Center for Educational Technologies
Exploring the Environment: Earth System Science
Explains what the four spheres of the Earth are, and the interactions between them.
Science Buddies
Science Buddies: Career Profile: Environmental Compliance Inspector
If you care about the environment and are interested in a career which protects it, you might want to investigate the career of environmental compliance inspector. These inspectors are employed by governmental agencies as well as large...
Science Buddies
Science Buddies: Career Profile: Liquid Waste Treatment System Operator
Wastewater treatment plants are essential for providing us with clean water. The job of the liquid waste treatment system operator is to keep these plants operating. Find out about the education requirements for this job as well as the...
University Corporation for Atmospheric Research
Ucar: Field Projects: Science in Action
In this activity, learners gather information about atmospheric scientific field projects in order to understand how a research question about the Earth system can be answered by collecting data using many different research platforms...
Ohio State University
Osu: Beyond Weather and the Water Cycle: The Sun: Earth's Primary Energy Source
Extensive article that discusses the first principle of climate science, i.e., that the Sun is the primary energy source for the climate system of the Earth. Presents five concepts for this principle and explains each, providing...
University Corporation for Atmospheric Research
Ucar: The Systems Game
Systems thinking is an important concept across the Earth sciences. In this game, students either are a part of a system or serve as scientists tasked with observing and making sense of the system moving in front of them.
American Geosciences Institute
American Geosciences Institute: Earth Science Week: Exploring Energy With Gis
In this lesson, students will learn how Geographic Information Systems technology is used to locate energy reserves around the Earth. Provides link to website with lessons on using GIS. (Due to site changes, you may need to search for...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Analyzing Plate Motion Using Earth Scope Gps Data
In this chapter, you will access Global Positioning System (GPS) data from the Plate Boundary Observatory (PBO) and analyze the data in a spreadsheet to measure the motion of GPS stations in the Pacific Northwest. From your analyses, you...
NASA
Nasa: Oceanography
Join NASA in its study of oceanography and learn about the Earth system, the physical ocean, and life in the ocean. Try out the Giovanni: Earth Data Visualization Tool and access satellite-derived data to enhance the learning experience.
US Environmental Protection Agency
Epa: Causes of Climate Change
Earth's temperature depends on the balance between energy entering and leaving the planet's system . When incoming energy from the sun is absorbed by the Earth system, Earth warms. When the sun's energy is reflected back into space,...
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Earth Science: Revolutions and Rotations of the Earth Study Guide
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Summarizes the key points about how our understanding of the Earth's movements evolved from ancient times and what we know today. Includes some questions to check...
Science Struck
Science Struck: How Was the Earth Created
This resource gives a detailed explanation of the stages that the Earth and the solar system went through beginning with their origins in the Big Bang up to the present time.
Seeker
Seeker: Week of 1 6 14: Is Earth Surrounded by Dark Matter?
Article reports on a presentation that suggests that the Earth is surrounded by dark matter.
Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Hhmi: Biointeractive: Understanding Global Change
Students will build models that explain how small changes in the Earth system's components and processes can produce measurable global effects.
Other
Lehigh University: Climate Change
An inquiry-based science unit for middle school students centered on weather and climate. The lessons integrate technology and lab activities while teaching about Earth system energy balance, greenhouse gases, paleoclimatology, and how...
NASA
Nasa: Heliophysics: New Science of the Sun Solar System Connection
This site from NASA lists common and uncommon misconceptions about Sun-Earth Science. Site also provides links to activities and lesson plans as well as background reading.
Extreme Science
Extreme Science: Space Science: Our Solar System
Read about our solar system and its formation over 4.6 billion years ago. Find out about the planets, asteroids, meteors, satellites, and comets. More in-depth planet background can be accessed through links.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Earth Science: Effect of Atmospheric Circulation on Climate
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Looks at how atmospheric circulation cells affect the climate of regions.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Earth Science: Reducing Greenhouse Gas Pollution Study Guide
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] This study guide summarizes key points about global efforts to reduce greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Includes a few questions to check for understanding.
Other
Lunar and Planetary Institute: Explore! Ice Worlds
Features a collection of hands-on activities, investigations, and explorations designed to engage students in learning about ice, both in the solar system and on planet Earth.
NASA
Nasa: Jet Propulsion Laboratory: Planet Quest: Exoplanet Exploration
Constellation of articles, images, diagrams, posters, videos, and more on the subject of the search for planets, particularly Earth-like planets, outside our solar system.
PBS
Pbs/global Weather Machine
This site explains wind systems as part of a global weather scheme, with illustrations.
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Exploring Environmental Change
Students explore the connections that can exist in a natural environment, and examine how changes to the environment, particularly those caused by human activity, can affect those connections.
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: La'ona De Wilde: Environmental Biologist
In this video profile produced for Teachers' Domain, meet La'ona DeWilde, an environmental biologist who integrates her Athabascan heritage and her Western scientific training to help remote Alaskan villages address environmental issues.