Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Thinking about Energy

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students examine their understandings about energy concepts by completing an online survey. Students participate in a class discussion about their uses of resources and the differences between perpetual, renewable, and nonrenewable...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mighty Minerals-We Use Them Everyday

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders investigate the importance of knowing about rocks and minerals. They study the way in which many products are produced from rocks and minerals. Students are shown how we obtain many of the rocks and minerals we use.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

It's a Gas! Or is it?

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students describe the effects of temperature and pressure on solubility of gases and other materials.  In this investigative lesson students read an article and answer questions about it. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What is a Karst

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students investigate landforms by holding a class experiment. In this topography lesson, students define the word "karst" and discover why sinkholes are created on the surface of the Earth by completing worksheets. Students create a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Weather in the USA

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Students identify the different types of weather conditions that occur in the United States. They discover how to adapt to weather and explain forecast and warning signals.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Understanding Canadian Weather Extremes

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students research and analyze the causes and sources of Canada's extreme weather conditions. They conduct an experiment, complete a worksheet and predict the most likely locations for extreme weather conditions.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rising Tensions Over The Nile River Basin

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students analyze the concept of global commons dilemma.  In this investigative lesson students read an article on the Middle East Media Research Institute and answer questions accordingly. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Cold Fronts

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers determine its' direction of movement, and list at least five weather conditions associated with the specific front, given animations of several atmospheric variables during a cold front passage. They list at least three...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Using the Very, Very Simple Climate Model in the Classroom

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students study the relationship between the average global temperature and carbon dioxide emissions.  For this weather lesson students develop a test scenario using a model then read and interpret graphs of data. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Shine On, Moon

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students explore space science by conducting an experiment in class. In this Moon lesson, students define a list of space science vocabulary and read the book The Moon. Students utilize shoeboxes and string to conduct a sunlight...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Heat Up the Floating Plates

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders research the connection between the convection currents within the mantle of the earth and the moving of Earth's plates. A connection to lessons at previous grade levels on the rock cycle and important background...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Soiled Again

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students propose and perform an experiment using the scientific method. The purpose of the experiment is to discern some earth materials or combinations of earth materials that best increases the pH of "acid rain". From the results of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

World Wide Winds

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students recognize that global winds move in specific directions in specific latitudes and describe that in a written form. They relate the motion of the wind belts to historical navigation.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Winds Go Spinning Around

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students simulate the Coriolis Effect to comprehend why winds in the Westerlies are prone to cyclonic and anti-cyclonic motion. They arrive at an explanation of processes that drive world wind patterns
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Tanker Spills

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students predict the flow of an oil spill and depict it on a map. They explain the predicted route of the oil spill using knowledge of ocean currents in a short presentation to their peers.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Planets or Not, Here We Come!

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students, working in groups, research planets in terms of the size, temperature, number of moons, and potential for life. They use packets and worksheets as guides for their research. Students may role-play as aliens visiting their...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Unexplored!

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students explore volcanoes.  In this deep sea volcano lesson students complete a worksheet and various activities.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Acid Rain

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students use real-time weather maps to determine the likelihood of acid rainfall in a region. Students apply their understanding of interaction between weather systems, land and air pollution, to address acid rain and the effects on...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

It Came from Outer Space! The AA Meteorite Connection

For Teachers 6th - 7th
Students discover why Antarctica is the most fruitful place on earth for locating meteorites. They work in groups. Students are given a Museum or University Name for each group. They are explained that each group is allowed to comb...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Is Air a Fluid?

For Teachers 2nd - 11th
Pupils use baking soda, vinegar, matches, and other materials to pour gas. In this air lesson plan, students use the materials to pour gas and learn that air can be a fluid like a liquid.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What is a Karst?

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students examine the process that creates limestone.  In this limestone lesson students complete a worksheet and participate in a lab activity. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Let's Take a Rock Apart

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Students take a crushed rock and sort the remains of the rock minerals into different categories based on the different properties. In this sorting lesson plan, students learn what makes up a rock and how to sort something into categories.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Asteroids

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Young scholars examine a potential asteroid impact site. They describe evidence and theories for extinction events.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Fault Line

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Learners use cardboard models of the North American and Pacific plates and sand to investigate what happens when there is an earthquake or movement along the boundaries of the plates.