Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Summer Solstice

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students explore summer solstice.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Weather and Wind

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Students study wind and its effect on weather.  In this investigative activity students write a report on wind and weather and create a movement sequence. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Capturing the Sun's Warmth

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students explore the variety of ways to use solar energy. They investigate the thermal energy storage capacities of different test materials to determine which to use in passive solar building design. They explain how passive solar...
Lesson Plan
1
1
Curated OER

New Year Celebrations Around the World

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students share their New Year's traditions, then read a news article about how people around the world celebrate the start of a new year. In this current events lesson, the teacher introduces the article with a discussion and vocabulary...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Weather Instruments

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders make predictions about weather and utilize weather instruments and weather reports. They match weather components with weather instruments, and demonstrate how to read a thermometer. Students also construct and use a wind...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Weather Anomalies

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders participate in a simulation of a select scientific team from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Analyzing Hurricanes Using Web and Desktop GIS

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners analyze hurricanes. In hurricanes lesson, students use the Internet and GIS to analyze hurricanes. Learners view the National Atlas of Maps to discuss the direction hurricanes move. Students study the wind and pressure fields to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Hazardous Waste Events Chain

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students identify sources of hazardous wastes and their effects on the ecosystem. For this hazardous waste lesson plan, students are given a hazardous waste card and walk around to locate other links in their hazardous waste events...
Unit Plan
Curated OER

Water, Water Everywhere, and Nary a Drop to Drink!

For Teachers 1st
Students sing the continent song and locate oceans between the continents on a map. They read "They Earth is Mostly Ocean" and copy notes into their journals. They watch a demonstration of water and saltwater evaporated to see what is...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Moving Experience

For Teachers 6th - 7th
Learners visit Time Machine's San Francisco Earthquake Era. They understand how the Earth's layers interact to cause changes in the Earth's surface. They review information about earthquakes and Earth's layers.
Lesson Plan
PBS

Technology: Conveniences and Consequences

For Teachers 8th - 12th
It's a delicate balance—using technology to improve our lives while still protecting the environment, and ourselves, from the hazards of technology use. Class members examine statistics about the increase in media use, complete a survey...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Is the Moon out tonight?

For Students K - 2nd
Learners talk or read about the way the moon travels across the sky. They then look at the picture of where the moon is and draw where it will be in the picture, later in the evening. Note: The worksheet is intended for third or fourth...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Dark Matter In The Universe

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students investigate the concept of dark matter and how it occurs in the universe. They conduct research using a variety of resources. Students use the information by reading at least two articles about dark matter. They also generate...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Volcanoes A-Z

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students examine terminology related to the study of volcanoes, geology, or the ecosystems that surround them. They make note of key words while reading exhibits, interpretive signs, or labels, or hearing them from each other, their...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lunar Myths

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders explore the phases of the moon. For this moon lesson, 4th graders research myths regarding the moon and create a PowerPoint presentation to share their findings.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ecosystems Lesson Plan

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students research ecosystems (rainforest, desert, grassland, woodland, and arctic tundra). Students compare the seven continents and the importance of proximaty to the equator.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Celebration of Trees

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders listen to various, grade appropriate stories about trees. They create their own construction paper trees and discuss the importance of trees to the ecosystem and the importance of taking care of them. Finally, 2nd graders...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Theories

For Teachers 9th - Higher Ed
Learners view a series of videos that explore the development, formation and arguments for the geocentric model of the solar system. Studenst investigate the heliocentric model of the solar system and consider how scientific theories...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Analyzing the Relationship between Snowpack and River Flow

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students use the Internet to research current and past snowpack levels and river gauging station readings. They determine the relationship between snowpack and river flow. They predict future river flow.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Home-Made Clouds

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders witness cloud formation in a jar during a teacher lead simulation. They research, draw and predict weather using information they gather about clouds.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduction to Bacteria

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Beginning biologists survey several websites to learn about the types, structure, motility, feeding habits, and reproductive methods of bacteria. All websites are linked to the lesson plan, so you can have individuals access it and click...
PPT
Curated OER

Deserts

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
What is it like in the desert? Inform your class on what makes a desert, the type of climate they'll find there, and the interesting plant and animals that live in the desert environment. This is a text-rich presentation that will...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Is it Really Winter in Australia? It is June!

For Teachers 8th - 12th
The purpose of this activity is to determine how the location of a place on the Earth (hemisphere) determines what season that place is experiencing relative to the Sun's rays. Day one the students will be introduced to the terms...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Geology and it’s Influence

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students compare current geological map and the one from 1800's. In this earth science lesson, students discuss differences between the two and explain the factors that caused the change. They write an essay about how these changes...