Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Conditions at Sea

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students examine wave formation. In this wave lesson, students discover how waves are formed and how the weather at sea is predicted. Students study ocean vocabulary and understand the Beaufort Wind Force Scale.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Predicting the Future

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students examine how scientists predict the effects of global climate change. In this environmental science lesson, students participate in a discussion about using computer generated data to create climate predictions. Students examine...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sea Level Trends ~ Ocean Front Property: An "Immerging" Market

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Young oceanographers take a look at sea level data from several cities over a few centuries. They use the data to fuel a discussion about what kind of changes are taking place and the impact they are having on the coastal ecosystems....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Greenhouse Effect

For Teachers 4th - 9th
Students investigate the greenhouse effect. In this environmental lesson, students investigate why the greenhouse effect changes the climate through an experiment. Students use vinegar to simulate how acid damages the environment.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ocean Currents

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students examine ocean currents. In this investigative lesson plan, students examine ocean currents and the relationship between the ocean, our atmosphere, and the weather. They will create a model of an ocean current.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Wind and Air Pressure

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Learners make an anemometer, barometer, and wind catcher to see how wind and air pressure are related. In this wind lesson plan, students use these tools to measure the wind speed.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Properties of Air

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students conduct investigations to demonstrate and learn that air takes up space, and puts pressure, or pushes, on everything around it. They conduct experiments to learn about feeling air pressure and measuring air pressure. Prior to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water, Water Everywhere

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Young scholars explore water. In this water cycle lesson, students conduct a scientific investigation that requires build a terrarium models of the earth. Young scholars record their observations of the changes regarding water in...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Vibrant Volcanoes

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Young scholars explore volcanoes. In this science lesson, students discuss the characteristics of volcanoes and view a video segment about a volcano. Young scholars examine plate tectonics.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water, Water Everywhere

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students recognize that all of the water on earth cannot be used for drinking and that the percentage of ground and surface water is a small percentage.  In this water lesson students identify ways to conserve water. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Climate Systems - Which Location Is Best For Me?

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students study the difference between weather and climate.  In this climate systems instructional activity students search the Internet for the parts of the Earth's system, gather climate data and complete a challenge scenario. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Storm Watch: Knowing What To Do

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students study the different types of weather and how storms form.  In this weather lesson students make their own "tornado in a bottle" and create brochures.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Aurora

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students study the Aurora Borealis lights known commonly as the Northern and Southern lights. In this space science lesson, students study pictures of the Auroras for Jupiter and Saturn. Students visit the given website for an...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Cloud Types

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Students examine cloud types. For this cloud lesson, students identify cloud types, observe clouds and collect data, and analyze data to identify the most common cloud they observe overhead during the course of a month.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Recreating the Greenhouse Effect

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Young scholars recreate the greenhouse effect. In this environmental science activity, students gather materials and follow procedures to create the greenhouse effect on a small scale.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Clouds Tell All

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars examine the different types of clouds and how they form. They are to create their own weather forecast based on their observations of clouds in their area. Questions are asked for comprehension to end the lesson.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What's in My Water, and How Did it Get There?

For Teachers 9th - 11th
Learners analyze water samples to see the contaminants and then use the Internet to find the sources of the contamination.  In this investigative water lesson students analyze water and work together to solve the mystery of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Layering the Soil

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students study and classify soil. For this soil science lesson, students classify soil by texture and size and study soil horizons. Students label the soil types with their specific soil horizon and learn about permafrost. Students...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Bats and Hot Dogs

For Teachers 7th - 10th
Students identify patterns and relationships from data that is collected and solve variables.  In this investigative lesson students study ocean productivity, the nitrogen cycle and phytoplankton then answer questions.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water Pollution

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students explore the causes of water pollution. In this environmental lesson, students conduct experiments with natural filtration systems.
Lesson Plan
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Snowfall

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Students examine the differences between snow and rain. In this precipitation lesson, students measure one inch of rain and snow to calculate the amount of liquid water. Students use a snowfall "conversion" chart to measure how much...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Earth Processes

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders explore and discuss the process of evaporation. They discuss how wet things become dry. Students observe the process of evaporation and they make predictions about the observations they make about evaporation. Students...
Lesson Plan
NASA

Making Oxygen and Carbon Dioxide

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Some like it hot! Scholars observe both exothermic and endothermic reactions as part of the carbon dioxide oxygen cycle. First, scientists demonstrate (or watch) a chemical reaction to create pure oxygen using fire for...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water in the Biosphere

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Environmental explorers examine the campus and take note of living organisms. Introduce them to the biosphere and the questions of the day: How much water can be found in the biosphere? A slide show helps you along, and even contains a...