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Air Masses & Fronts
Students identify two distinct air masses and the frontal boundary and determine whether the front is moving in time and in what direction the front is moving.
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The Dynamic Earth
Students use the Internet to investigate earthquakes and plate tectonics. In this plate tectonics lesson, students complete a web quest with multiple links and activity types relating to earthquakes and volcanoes. They connect the...
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Investigation 8 - Weather Forecasts
Fourth graders examine how to predict and evaluate weather forecasts. Discuss with students why weather predictions are important to us. Ask them what people do after they hear a forecast. They brainstorm reasons forecasts are important...
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What is a Watershed?
Students create a classroom size model of a landscape to define the concept of a river watersheds. They spread crumbled newspapers around the floor to simulate different elevations then cover the whole landscape with a sheet. They pour...
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Recycling
High schoolers investigate landfills and the problems associated with urban and suburban areas. For this recycling lesson plan, students discuss landfills and the problems associated with landfills. They discuss the amount of waste an...
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Marvelous Marshes of the Chesapeake
Third graders identify sources of salt water and fresh water that enter the Chesapeake Bay. They build a model watershed and describe how runoff enters the Bay.
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Who? Who? Whoooooooo?
Students read Poppy by Avi and then dissect an owl pellet. They complete a KWL chart and play vocabulary games to prepare for the dissection. They examine what the pellet can tell us about the owl's life.
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Garbage/Solid Waste Disposal
Students examine the problem of solid waste disposal in modern society. They decide on a site for waste disposal. They investigate the many different types of waste that need to be dealt with. They participate in three learning station...
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Exploring Weather Websites
Students research and locate their own weather data using a weather website. They examine how to locate valid information on the www.weather.com website, and explore the website. Next, they select a city they want to visit, and compare...
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Natural Resource Awareness
Seventh graders design a collage that shows natural resources or things made from natural resources. They discuss the collages and decide how they use natural resources at home and school. They listen to a read aloud of a Native American...
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Toilet to Tap?
Students answer the question, 'Should San Diego reclaim its water for fresh drinking water?' They make a poster explaining the position: "Yes," drink reclaimed water; or "No," don't drink reclaimed water.
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Science: What Is a Barometer?
Fourth graders discover how barometers help to predict the weather. Using newspapers, they examine the weather forecast and determine the meaning of high and low as they pertain to pressure. After making cluster diagrams, 4th graders...
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Data Sampling
Students discover data sampling. In this science lesson plan, students explore data sampling and turn the data collected into useful information by making graphs and using them to solve problems.
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Lesson Design Archaeology
Students participate in their own excavation and measure and record as they go. In this archaeology lesson students divide into groups and solve the mystery of what they uncovered in their dig box.
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Droughts
Learners discuss a natural disaster. In this droughts lesson plan, students discover how droughts occur and how they affect the society dealing with one. They discuss how the population of Australia deals with droughts and work on...
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Subsidence/ Erosion
Learners utilize prior knowledge about the Pontchartrain Basin. In this subsidence/erosion lesson, students study the chart on land subsidence and must them identify and find solution for problems caused by erosion.
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Explore: 4th Grade Beaufort Wind Speed
Fourth graders measure wind speed, air pressure, humidity, temperature, and wind direction. They compare their observations with those of actual weather forecasts.
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Create a Weather Newscast
Fourth graders explore, research and study how to make and give a weather newscast. They assess a variety of weather terms, research skills on the Web and develop an oral presentation on a weather newscast to present to their classmates.
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Beaufort Wind Speed
Fourth graders investigate temperature, wind speed, humidity, air pressure, and direction. They compare their findings with those of the media. They apply the use of various tools to measure weather factors.
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Clouds
Students explore the characteristics of clouds, their formation, symbols used in their identification, and the relationship of clouds to weather. The lesson focuses on how they are formed and their classification.
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Aruba Cloud Cover Measured by Satellite
Students analyze cloud cover over Aruba. They compose and submit written conclusions which include data, analysis, errors in data collection, and references.
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Wetlands/Watershed Model
Students work together to create a watershed model. They discover the flow of surface water on different topography. They examine how materials originate from miles away and end up in a different wetland.
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Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs
Third graders discuss the weather and how it changes during the different seasons. They listen to a read aloud of Judy Barrett's, Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs. They write and illustrate a news article about the weather that is found...
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Earthquake Unit
Eighth graders watch the "Earth, the Environment & Beyond" video on earthquakes. Take notes and give an oral summary. They build a working, two dimensional model of a strike-slip, thrust, or normal fault.