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Structure of the Earth

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders explain the difference between igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks. They identify the stages in the rock cycle. They discover the origin of rocks as well.
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Recent Earthquakes and Volcanic Eruptions

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students study the recent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.  In this recent earthquakes instructional activity students complete an activity while working in groups.
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King of the Mound

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students investigate water as an agent of change. They conduct an experiment involving a mound of soil, observe and record any changes that occur when ice melts on the mound of dirt, and create a drawing of the changes that take place...
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Meteorologist for the Day

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders examine the symbols used on weather maps. They analyze a newspaper weather forecast and identify and discuss the various symbols used on the map. Next, they prepare a weather map for their own city using the symbols...
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Earth History Part II

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders hypothesize what caused the break up of continents. In this earth science lesson, 8th graders study about the events that took place during Mesozoic and Cenozoic Era. They reconstruct a supercontinent and report their...
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Orientation of the Earth in Space

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students hypothesize the location of the sun in the sky at diferent times of day and at different latitudes. They perform several experiments to provide evidence for their hypothesis. Experiments including observing the sun's position at...
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Adding the Moon: Using a Playground Model to Explore the Movement of the Sun, Earth, and Moon

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Students experience the rotation of the Earth and the Moon, and the revolution of the Moon around the Earth using a playground model.
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How the Amount of Solar Energy Absorbed by the Earth is Dependent Upon the Earth's Position

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students investigate the angle of light and how it faces the earth. They conduct a series of investigations with the following two objectives. Students determine if the angle of light is a factor in the absorption of heat. They correlate...
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Arbor Day Across the United States

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students perform research about hardiness zones used to guide planting. They read a hardiness zone color-key map and create their own color-key maps to show when different states celebrate Arbor Day.
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Physical Science: Dying for a Tan?

For Teachers 1st - 5th
Students assess how much harm UV radiation can have on your skin and how much protection is provided by sunblock, sunglasses and clothing. They experiment with UV index numbers and the amount of exposure risk of skin damage for any given...
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Why Do We Have Night?

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Students engage in a fun, creative way to discover how the Earth moves. This lesson helps students explain why there is day and night. It can also create curiosity to further study the solar system and eclipses!
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Seasonal cycles

For Teachers 1st - 5th
Students understand that the rotation of the Earth is responsible for the seasons. In this seasonal cycles lesson, students learn how the rotation of the Earth affects the seasons. Students answer questions about the rotation, the...
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The Sun and Moon

For Teachers K - 1st
Students understand basic concepts about Earth, the Sun and the Moon, such as relative movement and the phases of the moon. Through discussion, looking at pictures, listening to Native American stories, observing, and building models,...
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Seasons

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Young scholars investigate the reason for seasons on Earth during three activities. They construct a model of the Earth and Sun to identify patterns in the changes of the angle of light on the Earth's surface. Then they conduct a heat...
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Modeling the Change of Seasons

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students evaluate data to determine changes in length of day. They model the revolution of Earth around the sun to show changes in length of day and sun angle and illustrate how the sun angle affects the change of season.
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The Water Planet

For Teachers K - 4th
Students use NASA photographs and hands-on activities to compare the amounts of land and water on our planet. They discover that the world has five oceans and that they cover seventy percent of Earth's surface. Students learn how this...
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Follow the Sun

For Teachers 4th - 7th
Students use a simple model of the Earth and Sun as seen from space to explore the sun's apparent movement across the sky over the course of a day and year. They consider the apparent direction of movement and changes in the sun's angle.
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Classroom Meteorologists: An Experiential Approach to Learning about Seasons and Weather

For Teachers K
Students examine several concepts about weather in the seven lessons of this unit. This year long activity helps students to gather data seasonally about wind, clouds, precipitation, and temperature. Earth's three climate zones are...
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The Sun Does What?

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students examine why the sun rises in the east and sets in the west. In this sun lesson, students explore the sunset and shadows. Students prove that the sun's position changes during the day. Students investigate what causes a shadow....
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Finding the Ages of Rocks and Fossils

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers practice dating fossils. They learn the concept of "deep time"--that earth was formed billions of years ago. They experience excellent hand-outs and virtual age tutorial links.
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Get Ready to Rumble

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Young scholars use the Internet to examine earthquakes. They discover the theory of tectonic plates and analyze faults throughout the world. They also examine the science of seismology to explain how earthquakes are measured.
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Geological Features: How Weathering & Erosion Help Create Landforms

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students explore how the Earth's surface changes resulting in geological features and landforms. They perform a read-a-loud on Thomas Locker's Mountain Dance, complete a KWL chart, and create a landform using plaster of paris.
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Taking a Voyage away from Home

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students experience and participate in a journey through a "Voyage" exhibition of the Solar System and the frontier it covers. They build a dynamic model of the Earth and Sun. Descriptions are given on the relative sizes of the Sun and...
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Weather Fun Facts

For Teachers 5th - 6th
In this science worksheet, students investigate fun facts about weather by reading 25 short paragraphs about weather, storms, climate and geography. Students complete a crossword puzzle about weather.

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