Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Going in Cycles: The Life of an Aluminum Can

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students explore the life cycle of aluminum cans. In this recycling instructional activity, students review the manufacturing process and how to make a closed loop cycle. Students also have the opportunity to present what they've...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

SCRUMPTIOUS SOIL

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Young scholars engage in investigations that lead to the discovery that earth materials consist of rocks, soils, water, and air. They build models of soil profiles, using breakfast cereal and other edible materials. They observe how...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Juice Boxes

For Students 3rd - 4th
In this recycling worksheet, students cut apart a juice box to determine what it is made of and what can be recycled. They record a conclusion as to whether a juice box is recyclable and what they could use for juice that would be better...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Atmospheric Processes - Radiation

For Teachers 5th - 9th
Students investigate how different surfaces absorb heat, and how the physical characteristics of a surface have a powerful effect on the way a surface absorbs and releases heat from the sun.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Creating and Analyzing Graphs of Tropospheric Ozone

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Pupils create and analyze graphs using archived atmospheric data to compare the ozone levels of selected regions around the world.
Worksheet
Curated OER

Quartz DBQ

For Students 7th - 12th
In this quartz worksheet, students read about the chemical composition of quartz and its commercial applications. Then students complete 7 short answer questions.
Worksheet
Curated OER

The Sun

For Students 3rd - 4th
For this space science worksheet, students learn 4 facts about the sun. Students also read a short passage about the sun to gain more information.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Understanding Lava Layers

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders trace the lava flow of an erupting volcano. In this earth science lesson, 7th graders experiment using baking soda and vinegar. They record and share their observations.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Exploring How Rocks Are Formed

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
These lessons produced by the Illinois State Museum are quite good. In this one, third and fourth graders are introduced to the three basic types of rocks: igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic. They perform activities which help them...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Kids Astronomy

For Students 3rd - 5th
In this astronomy word scramble worksheet, students examine the 16 letter groupings and use the decoder to help them reveal the 16 astronomy terms listed at the bottom of the worksheet,
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Investigating Different Rock Types

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students analyze a rock using their eyes and then a hand lens. In this science lesson, students determine and discuss how hard or how easy it was to find and classify the assigned rock. Students record their observations on an index...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Magic School Bus Rocks and Rolls

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students participate in a science experiment to show them the power that water erosion has to sculpt stone. They explore how running water moves earth and creates new landforms.
Worksheet
Curated OER

Influential Scientists Vocabulary Multiple Choice Worksheet

For Students 4th - 5th
In this influential scientists learning exercise, students read the definitions of 19 science professions. From 4 choices, students choose the correct name of the job that fits the definition. Example: studies birds (ornithologist).
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Rock Cycle

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders study the 3 main types of rocks: igneous, sedimentary, metamorphic. They examine samples of these types of rocks and discuss ways to tell what kind of rock each is. They take notes and draw pictures in their science...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Determining the Percolation Rate of Soil

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students discover how water moves through different types of soils. In groups, they use the same sample from a previous activity and empty it into a milk carton in which they have layered with cheesecloth to determine the percolation...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Earth's Valuable Soil

For Teachers K - 4th
Students investigate the concept of how the earth is segmented into different parts. They use an apple as a model to display the different layers. The apple is divided into different fractions by being cut into different size pieces.
Worksheet
Curated OER

Chemical Composition Chart

For Students 7th - 12th
In this Earth's crust worksheet, students determine the most abundant and least abundant elements in the atmosphere, oceans, and crust. This worksheet has 1 fill in the blank and 11 short answer questions.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How's the Air Up There?

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students experiment with soda cans and water to discover why air pressure is greater closer to Earth's surface.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Science: Trouble in the Troposphere

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students research a NASA Website and record information about an assigned city's tropospheric ozone residual monthly climate. In groups, they graph the information for the past year. They form new groups and compare their city's...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Geologist and Core Sampling

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders observe a cupcake and attempt to answer each question on the observation page. They write three sentences that explains how a geologist takes core samples of the earth's surface. Students make sketches and write...
Worksheet
Curated OER

The Solar System

For Students 4th - 5th
In this crossword puzzle instructional activity, students read the 20 clues about the solar system. Students then complete the puzzle with 20 words related to the solar system.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

History of Astronomy

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students participate in assessments regarding the history of astronomy. They listen and take notes, draw a time line, draw a solar sytem designed by Ptolemy and create flashcards. They write an essay on Galileo, watch a video, take a...
Worksheet
Curated OER

A Short History of Natural Gas

For Students 3rd
In this energy source learning exercise, 3rd graders read a short passage about the history of natural gas. Students must then answer several multiple choice questions about the passage.
Lesson Plan
PHET

CME Plotting

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Young scientists build on their previous knowledge and apply it to coronal mass ejections. By plotting the path of two different coronal mass ejections, they develop an understanding of why most don't collide with Earth.