Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Guetemala's Changing Forest

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders compare their local ecological zone to the tropical rainforest. In this natural ecology lesson, 8th graders complete an activity about the differences in ecological zones. They compare their biome to the Guatemalan...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Biomes: Extreme Climate

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students discuss the causes of global warming. In this earth science lesson, students examine how global warming is connected to the arctic and world climate. They write a paragraph about their interconnection.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Volcanoes: Mount Vesuvius

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students explain how volcanoes form. In this earth science lesson, students identify the different types of volcanoes. They create brochures about Mt. Vesuvius before and after the eruption.
Activity
NOAA

Make Your Own Compass

For Students 3rd - 5th
Scholars build a compass using a needle, cork, magnet, and a water-filled cup in order to locate the magnetic north and south.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Day After Tomorrow: How is the Density of Water Related to Climate Change and Global Warming?

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Science learners simulate what happens when ice breaks up and floats on water and how increased pressure on ice causes it to melt faster. They view a clip from the movie, The Day After Tomorrow, and relate their lab activities to what...
Lesson Plan
National Wildlife Federation

Wherefore Art Thou, Albedo?

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
In the sixth lesson in a series of 21, scholars use NASA data to graph and interpret albedo seasonally and over the course of multiple years. This allows learners to compare albedo trends to changes in sea ice with connections to the...
Lesson Plan
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Chicago Botanic Garden

Historical Climate Cycles

For Teachers 5th - 6th Standards
What better way to make predictions about future weather and climate patterns than with actual climate data from the past? Young climatologists analyze data from 400,000 to 10,000 years ago to determine if climate has changed over...
Lesson Plan
US Environmental Protection Agency

Sea Level: On the Rise

For Teachers 6th - 10th
With the global temperature on the rise, the effects of climate change are starting to be seen. However, many people have a difficult time conceptualizing the long-term effects, such as sea levels rising. Given an easy and effective...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Global Warming – More or Less

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders identify the factors that contribute to global warming. In this earth science lesson, 8th graders evaluate the impact of global warming on the planet. They discuss their views within the group.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Planetary Weather

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers are asked what do they recall about weather. They reasearch weather on the other planets of the solar system. Students work in groups and each group is assigned two planets. They create a display showing the weather...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Weather Elements and Instruments

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders identify the different weather elements. In this earth science instructional activity, 8th graders explain the difference between relative humidity and dew point. They discuss the different instruments used to predict...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Wind

For Teachers K - 5th
Pupils complete activities to study wind intensity. In this wind study instructional activity, students discuss wind speed and direction. Pupils then build a kite and windsock to help them study wind intensity. Students learn to use a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Geology and it’s Influence

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Pupils compare current geological map and the one from 1800's. In this earth science instructional activity, students discuss differences between the two and explain the factors that caused the change. They write an essay about how...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Weather Instrument Use and Application

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders measure temperature, wind speed and pressure using Skymaster SM-28. For this earth science lesson, 8th graders collect data and record observations taken from outdoors. They explain why numerical values are different in...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Water Cycle and Watershed

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students summarize the steps in the water cycle. In this earth science lesson plan, students create a skit, song or poem showing the various components of the cycle. They identify the different watersheds in their area.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders participate in an activity which introduces them to common types of precipitation. They examine "Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs" through a teacher read aloud and make a weather pamphlet.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Gallery Walk Questions about Energy and Material Cycles

For Teachers Higher Ed
Students state the physical, chemical or biological processes associated with these environments: Pelagic ocean zone, California coat Cave, Indiana Barrier island beach, North Carolina Sand dune, Dunes National Park, Colorado Wetland and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Create a Cloud In a Jar

For Teachers K - 6th
Students investigate cloud formation. In this weather lesson plan, students examine how clouds are formed. Students participate in experiments that model how water vapor in the air works.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Let's Heat Things Up!

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Young scholars build and evaluate simple models to understand the greenhouse effect. They explore the role of increased greenhouse gas concentration in global warming, and the implications of global warming theory for engineers,...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Clouds

For Students 4th - 8th
Test your students' science and/or reading comprehension skills with this activity, which provides a page of information about clouds and cloud classification. Both an earth science teacher and a language arts teacher could use this...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

An Environmental Puzzle: The Carbon Cycle

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students are introducced to how respiration and photosysnthesis cycle carbon through ecosystems. They read background information that describes the role of the Sun as Earth's ultimate energy source and explains how the energy...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Air and Water in the Environment

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Students explore the traits of water condensation and evaporation. In this water cycle lesson, students develop an awareness of the importance of water for sustaining life. Students participate in a hands-on activity in which water is...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Analyzing Meteorological Data From Mars

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students compare real-time Earth and Mars measurements for temperature, wind speed, humidity and atmospheric pressure by accessing Internet-data resources from NASA. They access real-time weather data and maps for their school location.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Greenhouse in a Bottle

For Teachers 5th - 10th
Students create models of the greenhouse effect using recycled 2-liter bottles. They discuss how their models compares to the real greenhouse effect the earth experiences.