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Making & Breaking : The Rock Cycle
Middle schoolers examine the rock cycle and how rocks can change over time. In this geotechnical engineering lesson students draw a diagram of the rock cycle.
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Watering Our Prairie Farms
After reading an article about irrigation on Canadian farms, learners participate in a discussion. They individually write an opinion paper about the surrounding issues. A lesson like this can be used in an earth science class when...
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Migration Activation
Students play the role of migrating birds. As a class, they simulate a migration of birds to one place and back again. They relate their habitat size and changes to their current population numbers. They discover the many dangers of...
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The Earth is a Changin'
Pupils view examples of different types of erosion. In this erosion lesson plan, students discuss the different types of erosion and how erosion changes Earth. Pupils explore erosion and the effect it has on engineering.
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Meteorology
Fourth graders study how atmospheric conditions change while naming the things that make the weather change. They investigate the affects of air masses, weather fronts and high/low pressure by looking at weather maps from newspapers.
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Rain Shadows and Sea Breezes
Students plot the average rainfall for a variety of cities in the United States. Using the map, they work together to determine patterns on which toxicants are transported through the air. They determine the impacts of various weather...
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Tracking El Nino Conditions
Students identify major changes in ocean temperatures during an El Nino season. In this climate activity students complete an Internet assignment using datasets to determine periods of El Nino.
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Hurricanes
Students listen to a transcript of an interview about an upswing in hurricanes with Stanley Goldenberg, a researcher with the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration. students participate in a series of discussion questions.
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Making Variables More Concrete
When teaching about the different types of variables, practice is the key.
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Creating a Thematic Map Using S'COOL Data
Learners observe weather patterns, collect data, and make a weather predictions for various locations on a map.
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Weather Whys- Cloud Watching Journal
Students examine how natural processes change the earth by identifying their local water cycle. Individual students complete a cloud journal over a specific period of time. They observe clouds daily and take photographs of the clouds...
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Twisters
Students differentiate between the terms 'tornado watch' and 'tornado warning' and simulate the conditions that produce tornadoes. They read "Night of the Twisters" by Ivy Ruckman and conduct an experiment using two-liter plastic...
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Water, Water Everywhere
Pupils estimate the amount of water that can be found in its various forms including oceans, lakes, glaciers, rivers, etc. They view a demonstration about water distribution and discuss flash flooding safety precautions.
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Infrared-Hot
Students describe how the sun heats the Earth, explain the nature of infrared light, explain how thunderstorms are formed and use infrared maps to predict severe weather.
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Twister Season Springs into Action
Students discover how weather conditions can give rise to severe storms and tornadoes. They study the different types of severe weather, how they can track conditions in their own neighborhood, and how to prepare for the worst.
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Unique Ecosystems
Fourth graders explain how in any particular environment, some kinds of
plants and animals survive well, some survive less well, and some cannot survive at all. They research the ecosystem of which each animal or plant is natively a part.
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The Earth Around Us: Air, Water & Soil
Second graders explore erosion and find the factors effecting erosion of hillsides. In this erosion activity, 2nd graders experiment by creating a hillside and simulating rain. Students discuss and record their results...
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The Rock Cycle
In this rock cycle learning exercise, students match 5 terms with their definitions about rocks and minerals, they fill in 5 blanks to complete sentences about types of rocks and they identify kinds of rocks and processes in the rock cycle.
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Surface Water and Groundwater
Students examine distribution of water and minerals. In this surface and groundwater lesson, students conduct an experiment with fresh and salt water making hypothesis and drawing conclusions about minerals.
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Earth's Atmosphere
In this Earth's atmosphere worksheet, learners match 8 terms about the layers of the atmosphere and the components of the atmosphere with their definitions. They complete 5 sentences with the proper terms about the air of the atmosphere...
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Elders Predict Snow
Students interview Native Indians to learn their ways for predicting and measuring snowfall. In this weather measurement lesson, students invite a Native Elder to their classroom to tell them about how they predicted weather. Students...
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Storm Watch: Knowing What To Do
Students study the different types of weather and how storms form. In this weather lesson students make their own "tornado in a bottle" and create brochures.
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Can You Name the Four Seasons?
Students explore names, characteristics and traditions of the seasons and observe weather changes throughout the year.
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Tracking Current "Earth" Events
Eighth graders utilize Internet research skills, and practice their communication skills by presenting their research to the clas. They actively consider the types of hazards for humans associated with Natural Disaters and ways that...