Curated OER
Temperature Variations and Habitability
Students, in groups, evaluate conditions outside the building and inside the classroom using thermometers, barometers, anemometers, etc. They compare interior and exterior conditions. They consider and discuss factors that contribute...
Curated OER
Building an Ecologically Balanced Living Space
Students design and build an ecologically balanced living space based on the principles of an old growth forest. They take one part of a house (or structure in the community) and redesign it according to the principles of the forest cycle.
Curated OER
Water Quality And pH
Students determine the pH level of water and its effect on aquatic plants and brine shrimp eggs. This is a three part lesson that leads the student through the development of an understanding of water pH. They form a hypothesis and are...
Curated OER
Blowing in the Wind
Young scholars identify and interpret maps, graphs, charts, tables and political cartoons. Students identify what a compass rose is and review its meaning in relation to standard directions. Young scholars design their own weathervanes....
Curated OER
Stellar Navigation Curriculum
Students investigate the concept of star mapping and how it is used in space navigation. They conduct various activities to see the effect of mapping. Also the teacher uses models and demonstrations in order to communicate the main...
Curated OER
It Won't Budge: Balloon
Eighth graders use the scientific method to discover why a balloon is not inflated.
Curated OER
Build A Model of the Water Cycle
Young scholars identify and describe the steps in the water cycle. They discover the sun as the source of the cycle. They work together to create their own water cycle model.
Curated OER
The Chinese Zodiac
Pupils create their own personalized Zodiac page on a word processing
document after researching and discussing the origins of Zodiak signs. This lesson does include resource links and may be controversial.
Curated OER
The Chinese Zodiac And The Western Zodiac
Students create individual horoscopes that contrast and compare Western and
Chinese views of their futures using poster boards and magic markers. In-class discussion is used to evaluate the use of the Zodiac in different cultures.
Curated OER
Honduras: Going Bananas
Students explore the popularity of bananas. They conduct a survey to understand the reasons for their popularity. Students research a banana's journey from the farm to school lunch. They compose a children's book about bananas explaining...
Curated OER
Clues to Climate Change
Eighth graders study topics related to global weather patterns and their local effects. They hone their research and presentation skills using online resources content specific tools, and graphing data. They create simple PowerPoint...
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Earth System: El Nino's Influence on Hurricane Formation
This video segment adapted from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center explains how and where hurricanes develop. Learn how El Nino events alter the course of atmospheric circulation. Includes background reading material and discussion...
NOAA
Noaa: Earth System Climate Change
As viewed from space, the Earth appears beautiful and serene. As you well know, however, here standing on Earth, it's complicated! Complex, that is. And, it's constantly changing. Often changes on Earth happen so slowly it would be...
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Mit: Open Course Ware: Courses: Civil Environmental: Ecology I: The Earth System
College-level online course highlighting the fundamentals of ecology. Course topics include coevolution of the biosphere, geosphere, atmosphere, and hydrosphere; photosynthesis and respiration; and the carbon, nitrogen, and water cycles....
Other
Digital Library for Earth System Education (Dlese)
This resource provides materials for teachers on a huge array of topics. Search site by topic, grade level, and desired output (such as lesson plan, case study, assessment or tutorial). Site is focused on earth science, geography, and...
University Corporation for Atmospheric Research
Ucar: Elementary Globe: Earth System in a Bottle
If you have seeds at home, try this activity to help kids learn what a seed needs to grow. Students will create experimental conditions in terrariums to study what plants need to live. They will learn about the importance of the...
National Association of Geoscience Teachers
Nagt: Earth System Science Project
An Earth System Project shows the interaction between the Geosphere, Hydrosphere, Atmosphere, and Biosphere. This project provides a model of a pond ecosystem and can easily be woven into the hydrosphere unit.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Earth System Science
Students learn to identify the parts of the Earth system and the processes that connect them. They look for interconnections among components of the Earth system at the local level, using a study site close to their school.
California State University
Csu: The Sourcebook for Teaching Science: Earth Systems Interactions
Explains what the four spheres of the Earth are and describes how volcanic eruptions affect the different spheres. Also provides a list of events that are examples of interactions.
eSchool Today
E School Today: Earth System
Learn about the systems that make up Earth, and find out how they interact.
University Corporation for Atmospheric Research
Ucar: The Earth as a System
An overview of content about Earth and its atmosphere. The module was developed for middle school science teachers to provide background information for teaching the curriculum.
Center for Educational Technologies
Exploring the Environment: Earth System Science
Explains what the four spheres of the Earth are, and the interactions between them.
Other
Digital Library for Earth System Education: Teaching Box: Essentials of Weather
A suite of lessons focusing on the basic elements of climate and weather. Inquiry-based exploration of extreme weather events and the factors of weather including clouds, wind, air pressure, temperature, and the water cycle.
University Corporation for Atmospheric Research
Ucar: Cycles of the Earth System: Make Convection Currents!
In this lesson, students will understand that temperature changes can cause density changes in water and in air.