Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Swimming with Crabs

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students explore Earth science by completing several graphic organizer activities in class. In this oceanography lesson, students research ocean inhabitants such as blue crab and oysters. Students complete graphic organizers about the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

In the Desert

For Teachers Pre-K
Students explore earth science by completing several environment activities. In this desert lesson plan, students identify where the U.S. deserts are and what types of wild life inhabit them. Students utilize arts and crafts to create a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Supermarkets, Sustenance and Sustainability

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students investigate jungles and the people who depend upon them.  In this sustainability lesson, students research wild life conservation and discover the importance of a jungle to Amazonian people.  Students create a group...
Lesson Plan
California Academy of Science

Carbon Cycle Role Play

For Teachers 3rd - 12th Standards
Anytime you make concepts clear with role playing or hands-on experience, it's a win for the whole class. Ping-Pong balls are used to represent carbon in a carbon cycle role-play activity. In small groups, children first discuss what...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Nine Planets

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
A solid lesson on teaching the nine planets in our solar system is here for you. In it, young scientists learn the correct order of the planets, and they choose one of the planets to do a research report on. They must come up with five...
Lesson Plan
Energy for Keeps

The Energy Times

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Extra! Extra! Read all about past and present energy use in a classroom-made historical newspaper. Useful as a cross-curricular assignment between science, history, and language arts, the project is sure to get young journalists...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Birds of a Feather Flock Together

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders identify all parts of an egg, and explore their importance to the life cycle of a chicken. Learners compare all sorts of birds and place them in categories based on what they look like. This five-day lesson effectively...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Our Disastrous World

For Teachers 6th - 7th
Students explore natural disasters around the world from the experiences of other students, friends and families. They collaborate with countries such as Japan, China, India, Australia, Russia, Great Britain as well as from the United...
Lesson Plan
Rainforest Alliance

Investments in Forest Carbon

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
One hundred metric tons of CO2 can accumulate in one acre of forest over time—that's a lot of carbon! In the activity, groups of middle school learners determine what makes forests important. They then solidify the concept by using a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rockets Away with Newton's Laws of Motion

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders comprehend Newton's Laws of Motion and to use the scientific method in rocketry sub-unit. They work through the scientific method. Students illustrate how science and Newton's Laws can be used in everyday situations and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Spaceship Earth

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Students consider the earth and its problems as a system. They examine the fragility of that system when population, pollution, 1st world verse 3rd world, terrorism, etc., are considered as interactive parts of a spaceship earth.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Marine Animals on the Move

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Pupils work with partners to track tagged animals using real-time data from satellites. Students gather and analyze data, compile information and conclusions and then prepare a final presentation of their research.
Lesson Plan
Alabama Learning Exchange

The Solar System

For Teachers 3rd - 4th Standards
Learners explore the Solar System. In this cross-curriculum space instructional activity, students identify the planets, name them in order according to distance from the sun, and describe major characteristics of each planet. Learners...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Giving Tree

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students explore wants and needs. In this ecology and economics lesson, students listen to the story The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein and compile a class list of what the boy got from the tree. Students categorize these items as...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rockin' Chalk

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders access prior knowledge of rocks and minerals. For this petroglyphs lesson, 4th graders become familiar with artwork on rocks. Students create original artworks using rock art.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Continents and Oceans on the Move

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Students create an awareness of the vast percentage of water covering the earth. They relate similarities/differences between topographical maps and other maps of various time periods. Students examine how to use a topographical map.
Lesson Plan
Project SMART

Rocks and Minerals: Touch the Earth

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Learners complete a unit of lessons on rocks and minerals. They conduct research, write e-mail questions to geologists, write daily journal entries, label maps demonstrating types of rocks/minerals found, and create a web page that...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Big is the Sun? Exploring the Size and Scale of the Sun, Earth and Moon

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Students explore the relative sizes of the Sun, Earth and Moon as they make an impressive large-scale model for classroom use throughout the unit.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Plants and Animals: Partners in Pollination

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students identify the plant parts and bee structures that are involved in pollination. They simulate pollination in a group activity and process the information.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Minerals, Crystals, and Gems

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students discover the relationships between minerals, crystals and gems. They bring in rocks that they find at home, in the schoolyard, etc. and examine them and attempt to identify them. They set up a classroom exhibit that includes all...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Climate and Cultures of Africa

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students gain an understanding of the relationship between climate and culture in the sub- Saharan Africa. Students will complete short exercises pertaining to the various cultures of Africa and the climate in which they live....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Art to Zoo: Celebration

For Teachers Pre-K - 3rd
Learners research and develop a report on birthday rituals around the world. In this research lesson plan, students compare birthday rituals from other cultures to their own. Images and resources are included.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Learning from Letters and Other Mail

For Teachers Pre-K - 3rd
Students explore the history of our mail system. In this postal lesson plan, students evaluate mail as a means of communication, create a mail system in their classroom where they can send and receive mail. Once the students receive...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lift and Drag: Principles of Flight and the Soaring Imagination

For Teachers 2nd - 8th
Learners construct models of early gas balloons and gliders. In this balloon and glider lesson, students create models of early gas balloons and gliders, discover how the forces of lift and drag effect aircraft in flight, and put on...