Lesson Plan
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Earth's Rotation

For Teachers K - 2nd
Learners explore the Earth and its rotation. Volunteers model the sun-Earth system to demonstrate that the Earth rotates around the sun. In groups, students simulate "traveling" around the sun and discuss when it is night and day.
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Earth Science/ Scientific Methods

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers identify questions and problems in the earth and environmental sciences that can be answered through scientific investigations. They design and conduct scientific investigations to answer questions related to earth and...
Lesson Plan
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Waves Through Earth: Interactive Online Mac and PC

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students participate in a JAVA activity to vary the seismic P and S wave velocity through each of four concentric regions of Earth. They match "data" for travel times vs. angular distance around Earth's surface from the source to detector.
Worksheet
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Forces in Earth

For Students 5th - 8th
In this Earth's forces worksheet, learners will review the characteristics of earthquakes, including types of faults. Students will interpret a seismograph read-out from an earthquake. Learners will complete 10 fill in the blank...
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Be a "Fossil Detective" an Effective Tool in Earth Science Education

For Teachers 4th - 7th
Young scholars examine the geological time scale: the Earth is ancient; time can be divided into periods based on its fossil content.
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Environment and the Earth

For Teachers Higher Ed
Students were involved in environmental service learning and they gathered information from academic buildings for a database. The data allowed them to use an establish baseline data on light use, recycling, and water fixtures in five...
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Earth Matters

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students identify Earth's equator, prime meridian, lines of latitude, lines of longitude, parallels, and meridians.
Lesson Plan
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As the World Turns: The Coriolis Effect: Global Wind Patterns, Earth's Rotation

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students use pencil and paper to explore the Coriolis effect and how the Earth's rotation causes global wind patterns.
Lesson Plan
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Earth's History

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders investigate how fossils are formed. They analyze a photo of the Grand Canyon, and create a fossil cast and mold using plaster of paris and shells.
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Significant Science: Statistics for Planet Earth

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders discover how statistics are used to interpret results of scientific experiments. Students write hypotheses and test the hypotheses by collecting data and organizing the data. Students graph their data to produce a visual....
Lesson Plan
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Earth Science: In Depth Look at Earthquakes

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students engage in an interactive Internet lesson covering the reasons and results of earthquakes. After reading eyewitness accounts and viewing animations, they use seismograms to measure and locate the epicenters. In an ongoing study,...
Lesson Plan
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A Model of Earth's Tectonic Plates

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students build a model of the Earth showing tectonic plate boundaries. The pattern for the model is provided in the lesson plan. This is a very useful hands-on component for a lesson plan about geology or earthquakes.
Lesson Plan
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How Do You Move Along the Earth?

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Young scholars determine their own walking and running velocity. In this physics lesson, students calculate velocity using distance and time information. They compare human and animal speeds.
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Sorting and Using Materials

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Students practice sorting and classifying objects. In groups, they choose a variety of materials and describe how each one looks and feels. They must agree on how to classify each object and share their groupings with the class. They...
Lesson Plan
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Hover Above the Earth

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders build a balloon hovercraft, take direct measurements, answer critical questions, and make calculations using the data gathered in order to see the concept of acceleration as a change in velocity. They use a worksheet...
Lesson Plan
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Mighty Earth Movers

For Teachers K - 5th Standards
Note that although the publisher lists almost all of the Common Core standards for both math and language arts, you will most likely want to take the general topic and choose which area to focus on. Regarding math, pupils measure worms...
Worksheet
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Earth's Atmosphere

For Students 7th - 9th
In this Earth's atmosphere activity, students observe the effects of air pressure using an egg. They describe what happens to the egg and what makes it do what it does. Then they determine how to get the egg out of the bottle opening at...
Lesson Plan
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Using Four Main Directions in the Classroom

For Teachers 1st - 5th
Students identify the four cardinal directions. In this map skills geography activity, students use a magnetic compass to label the four directions in the classroom. Students use the four directions to locate objects in the classroom.
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Using Electricity

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Students name appliances that use electricity. They construct a simple electrical circuit. They predict whether a circuit work. They name components of an electrical circuit.
Lesson Plan
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Sundials: Observing and Using Shadows

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Students build sundials and observe changes in shadows over the course of one or more days. They identify patterns in the shadows and discuss how shadows may be used to tell time.
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Don't Use it All Up

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Students observe the way that a sponge absorbs liquids and discuss how we our use of natural resources affects the environment around us. They discuss the need to conserve resources so we don't run out of what we need.
Lesson Plan
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Adventures on the Eastern Half of Planet Earth

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders explore a country in the Eastern hemisphere. They develop a packet that could be used by someone visiting that country during the month of December. Students explore the climate, foods, geography, customs and culture of...
Lesson Plan
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Mineral Exploration Using Remote Sensing

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students use quantitative data that they gather to figure out where there is an ore body in their model. They describe how geologists could use similar information in order to figure geologic patterns and geologic history for a specific...
Lesson Plan
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Make Your Own Trashasaurus Rex Sculpture

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students explore environmental awareness through reusing materials. In this environmental awareness lesson, students use trash to create a "trashasaurus," a large dinosaur sculpture made from waste. Detailed structure and papier-mâché...