Lesson Plan
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Geography, Map Skills & the Internet:

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students research various websites focusing on Italy while enhancing student utilization of computer, keyboards and the Internet. They discuss their findings on the geography, history, topography, and culture.
Lesson Plan
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Heat Up the Floating Plates

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders research the connection between the convection currents within the mantle of the earth and the moving of Earth's plates. A connection to lessons at previous grade levels on the rock cycle and important background...
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Winds Go Spinning Around

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students simulate the Coriolis Effect to comprehend why winds in the Westerlies are prone to cyclonic and anti-cyclonic motion. They arrive at an explanation of processes that drive world wind patterns
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Rock Cycle

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders identify various types of landforms of the United States. They discuss earth movements that produce geologic structures and landforms and define cycle as it relates to rocks and soil. They demonstrate the processes forming...
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Weathering Landforms

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders brainstorm a list of ways the Earth's surface can change. As a class, they are introduced to the concepts of erosion and weathering and discover how wind and water cause changes to the surface of the Earth. To end the...
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Great Blobs of Jelly!

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars explain how zoo-plankton have an impact on the global process.  In this ocean zoo-plankton lesson students calculate carbon flux and plankton densities. 
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Fossil Formation

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students discuss fossils. In this science lesson, students simulate fossils within Earth's layers by using gummy fish and bread.
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The Water Cycle

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders discover how water circulates through the earth and its atmosphere while determine how much of the Earth's water is suitable for drinking. They discover the meaning of evaporation, transpiration, and precipitation and...
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The Ocean Floor

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders discuss the process of sedimentation and the continental drift theory. They locate major structures on the ocean floor and they identify life forms at each level of the ocean.
Lesson Plan
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Cold Fronts

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students determine its' direction of movement, and list at least five weather conditions associated with the specific front, given animations of several atmospheric variables during a cold front passage. They list at least three weather...
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Mapping Africa

For Teachers 4th - 12th
Learners identify the location of parallel and meridian coordinates. They illustrate their understanding of the physical shape of the continent of Africa through a mapping activity, then explain the processes that have influenced the...
Lesson Plan
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My Friend, The Volcano

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students describe the positive impacts of volcanic activity on marine ecosystems. In this volcano lesson students explore the process that causes volcanic activity along the Mariana and Kermadec Island Arcs.
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The Chemosynthetic Cafe

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students study photosynthesis and chemosynthesis.  In this chemosynthetic lesson students explain the processes of these and define terms. 
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Dating Popcorn

For Teachers 5th - 9th
Students simulate the dating process with popcorn. In this geology lesson, students discuss how geologist find the age of rocks by gauging the amount of decay of radioactive elements. They have 6 bags of popcorn and each group microwaves...
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Writing about the climate

For Teachers 11th - Higher Ed
Students research the contributing factors to the Earth's paleoclimate. They determine the relevant climate data and use it to construct a science argument. In the process, they access data, capture images of the data plots, and...
Lesson Plan
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Miniature Water Cycles

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Learners construct a model of the water cycle in action using two-liter pop bottles to build a terrarium. Locate examples of evaporation and condensation in the water cycle (e.g., water evaporates when heated and clouds or dew forms when...
Lesson Plan
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A Rocky Situation

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders conduct experiments with rocks to observe weathering. They read books, examine websites and watch a video to examine how rocks break down into soil.
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Forces of Change

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders discuss various ways in which landforms change over time. They, in groups, research and create a reference book about landform change including tsunamis, earthquakes, weathering, erosion and volcanic eruptions.
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Miniature Water Cycles

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders create a biome of their choosing in a terrarium. Terrariums are observed and results recorded daily for 2 weeks. They observe/record changes in the water within their terrarium and use the data to write sentences...
Lesson Plan
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The Rock Cycle

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders study the 3 main types of rocks: igneous, sedimentary, metamorphic. They examine samples of these types of rocks and discuss ways to tell what kind of rock each is. They take notes and draw pictures in their science...
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Virtual Field Trip

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders are introduced to the concepts of weathering and erosion. In groups, they rotate between different stations to discover how each process effects different landforms. To end the lesson, they discuss each change in the...
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PA Watersheds, Many Ways to the Sea

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers examine the water cycle and the factors that interact with watersheds.  In this watersheds lesson students describe the purification process, trace the flow of infiltrate water through aquifers, and research the...
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What is a Karst?

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students examine the process that creates limestone.  For this limestone lesson students complete a worksheet and participate in a lab activity. 
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Plate Tectonics

For Teachers 3rd - 10th
Young scholars identify the three layers of the earth: core, mantle and crust. They demonstrate knowledge of the concepts of convergent and divergent motions of the earth and an understanding of plate tectonics.