Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Latent Heat and Clouds

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Students explore latent heat and how it relates to clouds in the atmosphere.  In this earth science lesson plan students investigate how clouds are formed. Students examine clouds and the water cycle.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Pangaea Puzzle

For Teachers 5th - 11th
Learners explore plate tectonics and the formations of the Earth's surface and why maps are distorted.  In this Earth's surface lesson students complete a lab and answer questions. 
Lesson Plan
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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

From One Seed Grow Many Seeds

For Teachers 1st
First graders practice identifying plants by singing a song.  In this plant life lesson, 1st graders sing the song "Parts of a Plant" which is based on the anatomy of sunflowers.  Students discover agriculture techniques while...
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

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

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
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Atmospheric Cells

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars recognize that the sun is the source of energy driving atmosphere cells. They relate the motion of the atmospheric cells to mantle convection cells. Students recognize that the function of atmospheric cells is to move heat...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Plants and Animals Depend Upon One Another

For Teachers 1st
First graders study plants and animals and how they depend on one another. They also study that plants give energy to animals and provide oxygen needed for life. Finally, 1st graders give examples of the roles plants and animals play...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Cold Fronts

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students 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 weather...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Driving Currents

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars conduct a variety of investigations to see how water, heat, and salinity affect the flow of the world's ocean currents,as well as, explore many factors that affect the flow of the world's ocean currents. They also describe...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What's Making It Look So Brown Outside?

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders analyze cars and particulate matter in the atmosphere. They analyze results of particulate pollutants and identify which vehicle gives off more particulates. They identify sources of particulate matter and relate to...
Lesson Plan
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Water and Ice

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students explore the states of water. In this water states instructional activity, students observe ice over time and the changes that take place. Students read a related text and draw their observations in a journal entry. Students...
Lesson Plan
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Organic and Inorganic Waste

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students conduct a scientific investigation about organic or inorganic waste.  In this organic or inorganic waste lesson, students create a compost heap to determine the difference between inorganic and organic waste. Students...
Lesson Plan
Polar Trec

What Is My Footprint?

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
How do one's habits and lifestyle choices affect the environment? Through a short online survey, learners will calculate their own carbon footprints then determine how to reduce their impact on the environment through simple steps, such...
Lesson Plan
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The Same, But Different Part II

For Teachers 3rd
Learners characterize a physical change as something that changes to a different size, but retains its basic substance. They measure volumes using milliliters, and perform an experiment that proves that gases expand when hot and contract...
Lesson Plan
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Temperature and Thermal Energy

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Examine how heat can be transferred between systems by reconstructing a diagram on energy flow and solving problems on heat flow and work done.
Lesson Plan
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Investigating Earth's Materials

For Teachers 1st
First graders compare and contrast water from different sources. After collecting water from various sources, 1st graders create a list of observable properties of the water. Students then pour the water into a filter and observe the...
Lesson Plan
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All Washed Up

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders simulate filtration of water containing contaminates to determine how nature cleans water. They make predictions, report observations, and construct reasonable explanations concerning their outcomes. then connect this to...
Lesson Plan
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Brine Shrimp

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students gain a sense of the delicacy and complexity of a living organism and the rather narrow range of conditions under which it can live.
Lesson Plan
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Nothing New? A Physical Change

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders discuss the differences between chemical and physical changes. In groups, they complete experiments and discover how a physical chnage can be reversed. To end the lesson, they review the steps of the water cycle and...
Lesson Plan
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The Miracle Fish: Learning to Design an Experiment

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students develop procedures to explore the behavior of fish.  In this scientific experiment instructional activity students from a hypothesis, write a question, identify different variables and controls in their experiment. 
Lesson Plan
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Flowers, Pods, and Seeds

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students gain an understanding of living organisms. the complete a plant growth data log to chart plant growth and to make observations, predictions, and personal reflections.
Lesson Plan
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Dogs & Darwin

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders construct and conduct a laboratory experiment illustrating the transfer of mutations. They compare and contrast natural selection in organisms with long and short reproductive cycles.