Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Water Cycle

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students are introduced to the components and importance of the water cycle. They are shown how groundwater moves using a model. Students list 9 places on earth where water is found. They define the terms cycle and water cycle.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Energy Efficiency Ambassadors

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students compare two products that provide the same function but require different amounts of energy.   In this energy efficiency lesson students research and demonstrate energy efficiency in action and how it applies to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Air Has Pressure

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders analyze evidence about particles and the exertion of air pressure. They observe an experiment with a hard boiled egg. fire and a bottle to discover the heating, cooling, and speed of air particles. They write explanations...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Biosphere Socratic Questions

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine the origin of life on Earth and its evolution through geologic time by participating in a whole class discussion. They respond to prompts that lead them to conclusions about the interactions among the biosphere and the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Weather Patterns

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Pupils collect weather data over a thirty day period to gain an increased understanding of the weather patterns in their area. Once the data is collected, students post their finding online using a web tool. Finally, pupils attempt to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

TE Activity: Space Shelter

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students simulate that they need to develop a new home on a different planet. They design a shelter that will ensure their survival after researching the characteristics of the other planet. They write an essay about their home design.
Organizer
Curated OER

Exploring the Solar System

For Students 6th
For this exploring the solar system worksheet, 6th graders use the online Gizmo then answer 14 questions and complete a chart about planets and orbits.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

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
Curated OER

Mission Planning: Earth/Mars Comparisons

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students compare and contrast conditions on Mars to those on our own planet, specifically, their local or regional environments. The physical characteristics, the atmosphere, and other astronomical data is considered.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Good Vibrations Remote Sensing data Collection: Thermal Emission Spectrometer

For Teachers 4th - 8th
The Mars Global Surveyor spent two years creating a mineral map of the planet Mars using thermal emission spectrometry. To help young astronomers understand this remote sensing instrument, have them simulate how data is collected and...
Lesson Plan
Wild BC

Carbon Sinks and Sources

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Earth or environmental science pupils are assigned to be carbon sources or sinks. They ask yes-or-no questions to try to figure out which one they are. Then they discuss ways people can have positive effects on the changing climate by...
Lesson Plan
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California Academy of Science

What Kind of Geologist Am I?

For Teachers 2nd - 5th Standards
Transform your class into young geologists as they learn about six different branches of geology. Using the included geology career descriptions and picture cards, learners work in small groups deciding which tools and locations fit...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water Cycle Reading and Writing

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
After listening to a story about the water cycle, learners create their own versions of this tale. This is a great way to have your class review the concepts of evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and runoff.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water Cycle Reading and Writing

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Here is a great way to get pupils to express a scientific concept in a fun way. After hearing the story of Walter the Water drop and learning facts about the water cycle, the class will write a creative expository piece describing what...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

WATER HERE AND THERE

For Teachers K - 2nd
Introduce the topic of water conservation with a little drama. Dressed as snowflakes, hail stones, or rain drops class members dramatize the events in a narration of the water cycle. The series of lessons that follow focus on...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Modern Atmospheric CO2 Record

For Teachers Higher Ed
Students compare carbon dioxide (CO2) data from the Mauna Loa Observatory , Barrow (Alaska) , and the South Pole over the past 40 years to help them better understand what controls atmospheric (CO2).
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Latent Heat and Clouds

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Students explore latent heat and how it relates to clouds in the atmosphere.  In this earth science lesson plan students investigate how clouds are formed. Students examine clouds and the water cycle.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Nitrogen Cycle

For Teachers 1st - 12th
Learners design and create a compost pile in order to study the Nitrogen Cycle. They then use the scientific method to determine if plants grow better when they add organic matter from their compost pile to the plant's soil.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Greenhouse Effect in a Jar

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students explore climate change by participating in a physical science experiment. In this greenhouse effect lesson, students discuss the impact global warming has on our environment and how it works. Students utilize a glass jar,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Modeling the Greenhouse Effect

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students simulate the greenhouse effect and draw a model of what he/she thinks is happening. They draw inferences from the model and from other resources to determine possible outcomes of increased earth temperatures.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Miller-Urey Experiment Amino Acids & The Origins of Life on Earth

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Students study the Miller-Urey Experiment including its history and criticism.  For this origins of life lesson students repeat this experiment to see how it works.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Tech It or Leave It

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students define "status symbol" and identify such items. They discuss the purpose of beta testing new technologies. They examine new ways that current technology is tested and publicized. They work in groups to develop proposals for...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Lake Effect

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders conduct an experiment demonstrating the effects of water and air temperature on precipitation. They create graphs demonstrating their findings using Claris Works for Kids.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Water Cycle

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders discover how water circulates through the earth and its atmosphere while determine how much of the Earth's water is suitable for drinking. They discover the meaning of evaporation, transpiration, and precipitation and...