Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Solar System Fun Facts

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students read facts about the Solar System. In this solar system lesson plan, students read facts on the dimensions, planets, and workings of the solar system. There is a big emphasis on Saturn.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Scientific Advances Could Bring Back the Dodo & Mammoth

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students reflect on the possibility of bringing extinct species back to life.  For this ESL lesson, students debate the pros and cons of extinction reversal then complete several activities centered around the topic.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

"Habitat Collage"

For Teachers K
Students create a collage of habitats in which insects are found.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Protecting Agriculture's Tools

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Pupils brainstorm which tools farmers can control and why. They discuss how to conserve water, air and soil. They discuss the role of farmers and how they feed the world.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Dumptown Game

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students engage in an interactive play scenario. They are the new managers of a fictional city and live in a place where nothing is recycled. Students are faced with various problems that need to be solved. They work together to propose...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

People and the Physical Environment of Illinois

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Pupils read about the settlement of Illinois from statehood to the present. They categorize different areas of need such as survival, economic and social. Students make a list of ways people used the physical environment in Illinois...
Lesson Plan
National Park Service

Rock Ranking

For Teachers 1st - 3rd Standards
Junior geologists sort rocks and soil. They separate a sample of river gravel by size, shape, color, and other characteristics. To include Common Core standards, you could have little ones graph the number of particles in each sample.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Graphing Data - Temperature

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders measure and record temperature over a given time period. They compare the recorded temperatures to the 40-year recorded normal average temperatures for the same area. Students display and interpret their findings in a graph.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Warm is the Water?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students research how surface sea temperature changes throughout the year. They draw a time series of sea surface temperatures for each month of the year and a depth profile for a summer and winter month using an OceanExplorer Profiler...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Phases of the Moon

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders observe the changes in the moon's appearance over a two week period of time from their homes. They record and illustrate their observations and also complete daytime moon viewings as a class.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Air Pollution Over Where?

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Students predict the movement of an air borne pollutant using their understanding of air currents. They determine which governments and/or communities should be contacted to be forewarned. They also explore the properties of their...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Creating a Thematic Map Using S'COOL Data

For Teachers 8th - 9th
Learners observe weather patterns, collect data, and make a weather predictions for various locations on a map.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Should We Allow New Mining in the Upper Peninsula?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers compose an essay taking a position on whether or not a proposed mine near Marquette, MI should be opened. Students defend their position addressing relevant issues through factual supporting details. Their essay includes...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Where Does the Water Around Our School Go?

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Pupils in groups, map quadrants of the area around the school and make predictions about the direction of waterflow and zones of accumulation that will occur when it rains. Then when it does rain they check to see if their prediction...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Shake, Rattle and Erupt

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students study myths regarding four earthquakes myths. They receive a list of supplies each family should have at home to prepare for an earthquake and construct an "Earthquake Preparation" poster showing some of the most important items...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water Quality

For Teachers 2nd
In this unit of lessons, 2nd graders examine the water quality of the water on the planet. They discover how much water is on the planet and how to conserve their water usage.
Lesson Plan
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Natural Hazards

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students evaluate the hazards of naturally occurring events. After watching a video concerning safety hazards, students work in groups to discuss the safety issues involved in taking a trip to a mountainous region. Recommendations are...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Cloud Databases

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students complete a unit on clouds and a report about one type of cloud. They collect data through observation about different types of cloud cover and then create a spreadsheet to reflect their observations over a 2 week period.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Plot That Quake!

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders collect and analyze data on earthquake locations.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Comparative Stream Quality

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners examine water quality on a nearby stream. They collect water samples and test for various factors, including any contamination from the treatment plant, and present their information in a Powerpoint presentation.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Tracking the Movement of Sunspots

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine how the development of new technology has increased our knowledge of how the sun works. Students study sunspots through the use of solar imaging from satellite instruments.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water Cycle

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students identify and define evaporation, condensation, precipitation and also, how these interact to complete the water cycle. They identify that water moves in a contimuous cycle, which is powered by the sun. Finally, students name...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Celestial Photography

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students practice photographic skills and gain an awareness of photography as a scientific tool.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Eclipse: An Introduction

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Young scholars write journal entries about eclipses with a focus on solar eclipses.