Lesson Plan
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Shadow Trackers: From Photography to Writing

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students explore the rotation of the earth. In this science lesson, students view photos of various places around the world. Students conduct an experiment in which they can see how the earth's rotation creates shadows on the earth.
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Mississippi’s Contribution to Space Exploration

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders engage in a class discussion while going through a PowerPoint on Mississippi's contribution to space exploration. In this Space science lesson plan, the students will also participate in Brain Pop quizzes where they will...
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It's Hot

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders examine the effect of sunlight on the earth. Individually, they pick an article of clothing out of a bag and sort themselves based on the color of the shirt and whether it should be worn on a cold or a hot day. To end the...
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Moon Shadows

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Pupils study the moon and its shadows.  In this moon lesson students complete a lab activity that shows the different shadows and answer questions.
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Your Own Greenhouse

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Learners discuss the similarities between the Earth's atmosphere and a greenhouse. In this science activity, students make their own greenhouses out of plastic bottles and thermometers. Learners record the temperature different times of...
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Third from the Sun

For Teachers 4th - 9th
Students examine images from space.  In this third from the Sun lesson, students examine images from, Landsat, the satellite launched by NASA in 1972.   
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Retrograde Motion

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Learners study the motions of the heavenly bodies.  In this space lesson students use models to show a variety of schemes explaining the motions. 
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"I, Robot"

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders define vocabulary and discuss the characters in a movie.  In this solar station instructional activity students explore robots on the Internet. 
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Earth Processes

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders explore and discuss the process of evaporation. They discuss how wet things become dry. Students observe the process of evaporation and they make predictions about the observations they make about evaporation. Students...
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Celebrating the Solstice and Equinox

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders graph the number of daylight hors throughout the year and examine why day length varies. They discover that seasonal changes and latitude on Earth affect the number of hours of daylight in each day. Students listen to...
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Shadow Trackers

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students use online websites to inquire about the cycle of day and night. In this web based lesson, students are able to see the movement of the sun and Earth. Students can look at different parts of the Earth as if they were on the Sun...
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Shine On, Moon

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

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students design and build an ideal lunar settlement. In this astronomy lesson, students identify the key features of the moon. They compare its environmental condition with the Earth's.
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Making Clouds: Aerosol-Cloud Interactions in a Beaker

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students observe a teacher demo on how clouds form. In this earth science lesson, students discover how cloudiness affects relative humidity. They explain the scattering of light by clouds.
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What's Your Favorite Season?

For Teachers K
Students explore earth science by creating illustrations in class. For this four seasons lesson, students identify the four different types of weather that take place during the year and read the books Harvest Year and Snow Comes to the...
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Why is There a Tidal Bulge Opposite the Moon?

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students simulate how the Moon causes ocean tides. In this earth science lesson plan, students calculate gravitational acceleration using a mathematical formula. They compare the force of attraction between the Earth, Moon and Sun system.
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Classify Rocks

For Teachers 6th - 7th
Students classify different types of rocks. In this earth science lesson, students test different rock samples and construct a chart to record observations. They create a concept map that answers essential questions.
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Weather Predictions

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students record weather data and create a five day forecast. Students investigate the roles of meteorologists and identify symbols used on a weather map. After gathering weather data for a week, students will create a five day forecast...
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Solar System: Let's Take a Trip

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders consider outer space. In this introductory solar system lesson, 3rd graders complete a KWL chart and listen to the story The Magic School Bus: Lost in the Solar System, by Joanna Cole & Bruce Degen. They will contribute...
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Phases of the Moon: Cooperative Learning

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders examine the phases of the moon. In this moon phase instructional activity, 3rd graders listen to a read aloud of The Moon Seems to Change by Franklyn M. Branley and discuss the phases of the moon. They complete a moon phase...
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Where Are All the Fish?

For Teachers 1st - 5th
Students identify the problems that marine life is facing today. In this marine science lesson, students explain how Marine Protected Areas can help the ocean and the fish. They brainstorm ways to help in the conservation effort.
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Reading Weather Maps

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders the symbols that are used on weather maps. They develop five day forecasts based on information they gather from weather maps in the newspaper and on the Internet.
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Anza and Font in Search of Latitude

For Teachers 7th
This is an integrated lesson that incorporates Social Studies, Science, and Mathematics. In Social Studies, 7th graders complete an online interview and complete an online worksheet about latitude of sites on the Anza trail. In Science...
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The Calendar

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners engage in an overview of solar and lunar calendars, their history and lore. Also, of the day and the month, and their relations to the rotation period of the Earth and the orbital period of the Moon.