Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Exploring Ultraviolet (UV) Light From the Sun

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students identify the different energy given off by the sun. In this earth science lesson, students predict where the UV beads will turn the darkest color. They explain the importance of using UV protection.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Plant an Ozone Monitoring Garden

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students create a garden.  In this ozone lesson plan, students discuss ozone injury, identify plants sensitive to ozone, and then plant their own ozone garden.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Climate Mime-it

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students pantomime new climate vocabulary words.  In this climate lesson, students go over new vocabulary words and their meanings.  Students form groups and pantomime these word's definitions.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Exploring Explorations-Ocean Exploration

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students learn about Earth's deep ocean discoveries and their benefits. In this ocean exploration lesson, students review previous explorations of the Earth's deep oceans and learn about the discoveries of the past.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Colonial Writing Project

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders write from the perspective of a child in the colonial period. In this writing lesson, 4th graders create a fictional character living in the colonial period and write about daily life from their perspective.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Dimming the Sun

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Young scholars collect, interpret and analyze weather variable data. They describe atmospheric variables that affect evaporation. Students create graphs and analyze the information collected.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Take A Look Around! Architecture and the Built Environment

For Teachers K - 12th
Students examine the types of architecture used to build the San Jose Museum of Art. Based on the grade level, they participate and answer questions based on the different pieces of art examined. They also discover how weight is...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Awful Eight Lesson Plan

For Teachers 6th - 8th
The students list major air pollutants, what causes them, and their effects on people and the environment. Students list ways they can prevent or reduce the types of air pollution mentioned in the play.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

"Raise the Red Lantern" by Su Tong

For Teachers 9th - Higher Ed
Students read and analyze the novella, "Raise the Red Lantern," by Su Tong. They compare/contrast the story with other works of literature, answer discussion questions, conduct research, and in small groups develop oral presentations.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water Cycle in a Bottle

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students study the water cycle. In this water science lesson, students complete a water cycle experiment using soda bottles.
Lesson Plan
California Academy of Science

Carbon Cycle Poster

For Teachers 3rd - 12th Standards
Humans can have a big impact on the environment, specifically the influence they have on the carbon cycle. First, the class will define and discuss each of the earths four major spheres, the biosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and...
Lesson Plan
Center Science Education

CO2: How Much Do You Spew?

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Split your earth science or environmental studies class into groups and give each a scenario card. Scenario cards describe the lifestyles of 10 different fictitious families, focusing on their energy usage. Carbon dioxide emissions are...
Lesson Plan
California Academy of Science

Greening Your Middle School

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Middle schoolers redesign their school to make it more energy efficient, and create a model of their design. Learners get together in groups of 5, and they take on the task of making their school more energy efficient. To do this, they...
Lesson Plan
Teach Engineering

You've Got to See it to Believe It!

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Youngsters develop an understanding of how smog is produced, and how exhaust from automobiles is one of the major sources of smog. They explore the roles that engineers play in developing technologies that reduce smog, then work in teams...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Three Clouds Activity

For Teachers K - 8th
Students explore how clouds are produced through three different age-appropriate hands-on experiments.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Nitrogen Cycle

For Teachers 8th - 9th
Students study the nitrogen cycle and construct a diagram.  In this Earth Science lesson students use role play to see the various paths. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Awful Eight

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Young scholars investigate the concept of a carpool and its contributions to either reducing or increasing air pollution. They conduct research using a variety of resources for background information. The information is used to write a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Dive In

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Pupils study how buoyancy, pressure, and light can effect the work of underwater scientists.  In this marine science lesson students complete a lab that allows them to better understand how pressure varies with altitude and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Making Clouds: Aerosol-Cloud Interactions in a Beaker

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students observe a teacher demo on how clouds form. In this earth science lesson, students discover how cloudiness affects relative humidity. They explain the scattering of light by clouds.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Global Warming Cover-Up

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars explore the basic background on the causes of global climate disruption and governmental and economic reasons for downplaying its causes. Key reasons why US citizens have largely ignored the issues are examined in this...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ocean Absorption Lab

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students examine various techniques that can reduce carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, and use chemistry to simulate oceanic sequestration. They conduct an experiment involving the method of oceanic absorption for carbon sequestration,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Correlating Atmospheric Data Lesson Plan

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students make and test hypotheses about atmospheric data collected aboard the NOAA ship Ronald H. Brown research cruise.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Geo Sequestration Lab

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Pupils explore geologic sequestration as a technique used to reduce carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. They use chemistry to stimulate oil mining. Students conduct an experiment to learn about geo carbon sequestration.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Fossil Fuel and the Ticking Clock

For Teachers 6th - 7th
Students study energy sources to learn about fossil fuels and environmental concerns. In this energy sources instructional activity, students watch demonstrations for various energy examples. Students find hidden pennies, make a bar...