Lesson Plan
Curated OER

I Spy

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders play the game I Spy to help identify objects made from rock. They investigate the properties and uses of rocks and go on an I Spy search on the playground. They sort pictures according to living and nonliving objects.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Weathering Landforms

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders brainstorm a list of ways the Earth's surface can change. As a class, they are introduced to the concepts of erosion and weathering and discover how wind and water cause changes to the surface of the Earth. To end the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Discovering the Physical Geography of Washington

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students develop a mental map of the state of Washington and draw it on paper. Using the Virtual Atlas, they identify the physical features of the state and draw them on their map. They also examine the populations and diversity of the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Finding Wind Direction

For Teachers 1st - 5th
Young scholars identify the wind direction. For this weather lesson, students use a weather vane to find the wind direction. Young scholars complete a worksheet.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Weather Tools

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore Earth science by participating in a weather identification activity. In this scientific instrument lesson, students identify several weather related tools such as the weather vane, thermometer and rain gauge. Students...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

COMPARE SOILS BY GROWING PLANTS

For Teachers 6th - 8th
The student will identify the difference in the rate of plant growth in three soils that vary in organic matter.1. Obtain three to four flowerpots, different types of soil, a record chart, three to five beans for each pot, and water....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mechanical Properties of Chocolate: How Hard is your Chocolate?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars calculate, measure and identify the hardness of various chocolate bars. They determine the hardness of the chocolate bar using quantitative data. Students make observations of the hardness of chocolate while dropping the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

To Spread or Not to Spread

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students explore the difference between the three types of contrails. In this contrails lesson, students make observations of contrails and record them. Students identify the three types of contrails and complete an experiment activity.
Lesson Plan
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Topographic Map Unit Plan

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners examine topographic maps and discover how to decipher contour intervals, use contour lines and apply information to complete a topographic map lab. Working in groups, they identify the scale of the map, latitude and longitude,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What's in the Soil?

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders create stratified soil levels using pictures. In this earth science lesson, 2nd graders identify "artifacts" from 3 historic eras and divide them into 3 soil levels. Then they draw their own multi-level soil profile and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Heating Up: Direct and Indirect Sunlight

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students, by conducting simulations, explore the effects of direct and indirect sunlight on heating of the Earth.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Fossilworks

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students research fossils and fossil formation. They explain how fossils are formed, identify fossil formations and use casting plaster to produce fossil replicas.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

GeoHunt

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students describe the difference between geological resources and othe natural resources. They list the rocks, minerals, and fossil fuels that are found in Illinois and their uses. They identify ways to conserve natural resources.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Coral Reef Lesson Plan Caution: Do Not Bleach!

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explain five ways that coral reefs benefit humans and identify three threats to the reefs. They investigate the phenomenon of "coral bleaching" while examining ways to reduce threats to coral reefs.
Lesson Plan
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Lesson Plan # 1 - Phases of the Moon

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Pupils explore and identify moon phases, watch teacher demonstration of different phases using globe and flashlight to represent moon and sun, and discuss reasons why there are moon phases.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water Filtering

For Teachers 1st - 2nd
Students investigate how polluted water is filtered so people can use this recycled resource. They conduct an experiment in which they put "polluted" water through a filtering system. They investigate what happens at a water treatment...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Science of Glaciers

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students identify the contents of a glacier like those found in Patagonia. They construct a mini glacier model in class. Students compare and contrast the classroom model with Patagonian glaciers. They label specific parts of the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Recycling and Waste Reduction

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students investigate recycling and waste reduction and its positive impact on the environment. In this environmental science lesson, students determine how and why materials are recycled. They apply their knowledge by making...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Continents of the Globe

For Teachers 1st - 5th
Students identify the continents on the globe. In this map skills lesson, students define the term "continent" and identify the seven continents on the globe.
Lesson Plan
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Modeling Moon Phases

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students identify the phases of the Moon and the synchronous rotation.  In this hands on lesson students will create a model of the Moon. 
Lesson Plan
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Getting the Oil Out

For Teachers K - 6th
Students discover ways of obtaining oil by participating in an experiment.  For this natural resource lesson, students identify diagrams of oil derricks and pumps in order to visualize how oil is retrieved from the earth....
Lesson Plan
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Freshwater Macroinvertebrates

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students identify and count Macroinvertebrates at a Hydrology website.  In this macroinvertebrates instructional activity students collect, sort and identify Macroinvertebrates.
Lesson Plan
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Outerspace: Frontier for Personal Health and Hygiene

For Teachers K - 5th
Students view photos of astronauts sleeping, eating, bathing, and using the toilet, and discuss hygiene problems in a zero-gravity environment. They contrast hygiene habits in space to those on Earth, and create storybooks illustrating...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Native Americans

For Teachers 7th - 10th
Students recognize and identify the different geographical regions that each Utah Indian Tribe lived in. The Utah Indian tribes they identify are Shoshones, Utes, Gosiutes, Navajo, and Paiutes and the types of shelter these tribes lived in.