Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Here Comes the Sun

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders watch a video on the solar system and examine the role of the sun. As a class, they complete a KWL chart and make different color temperature pockets to use during their experiment. In groups, they make predictions about...
Lesson Plan
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Cooler in the Shadows

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students explore how the amount of sunlight and heat change in areas that are shaded.
Lesson Plan
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Earth's Energy Balance Performance Standard

For Teachers 6th - 7th
Students examine how Earth-Sun relationships affect Earth's energy balance and the pattern of world temperatures. Students study a Surface Temperature Regions map and write a paragraph describing the temperature pattern from the Equator...
Lesson Plan
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Solar S'Mores

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students see that solar energy is the energy given off by the sun. They explain that when light energy is absorbed by objects it is changed to heat energy and that dark-colored objects absorb more light and store more heat from sunlight.
Lesson Plan
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Solar S’Mores

For Teachers 1st - 6th
Learners cook with the power of the sun. In this solar energy lesson, students explore solar cooking as they apply scientific principles to cook s'mores.
Worksheet
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Energy Resources

For Students 7th - 9th
For this energy resources worksheet, students read about the greenhouse effect and global warming. Then they explain why scientists are so concerned with greenhouse gases. Students also describe how global warming affects people worldwide.
Lesson Plan
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Energy Flow in Ecosystems

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Pupils, in groups, create a slide show about the ecosystem and answer critical thinking questions based on their research.
Lesson Plan
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The Shadow Knows - Creating Shadows

For Teachers K - 1st
Young learners recognize a shadow and witness how shadows occur when light is blocked. They access streamed video, standard video, and websites in order to engage in their study of how light is naturally blocked to create shadows. An...
Lesson Plan
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Black and White Bottle Experiment

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students investigate solar energy and color. In this solar energy lesson, students assess the benefits of solar energy. Students discover that solar energy is attracted to darker colors and conduct an experiment using colored...
Lesson Plan
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CO2 and You

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students study the scientific evidence about carbon dioxide emissions. They learn to calculate the amount of energy used by different appliances. They complete a worksheet which analyzes the amount of energy that their home uses.
Lesson Plan
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Science: Let's Have a Cool Lunch

For Teachers 1st
First graders develop problem-solving skills by designing methods for keeping lunch boxes cool. Once they determine the amount of sunlight and heat generated in shaded and unshaded areas, they explore ways to provide shade. Finally, 1st...
Lesson Plan
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Solar Matters II

For Teachers 4th - 11th
Students research solar energy. In this solar energy activity, students construct a KWL chart and research solar energy through various websites and related readings. Students complete a science journal page as an assessment.
Lesson Plan
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Make a Solar Sill

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students design a solar still and purify water.  In this earth process and design lesson, students observe how the heat of the sun helps to purify water. Students analyze why this could be helpful on a desert island.  Students...
Lesson Plan
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Sky Observations Sky & Cloud Windows

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Young scholars observe the sky and weather to gather data. They conduct experiments to answer questions about the sky and weather phenomena. They measure, analyze and present data. They create sky windows by gluing sky colored paint...
Lesson Plan
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Water Conservation

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Open learners' eyes to the challenge of finding safe drinking water – something we often take for granted in our country. The PowerPoint presentation includes images, graphs, diagrams, and even a video to stimulate discussion on how we...
Lesson Plan
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(S-1) Sunlight and the Earth

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers discuss the solar heating of the Earth and atmosphere, its heat loss proceses, and the way these relate to weather and climate.
Lesson Plan
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Recreating the Greenhouse Effect

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Young scholars recreate the greenhouse effect. In this environmental science activity, students gather materials and follow procedures to create the greenhouse effect on a small scale.
Lesson Plan
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Characteristics of Energy

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students explore Earth science by completing energy worksheets in class. In this energy forms lesson, students identify and define a list of energy vocabulary terms and a K-W-L chart. Students view a matter video clip in class and...
Lesson Plan
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The Effect of Rain on Morning Temperatures

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders study the effects of the water cycle. They create a graph of the air temperature versus solar radiation on a rainy and clear 24 hour period using data from a provided link. Afterward, they answer questions to determine the...
Lesson Plan
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Collecting the Rays

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students investigate the affect shape has on the ability of a solar panel to collect sunlight.  In this collecting sunlight using a solar panel lesson, students determine which solar panel shape collects the most sunlight. ...
Worksheet
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Alternative Energy Resources

For Students 7th - 8th
In this alternative energy resources worksheet, students identify the ore that is commonly used in nuclear power plants and how it is processed. Then they determine the reaction that occurs when uranium atoms are split. Students also...
Worksheet
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Dressing for the Heat in Japan

For Students 5th - 8th
In this grammar instructional activity, students select the correct connector from the list of 10 options and fill in the blanks of the sentences. There are 11 sentences to complete on this instructional activity.
Lesson Plan
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Writing the Wind

For Teachers 1st - 5th
Students make a windmill.  In this wind lesson, students learn background information about the windmill, complete an activity where they create a windmill, discuss using wind as a natural resource and brainstorm other inventions...
Lesson Plan
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How Much Land Does It Take To Produce Your Food?

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students calculate the amount of land required to produce the food eaten by an individual for one year. They compare the amount of land required to produce animal versus plant products. Students visualize the areas of land calculated.