Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Stopping Deforestation in the Amazon: A Publicity Campaign

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students investigate the environment by designing a group project.  In this ecology instructional activity, students identify the man made threats to the Amazon while reading environmentally conscience vocabulary terms. ...
Unit Plan
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Matter And Materials

For Teachers 1st
Students investigate the concept of identifying different objects in nature and classifying them into different categories. The students will describe and explain a group of the objects orally and in writing form that is appropriate to...
Lesson Plan
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Cooler In The Shadows

For Teachers K - 1st
Students investigate the concepts of shadows and how they are projected with objects different positions in relation to the sun. They conduct an experiment by observing objects in different positions. Then students record the observations.
Lesson Plan
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Detectives in the Landscape

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders explore landscapes. In this landscape lesson, 4th graders investigate different elements of landscapes. Students design a visual presentation using photographs taken during a nature walk.
Lesson Plan
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Weather and Water in Ghana

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students research the rainy and dry season to investigate Africa's weather. In this African weather lesson, students use the given websites to research the rainy and dry seasons of Ghana in Africa. Students then read stories about life...
Lesson Plan
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Chocolate Chip Cookie Mining

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Students explore nonrenewable energy resources. In this coal lesson, students investigate how coal is formed and how it is used as a source of energy. Students mine for "coal" using toothpicks and chocolate chip cookies.
Lesson Plan
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Energy and Energy Conversion

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders investigate different energy conversions through hands-on activities. In this energy lesson, 3rd graders move through four stations and conduct experiments illustrating energy conversions. Wave energy, chemical energy,...
Lesson Plan
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Day and Night

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders investigate the Earth's rotation and revolution and the moon's orbit around the Earth. They participate in a class discussion about how night and day occur, and take notes. Next, they watch a video about the solar system...
Lesson Plan
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Humidity and Air Saturation

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students experiment with air saturation. In this earth science instructional activity, students first complete an activity which teaches humidity. Then they use the scientific method to create their own experiments to test how...
Lesson Plan
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Latent Heat and Clouds

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Learners explore latent heat and how it relates to clouds in the atmosphere.  In this earth science lesson students investigate how clouds are formed. Learners examine clouds and the water cycle.
Lesson Plan
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Apply Scientific Inquiry and Scientific Habits of Mind

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners review the components of the scientific inquiry method. In groups, they develop hypothesis on a variety of different topics and design an investigation or experiment to test it. They share their conclusions with the class and...
Lesson Plan
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I Don't Think We're in Kansas Anymore (Grades 2-5)

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Students give examples of erosion and weathering processes. They determine causes of America's Dust Bowl phenomena.Students define erosion as the condition in which the earth's surface is worn away by the action of water and wind.
Lesson Plan
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Our Natural Resources

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students investigate natural resources and man-made items. In this earth science lesson, students classify items from trash into man-made items or natural resources. Students construct a flow chart to investigate the life cycle of a...
Lesson Plan
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The Greenhouse Effect

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders investigate the temperature change in open and closed containers. In this earth science lesson, 7th graders relate this lab activity to greenhouse effect. They create a line graph from data collected in the experiment.
Lesson Plan
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Understanding the Roots

For Teachers K - 2nd
Young scholars investigate the parts of a flower. For this earth science lesson, students read the book The Magic School Bus Plants Seeds and identify various plant parts. Young scholars construct a model of a flowering plant from...
Lesson Plan
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Severe Weather

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders investigate the cause and effect of severe weather. In this Earth Science instructional activity, 9th graders use a learning contract and a rubric to develop a presentation about severe weather.
Lesson Plan
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The Invisible Energy in Light

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Young scholars investigate radiant energy. In this earth science lesson, students use solar beads and clear sunscreen to observe radiant solar energy. Young scholars note observations.
Lesson Plan
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Studying Earthquakes in the Classroom

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students simulate p waves (longitudinal) & s waves (transverse) using a slinky and rope, simulate one of the three types of lithospheric boundaries, and investigate plate tectonics at some select Web sites.
Lesson Plan
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Sowing Seeds

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students observe earth science by participating in a planting activity. In this seeds lesson, students identify the process for seeds to transform into plants which eventually produce food. Students sow seeds in the ground and eventually...
Lesson Plan
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Moon Phase Stations

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders investigate the moon. In this Earth science activity, 3rd graders discuss the moon phases and how every 4 weeks the moon cycles through these phases.
Lesson Plan
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Dendrology Scavenger Hunt

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers examine leaves that are assigned to them.  In this earth science lesson students work in groups and find examples of leaves that the instructor asks for. 
Lesson Plan
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Four Seasons

For Teachers K - 2nd
Pupils identify the change in the seasons. In this earth science lesson, students describe weather of each of the seasons and illustrate pictures of each season. Pupils discuss their illustrations with their classmates.
Lesson Plan
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Weather Forecasting Basics

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders analyze weather diagrams and weather maps. In this earth science lesson, 8th graders explain why it is important to know the weather. They complete a handout at the end of the lesson.
Lesson Plan
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Mineral Lab

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders examine the physical properties of different minerals. In this earth science lesson, 8th graders explain the uses of minerals in their daily lives. They complete the mineral identification table during the lesson.