Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What is the Rock Cycle and Its Processes?

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Geology beginners examine three different rock samples and determine their origin by their characteristics. By making and recording observations, they become familiar with features of igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rock types....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Run-off Race

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Students create wetland models in pans and use them to experiment to see how plants help slow the flow of runoff water and keep our waterways clean.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Perpetual Motion

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers discuss movement of air currents and then experiment to create visible models of air currents. Students connect the model to weather patterns.
Worksheet
Curated OER

Chasing El Nino

For Students 9th - 12th
For this El Nino worksheet, students review this specific change in the climate cycle by completing 20 short answer questions.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Regolith Formation

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students study what regolith is and how it contrasts with weathering on Earth.  In this weathering instructional activity students divide into groups, hypothesize and confirm their guesses. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Gallery Walk Questions about Energy and Material Cycles

For Teachers Higher Ed
Students state the physical, chemical or biological processes associated with these environments: Pelagic ocean zone, California coat Cave, Indiana Barrier island beach, North Carolina Sand dune, Dunes National Park, Colorado Wetland and...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Things Are Heating Up

For Students 9th - 10th
In this science worksheet, learners read about chemical changes. Students also answer 3 comprehension questions about the reading.
Worksheet
Curated OER

Different Types of Changes (1.2)

For Students 4th - 6th
In this recognizing different types of changes worksheet, students answer questions about such things as reversible change, irreversible process, climatic change, filtration process, physical change, and change in the state of a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Hudson's Ups and Downs

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders practice interpreting line graphs of the Hudson River water levels to assess the tides and tidal cycles in the estuary. They explore how weather can affect water levels and tides and observe that high tides and low tides...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Conditions at Sea

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students examine wave formation. In this wave lesson, students discover how waves are formed and how the weather at sea is predicted. Students study ocean vocabulary and understand the Beaufort Wind Force Scale.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Aquifers and Groundwater

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Young scholars understand the purpose of an aquifer. In this aquifer and groundwater lesson, students build a model aquifer find its relationship to water usage. Young scholars record observations as they build the layers of the aquifer.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Stable and Unstable Structures

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students research three major bridge collapses. In this Physical Science lesson plan, students will sketch a bridge design for their area after their research. All bridge designs will be presented to the class to discuss strengths and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Regions of the USA

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders research the physical characteristics of the four regions of the United States. In this geography lesson plan, 4th graders research the four regions and use a quilt square organizer to record notes. Students complete the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Let's Take a Rock Apart!

For Teachers K - 12th
Students examine a crushed rock and sort the minerals they find in that rock by color and other properties.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Surviving the Conditions

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students explore Earth science by participating in an environmental care activity. In this natural resources lesson, students discuss ways to protect themselves from the environment if they are ever in need of shelter in the wilderness....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Changing Earth

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students explore the Earth's crust. In this earth science lesson, students participate in 2 activities that demonstrate physical and chemical weathering. Students also play Jeopardy with topics including volcanoes, earthquakes,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Environment: Erosion Boxes

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders discover how the processes of erosion and weathering alter the physical characteristics of the environment. In a student log,they record the various types of erosion and list ways to prevent it. Using clear, plastic...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

My Habitat Address

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders draw a habitat and write about what they would need to survive in the habitat. They define the input of items such as materials, energy, and information, and what goes out of the habitat. They play a "Habitat Address" game,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Greenhouse Gases: The Chemistry Behind the Culprits

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders investigate the effect of different gases in the atmosphere. In this chemistry lesson, 9th graders explain how these gases contribute to global warming. They suggest possible solutions to this growing problem.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Out Of Sight Air; Weather

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders conduct an experiment to get them thinking about the invisibility of air, and to prove that air has weight.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

European Climates

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders study the climate regions of Europe. In this geography skills lesson, 9th graders determine how weather and climate are influenced as they research the climate zones of specific locations and write about the ways that...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rock Cycle SIOP Unit

For Teachers 5th - 10th
Young scholars collect rocks, identify them, classify them, investigate their properties, and more. In this rocks lesson plan, students also experiment with soil and erosion and weather.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The"Dirt" on Soil

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Young scholars examine the three different types of soil and their physical properties.  In this soil lesson students design and implement a model of a water treatment plant. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Space Science: A Scoop of Moon Dirt

For Teachers K - 8th
Students discover soil characteristics and how it is formed on Earth and the Moon by examining local samples to a lunar simulant. They replicate the effects of wind erosion by scraping dry bread with sandpaper. Students use rocks and...