Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Sun Affects Earth

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders read, write, and listen to information about the sun and its effects on the Earth.as it relates to its axis, orbit, rotate, and revolution.  In this solar system lesson, 3rd graders examine how the sun...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Dimming The Sun

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Learners review the meanings of global warming and global dimming. While watching a video, they take notes on different aspects of the issue. In groups, they develop a list on what can be done to reduce global dimming. They...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Round and Round-The Water Cycle

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students explore the water cycle. In this earth science activity, students work in small groups to read various books on the water cycle and take notes on chart paper. Students share their notes and teach a younger audience what they...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water Cycle

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students identify the different stages in the water cycle. In this earth science lesson, students calculate the residence time of water in oceans using a mathematical formula. They explain how this cycle regulates the Earth's climate.
Lesson Plan
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Glaciers As Indicators of Global Climate Change

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Students research about glacial ice melting on the four major spheres of the Earth. In this earth science lesson, students explain how this process relates to global warming. They create a presentation and share their findings with the...
Lesson Plan
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Water-The Liquid Gold

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students investigate the necessity of water for the survival of plants, animals, and people. They explore the affect that water has on human and natural environments through literature, field trips, and discussions.
Lesson Plan
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Let's Get Warm!

For Teachers K - 4th
Students investigate various methods that animals use to warm up in cold weather. They also explore the science principals involved. They then identify a human parallel, discuss what we can learn from nature, and create multimedia...
Lesson Plan
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How Does the Loss of Ozone Affect Our Climate

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students explore the greenhouse effect and what it does to the environment. They discuss if and how human behavior contributes to global warming and test natural materials for carbon content.
Lesson Plan
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Guetemala's Changing Forest

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders compare their local ecological zone to the tropical rainforest. In this natural ecology lesson, 8th graders complete an activity about the differences in ecological zones. They compare their biome to the Guatemalan...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

RAINSTICKS

For Teachers K - 12th
Students create a rainstick from recycled materials and begin learning about the "nature" of the rainforest.
Lesson Plan
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Curated OER

Harvest the Wind

For Teachers 5th - 7th Standards
Wind is a natural resource available around the world. Help your pupils appreciate the power and importance of wind by researching wind farms, making pinwheels, and designing windmills. 
Lesson Plan
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Our Desert Backyard

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students make observations of their own backyard. In this environment activity, students keep records of the plants and animals they see in their home or school yard. Students make notes of how the weather and environment changes over...
Lesson Plan
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Natural Disasters

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students compose essays outlining the effects of floods on humans and their environments. Included in their essays are methods explaining how people have tried to adapt to floods. Using the Internet or provided written materials,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Everything Weather

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders use print and electronic media to find the following essential elements of these storms: characteristics, effects, safety and preparation, and interesting facts. A graphic organizer is used to gather and record this key...
Lesson Plan
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Weathering and Erosion: Some Ways the Hydrosphere Affects the Geosphere

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students explain the causes of erosion, describe the effects of erosion, and devise a method of preventing erosion. They model the before-and-after-effects of erosion.
Lesson Plan
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Worm Weather Predicted

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students examine worm habitats. In this animal habitats lesson plan, students participate in a lab activity that requires them to explore the adaptations that earthworms make to their environment.
Lesson Plan
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Chemical Weathering

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students measure the effect of water temperature on the rate of a chemical reaction, similar to the interaction of a weak acid and carbonate rock, using hot water and effervescent antacid tablets.
Lesson Plan
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Weather, Climate and Environmental Change

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Learners study the complexities for getting definitive answers for past and present happenings in our environment. They discover past global changes on earth and the evidence for why these changes took place before believing everything...
Lesson Plan
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Integrating Physical Science and the Geological Environment

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students undertake a series of experiments and activities related to geology, especially in Connecticut. They evaluate types of rocks, minerals, and crystals, exploring the main concepts of geology.
Lesson Plan
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Science: Suddenly Snow

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students engage in snow-related activities during the first winter snowfall. After explaining the elements needed for it to snow, they preserve snowflakes on frozen slides and observe them under a microscope. Then, they write diamante...
Lesson Plan
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University of Wisconsin

A Rain Garden Year

For Teachers K - 12th
Pupils become plants in an interpretive play that depicts what happens throughout the seasons in a rain garden. As you narrate, young scholars bloom, flower, and go to seed accordingly. The instructional activity is first in a series of...
Lesson Plan
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Climate Change

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders compare the Arctic and Antarctic.  In this climate lesson plan students work in groups, research and complete an oral report or a poster. 
Lesson Plan
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Smile...you're on Insect Camera!

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Young scholars study insects. They go on an outdoor insect outing and look for insects in a variety of places--in the air, under rocks, on leaves, in water, etc. They record information about the insects they find, including habitat,...
Worksheet
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What is Climate?

For Students 6th - 8th
In this weather worksheet, students read a brief excerpt that compares the various types of climates found on Earth. Then they explain where the low- and high-pressure systems follow each other throughout the year.