Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Classification of Clouds

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers view a cloud slide show presentation and identify types of clouds. They estimate height based on cloud's appearance. They discuss the vague nature of cloud nomenclature and compare it to the English standard measurement...
Lesson Plan
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Using the Very, Very Simple Climate Model in the Classroom

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Learners study the relationship between the average global temperature and carbon dioxide emissions.  In this weather activity students develop a test scenario using a model then read and interpret graphs of data. 
Lesson Plan
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What's the Connection Between Convection and Inversion?

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders observe a simulation demonstrating the difference between convection and inversion. They explain where and when convection and inversion layers occur and how each impacts air quality, and by connection, human health.
Lesson Plan
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What the Sun Can Do

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students develop and test a unique, personally-relevant hypothesis about the consequences of exposure to UV radiation based units on a living organism, common baker's yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae).
Lesson Plan
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Sunlight and Warm Air

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Pupils 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...
Lesson Plan
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Formation of Rain

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students sequence the steps leading to the formation of rain, and design a model to represent these steps. This task assesses students' abilities to classify, generalize, infer, interpret and communicate data, and construct a pictorial...
Lesson Plan
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Hands-On Weather Data Collecting

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders use Internet sites to complete a study of weather and atmosphere. They compare weather data from cities around the world. They use thermometers, the Beaufort wind scale, and simple weather symbols to measure weather around...
Lesson Plan
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For Your Eyes Only

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students identify two major types of visible pollutants, smog, and particulate matter, They explain that air pollutants are generated during incomplete combustion. They measure and rank collectors from the most pollutants to the least...
Lesson Plan
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Historic Earth Science Innovations

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students research the demands or limitations on Earth scientists. In groups, they design and build a model that would be useful to them in the lab or field. They share their model and their ideas behind it to the class and answer any...
Lesson Plan
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Cosmic Rays

For Teachers 6th - Higher Ed
Students study cosmic rays and the energy behind them.  In this atmospheric lesson students complete a cosmic ray telescope project. 
Lesson Plan
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Energy Efficiency Ambassadors

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students compare two products that provide the same function but require different amounts of energy.   In this energy efficiency lesson students research and demonstrate energy efficiency in action and how it applies to...
Lesson Plan
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Wonders of Weather

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students understand the destructive force of a tornado. They learn the role of a thunderstorm in the creation of a tornado.
Lesson Plan
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The Blizzard of 1993

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students read and interpret the information from a barograph from a major winter storm. This task assesses students' abilities to interpret and analyze graphs, construct data tables and graphs, generalize, infer, apply knowledge of...
Lesson Plan
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Don't Marry the Mole!

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders demonstrate the power of solar energy by completing a variety of activities, including the creation of a Pizza Box Solar Oven.
Lesson Plan
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Formation of Wind

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students correctly sequence the steps leading to the formation of wind, and describe the cause and effect relationships involved in the formation of wind. This task assesses students' abilities to classify, generalize, infer, interpret...
Worksheet
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Super Scientist Quiz

For Students 12th - Higher Ed
In this science activity, students match each of the descriptions on the right to the correct scientist listed on the right. There are thirty scientists to identify and match on the sheet.
Lesson Plan
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Liquids in Bottles

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Learners investigate different liquids to develop their concept of a liquid. They work at a center to tip, swirl, shake, roll, and otherwise investigate seven liquids in small, clear plastic bottles: plain water, corn syrup, liquid...
Lesson Plan
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Learning about air

For Teachers Pre-K - 1st
Students read a book and have a class discussion about the air around them. In this air lesson plan, students learn about properties of air, and discuss other gases they have observed.
PPT
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Academic Raceway 500: Weather

For Teachers 4th - 5th
This weather PowerPoint features a game in which students advance to the finish line with a race car as they answer questions related to weather. Topics include types of clouds, weather instruments, the water cycle, and various weather...
Lesson Plan
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What is Air?

For Teachers 4th - 7th
Students investigate air by participating in a class experiment. For this matter measurement lesson, students identify air as a gas which consists of mass. Students utilize a windsock or balloon to measure oxygen and explore it's true...
Lesson Plan
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Bacteria Change Earth's Atmosphere

For Teachers 10th
Tenth graders organize information to explain how photosynthetic bacteria contributed to climatic changes that happened on Earth. Students create a timeline by using a storyboard to tell the story of the change.
Lesson Plan
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Travelogue of a Planet

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students randomly select a planet, including Earth. They research key features of the planet including mass, volume, density, gravity, temperature, weather, geology, atmosphere, surface features, location from sun, Earth and other...
Lesson Plan
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Planet Structure & Interior

For Teachers 8th - 9th
Students compare Jupiter and Earth. In this Earth and space studies instructional activity, students compare the composition of Earth and Jupiter and analyze how the composition affects the rate at which the planets spin.
Lesson Plan
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Planetary Weather

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers are asked what do they recall about weather. They reasearch weather on the other planets of the solar system. Students work in groups and each group is assigned two planets. They create a display showing the weather...