Curated OER
Sea Scape
Students learn about and make models of coral reefs. In this reef ecosystem lesson, the class locates a number of coral reefs on a map. They learn how a coral reef is a balanced ecosystem that depends upon all of it's plant and animal...
Curated OER
Biomes: The Threat of the Sea
Students create posters to raise awareness about Global Warming as an immediate threat. In this environmental lesson plan, students respond to the video Biomes: The Threat of the Sea by researching global warming and making posters...
Curated OER
Exploiting Antarctica
Students read the story and diary "Lizzie's diaries from Antarctica and Antarctica" to get massive clean-up. Students discuss their knowledge of life in Antarctica and raise the fact of the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station and its...
Curated OER
Warm up to the Gulf Stream
Students find out the temperature difference between the Gulf Stream and the surrounding water. They locate the Gulf Stream on the infrared image of the eastern seaboard of the US.
Curated OER
Air Masses
Students examine the physical characteristics of several types of air masses to discover how air masses can be identified and defined by their temperature and moisture content.
Curated OER
Density Currents
Learners experiment with currents caused by temperature variations that simulate the origins and flow of polar bottom currents. They discover water density is affected by temperature and salinity, resulting in deep water currents.
Curated OER
The Search for El Nino
Sixth graders complete an El Nino scavenger hunt. For this earth science lesson, 6th graders describe the conditions that create El Nino and compare it to normal condition. They discuss how this phenomenon affects marine ecosystem.
Curated OER
Science: Hurricanes As Heat Engines
Students conduct Internet research to track the path of Hurricane Rita. They record the sea surface temperature of the Gulf of Mexico during and after the hurricane and draw conclusions about how hurricanes extract heat energy from the...
Curated OER
Strangers in Their Own Land
Students use interview techniques to explore the traditional wisdom of fishers, farmers, First Nations, and other peoples whose close relationship with nature gives them a deeper understanding of, and sensitivity toward, climatic cycles...
Curated OER
Hottest, Coldest, Highest, Deepest: Science, 4th Grade
Fourth graders investigate weather patterns in their home state of Utah. After creating KWL charts, they research weather and geographical data to locate the state's extremes. As an extension, 4th graders write and illustrate books about...
Curated OER
Guetemala's Changing Forest
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...
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AFRICAN-AMERICAN HOMESTEADERS
Middle schoolers analyze the factors that inhibited and fostered African American attempts to improve their lives during Reconstruction, the role of class, race, gender, and religion in western communities, and the challenges diverse...
Curated OER
Breaking News English: The Year 2007 to be the Hottest Ever
In this English worksheet, students read "The Year 2007 to be the Hottest Ever," and then respond to 47 fill in the blank, 7 short answer, 20 matching, and 8 true or false questions about the selection.
Curated OER
Graphin' and Glyphin' Utah Weather
Fourth graders use glyphs as a way to visually represent information about Utah weather. These nonverbal representations help students collect and interpret data in a visual format.
Curated OER
Wonders of Weather
Students understand the destructive force of a tornado. They learn the role of a thunderstorm in the creation of a tornado.
Curated OER
Oceans
Students use their prior knowledge to being their examination of the water cycle. In groups, they complete an experiment in which they can see water evaporating and coming back to the ground. They discover the ocean's water evaporates...
Curated OER
The Water Cycle and Global Warming
Students study the flow of water in the environment. In this water cycle lesson students evaluate the consequences of changes in the water cycle using data.
Curated OER
Our Country's Environment
In these environment worksheets, students complete several multiple choice questions that teach them about the Earth's landforms and water.
Curated OER
Graphin' And Glyphin' Utah Weather
Fourth graders investigate the concepts of looking at sets of data. The focus of the study is upon the local weather of Utah. They study the weather found in the city and in the country and make comparisons based upon geographical location.
Curated OER
Exploring Life in the Coral Reef
Students study life forms in coral reefs. For this ocean life lesson, students study life in coral reefs as they create a coral reef sculpture.
Society for Science and the Public
Science News for Students: Climate Change Could Stall Atlantic Ocean Current
When carbon dioxide levels rise, the currents slow, which leads to temperatures dropping because of the lack of water movement. Europe could suffer as a result of this change.
NASA
Nasa Earth Observatory: Global Maps: Sea Surface Temperature
This global map from NASA's Earth Observatory shows the sea surface temperature from July 2002 to October 2008. Learn the influences that sea surface temperature has on climate and weather.
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Great Ocean Conveyor Belt: Part I
This image from GRID-Arendal depicts the major circulation pattern of the ocean, illustrating interactions between temperature, salinity, and depth. Includes a background reading handout and several discussion questions.
Encyclopedia of Earth
Encyclopedia of Earth: Global Warming Takes a Toll on Coral Reefs
Article describing damage caused to coral reefs in the Caribbean after an extended period of extreme heat in 2005 that raised the ocean temperature in that area. The potential, devastating consequences to humans of coral reef destruction...