how this process relates to global warming. They create a presentation and share their findings with the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Earthquake Experiments

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students discuss the effects of earthquakes. For this earth science lesson, students create earthquake models and earthquake-proof buildings. They construct their own seismograph.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Hurricanes

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students perform various experiments to explore hurricanes. In this earth science lesson, students explain how they form. They identify the structure of a hurricane.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Chocolate Chipping Away at the Rock Cycle

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders identify the different types of rocks. In this earth science lesson, 8th graders compare and contrast rocks and chocolate cookies. They explain how materials are recycled beneath the Earth.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Phases of the Moon

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Young scholars explore why when you examine the moon depends on its location in relationship to the sun and Earth. The moon never goes away or changes shape-we just see a different fraction of sunlight being reflected from the moon to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

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...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Science Videos

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Young scholars plan, practice, and act in a 2-3 minute videotaped production about a specific topic. Students from a local high school give presentations pertaining to seasons, earth rotation, and moon phases. Young scholars analyze the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Me and My Shadow

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers apply the process of scientific inquiries or technological design to explore the explanations of the daily patterns of the Earth's rotation. They record different shadow lengths showing the apparent movement of the sun...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Earths Waters

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students research Everglades National Park, Three Gorges Dam, Hoover Dam, Roaring 40s, and Mariana Trench. After reviewing the sites, they choose one to illustrate a postcard with an image on one side and a description of the site on...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Planet Mars

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders gain knowledge about Mars and Earth. In this compare and contrast lesson, 5th graders use visual representations of the solar system to observe the characteristics of the planets. Students read fiction and nonfiction...

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