Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Materials Engineering: Designing Walls

For Teachers 8th - 10th
Students discover how the matierals in the earth can be used to make walls and buildings. They examine the Great Wall of China and its engineering. They complete the unit by creating their own wall from a design they drew.
Lesson Plan
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Changing Ways

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders examine hard boiled eggs as possible models for the earth's layers.
Lesson Plan
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Shadow Trackers: From Photography to Writing

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students explore the rotation of the earth. In this science lesson, students view photos of various places around the world. Students conduct an experiment in which they can see how the earth's rotation creates shadows on the earth.
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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...
Lesson Plan
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Satellite Mobiles

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students discuss satellites and their functions. They design and construct their own satellite out of readily available materials. Students are taught the definition of a satellite. They discuss the two main purposes of satellites:...
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Stress and Strain

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students use working models to show the stress and strain in the movements in the earth's crust.  In this stress lesson students complete a lab in which they construct a model. 
Lesson Plan
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How Far Away is SOHO?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students create a scale model of the Earth and the sun that demonstrates where the SOHO satellite is in relation to the Earth.
Lesson Plan
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The Origins of Business

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore the world of inventions by utilizing Google Earth. In this global geography activity, students research inventions such as the ball point pen, computer, telephone and typewriter. Students use the Google Earth software to...
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A Thin Slice of Soil

For Teachers 1st - 6th
Students examine the importance of soil in the production of what we eat and wear, and analyze the percentages of the earth used for food production. They create their own Pyramids of Life, and construct Dirt Babies out of hosiery, dirt...
Lesson Plan
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Retrograde Motion

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Learners study the motions of the heavenly bodies.  In this space lesson students use models to show a variety of schemes explaining the motions. 
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Oil Trap Model

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students investigate oil accumulation by creating a model in their classroom. In this petroleum geology lesson, students discuss where oil comes from and why it is vital to our society at this particular time. Students cut out a 3-D...
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Your Own Greenhouse

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Learners discuss the similarities between the Earth's atmosphere and a greenhouse. In this science activity, students make their own greenhouses out of plastic bottles and thermometers. Learners record the temperature different times of...
Lesson Plan
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Contain Yourself: Changes Over Time in the Use of Containers by Native Americans

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Learners examine the types of containers used by Native Americans. They discover how their form and function has changed over time. They create their own container based on the Native American examples.
Lesson Plan
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Candy Quakes

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders use candy to show the effects of deformation forces on the earth's crust.  In this rock and fossil formation activity students construct models and simulations to describe and explain natural phenomena.
Lesson Plan
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It's About Time

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students create their own timeline. In this social science instructional activity, students write the important events that happened in their lives on their timeline and then compare their timeline to Earth's timeline.
Lesson Plan
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What's Under There?

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students determine ways to make "observations" about unknowns, such as the land beneath an ice sheet or the interior of the Earth, using tools other than sight. They build "mystery boxes" and exchange them with other groups to "map"...