Lesson Plan
California Academy of Science

Coral and Chemistry

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Using cabbage juice as a pH indicator, future scientists explore the effect of increasing carbon dioxide on the pH of the ocean and relate it to the health of coral reefs. Ideal for an earth or environmental sciences course, this lesson...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Nine Planets

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders examine and investigate the solar system. They participate in a Webquest, and create a Powerpoint presentation that is meant to be a research guide to help alien visitors find a suitable habitat in the solar system.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Beyond the Earth Part II

For Teachers 4th - 7th
Students explore the solar system. In this solar system lesson, students use Internet and print resources to research a component of the solar system. Students create travel brochures based on their research findings.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Significant Science: Statistics for Planet Earth

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders discover how statistics are used to interpret results of scientific experiments. Students write hypotheses and test the hypotheses by collecting data and organizing the data. Students graph their data to produce a visual....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Effects of the Sun on Our Planet (Grades 2-4)

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Students observe how the sun's rays can cause evaporation and discuss its role in the weather cycle. They discover what the sun's energy brings to plants. They examine how different types of technology can enhance the amount of solar...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Maps as Models of Earth

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders use different types of maps to find locations and surface features.  In this map-reading lesson students use a compass to find direction.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Earth and Beyond!

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students investigate one or more of the following topics and develop a plan for the future regarding it: global warming, lunar exploration, space travel, Mars exploration, or terraforming. They disucss the audio files and the video that...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Travelogue of a Planet

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students randomly select a planet, including Earth. They research key features of the planet including mass, volume, density, gravity, temperature, weather, geology, atmosphere, surface features, location from sun, Earth and other...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Earth

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders engage in a study of the solar system. The teacher constructs an outside model of it. They walk through it making constructive observations. Students conduct a class discussion about the solar system and planets. They...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Planet Structure & Interior

For Teachers 8th - 9th
Students compare Jupiter and Earth. In this Earth and space studies instructional activity, students compare the composition of Earth and Jupiter and analyze how the composition affects the rate at which the planets spin.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Wow, Saturn Is Much Bigger Than Earth!

For Teachers 1st - 2nd
Students compare and contrast the sizes of Earth and Saturn. They create scale illustrations of each planet and label them. They share their models with the class.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Planets Moon

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Pupils explore the theories of the creation of the universe and examine the properties of celestial bodies. They analyze the relationship between the sun, Earth and other planets. They discover the infinite potential of the science of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Planet of Plenty

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students examine a small piece of land to determine the diversity of life on Earth. They role play as visitors from outer space seeing life on Earth for the first time. They measure and observe their plots while working in small groups....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Planet Research

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students recognize that the other eight known planets, which revolve around the Sun, have characteristics and surface conditions that are different from Earth; and identify examples of those differences.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sun too close? We'll just change Earth's orbit

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students study an article and discuss what would happen if the Earth's orbit changed.  In this Earth's orbit lesson students answer a list of questions and complete an activity.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Earth From Space

For Teachers K - 8th
Students watch a series of programs from NASA titled "Earth From Space". After viewing the program, they identify ways NASA is researching the reasons why the Earth is changing. They discuss the various levels of the atmosphere and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Sun, Earth's Angles, and the Seasons

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students determine if the angle of light bombardment is a factor in heat absorption. They correlate these findings to the tilt of the Earth and the seasons. Students fold a pice of black construction paper in half, lengthwise. They tape...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Scale Model of the Earth

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students work together to create a model of the Earth. They label and identify each layer and describing its properties. They discover how engineers use models to test different concepts.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Layered Earth

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Young scholars role play plate tectonics by creating a "plate statue" made up of students. In this earth science lesson, young scholars describe how Earth's movement cause earthquakes and volcanoes. They draw and name the different...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Tic-Tac-Toe for Layers of the Earth

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders identify the different layers of the earth. In this earth science lesson plan, 8th graders choose a project to do from a given list according to their learning style. They present their finished project in class.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Exploring Meteorite Mysteries: Building Blocks of Planets

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students simulate the formation of chondrites and asteroids. In this astronomy instructional activity, students demonstrate accretion using balloons and static electricity. They compare and contrast their models to the actual process of...
Lesson Plan
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University of Colorado

Phases of Charon

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Pluto, although no longer considered a planet, has five moons. Pluto's moon, Charon, is the focus of a resource that describes how the moon is viewed from the surface of Pluto. Photos help individuals see how Charon would look at...
Lesson Plan
PBS

Breaking it Down

For Teachers 4th - 12th
After challenging themselves to correctly choose the form of erosion and length of time required for a given landform to develop, earth science class members model mechanical and chemical weathering with various lab demonstrations over...
Lesson Plan
Space Awareness

Water is a Heat Sink

For Teachers 3rd - 8th Standards
One of the key objectives of Europe's Copernicus Earth program is to monitor the temperatures of the oceans and seas on Earth. Young scholars learn the effects of different heat capacities through two experiments. These experiments...

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