Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Tides and How Creatures Survive

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students discover tidal pools.  In this oceanographic lesson, students observe the tides of the earth and the creatures that inhabit the intertidal zones.  Students role-play the tidal zones by portraying themselves as animals...
Lesson Plan
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The Nitrogen Cycle

For Teachers 8th - 9th
Students study the nitrogen cycle and construct a diagram.  In this Earth Science lesson students use role play to see the various paths. 
Lesson Plan
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Jupiter's Weather Forecast

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students read information about Jupiter and the planet's weather. In this Jupiter weather lesson, students read information about Jupiter's weather. Students study a chart about the weather on Earth and Jupiter. Students read a weather...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Plotting Sunspot Activity

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students explore how to graph sunspots using a solar graph.  In this sunspots lesson students investigate sunspots and complete and evaluation worksheet. 
Lesson Plan
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Keeping Things Toasty in New Zealand

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students identify the signs of a volcanic eruption. In this earth science instructional activity, students compose a letter to their neighbor convincing them of an impending eruption. They recognize the danger in living near a volcano.
Lesson Plan
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Investigating Fresh Water Ecosystems

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders examine the fresh water ecosystems. For this environmental lesson, 6th graders work in groups to collect information about a fresh water ecosystem and report their findings to the class in the form of a brochure.
Lesson Plan
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Summer Sky Tour

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore space science by participating in a constellation identification activity. In this astronomy lesson, students view star charts based on the different seasons and define a list of astronomy related terms. Students...
Lesson Plan
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The Deforestation of the Temperate Forest Focus; Russian Taiga/Boreal

For Teachers 12th
Twelfth graders complete a unit of lessons on the Russian Temperate Forest. They list the environmental problems associated with deforestation, conduct research, compare the Russian Taiga with other forests, create graphs, and develop an...
Lesson Plan
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Melts in Your Bag, Not in Your Hands

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Learners study how the sun transfers heat to the earth through radiation. They examine how animals absorb energy from the sun to warm their bodies by experiment with chocolate melting. They examine sun safety.
Lesson Plan
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King of the Mound

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Learners investigate water as an agent of change. They conduct an experiment involving a mound of soil, observe and record any changes that occur when ice melts on the mound of dirt, and create a drawing of the changes that take place...
Lesson Plan
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Climate

For Teachers 1st - 2nd
Young scholars explore climate and weather conditions. Using the Internet, and other activities, students examine climate maps and the factors that affect climate. They examine how climate affects clothes, shelter, food,...
Lesson Plan
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Upwelling Terrestrial Radiation

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Students calculate the hourly irradiance of the earth at a site given the near-surface air temperature of the site. They compare the calculated values of irradiance with those measured by instruments at the site. Students need to...
Lesson Plan
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How do people use ecosystems and their resources?

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Pupils examine how natural resources are reusable, renewable or nonrenewable.  In this ecosystems lesson students see the effects humans have on ecosystems and complete an art lesson activity. 
Lesson Plan
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Exploring Ultraviolet (UV) Light From the Sun

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students identify the different energy given off by the sun. In this earth science lesson, students predict where the UV beads will turn the darkest color. They explain the importance of using UV protection.
Lesson Plan
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SALLY RIDE

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students express what it would be like to launch off into outer space in a space shuttle. They include what it might feel like, look like, sound like, and any thoughts that go through their mind as they dart away from the Earth's...
Lesson Plan
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Starring...Bears!

For Teachers K - 4th
Students illustrate a First Nations' legend.  For this legend of bears lesson, students read several legends which involve bears and groups of stars or constellations. After reading, students illustrate portions of the stories....
Lesson Plan
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Getting the Oil Out

For Teachers K - 6th
Students discover ways of obtaining oil by participating in an experiment.  For this natural resource lesson, students identify diagrams of oil derricks and pumps in order to visualize how oil is retrieved from the earth....
Lesson Plan
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The Moon

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students explore the relationship between the earth, sun, and moon in our solar system. They create a moonrise/moonset chart, perform a dance that models the moon phases, and create a Styrofoam model of the moon's surface.
Lesson Plan
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The Water Cycle/States of Matter

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students engage in a lesson that is concerned with the water cycle and different states of matter. They conduct research using a variety of resources in preparation for taking a quiz. Then students take the quiz in correlation to having...
Lesson Plan
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Not Only a Drought

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students explore the events that occurred during the Dust Bowl and differentiate between the good and bad agricultural practices.  In this Dust Bowl lesson plan students participate in activities that shows them how to be good...
Lesson Plan
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Characteristics of Energy

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students explore Earth science by completing energy worksheets in class. In this energy forms lesson, students identify and define a list of energy vocabulary terms and a K-W-L chart. Students view a matter video clip in class and...
Lesson Plan
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Mr. and Mrs. Cress Head

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Students explore Earth science by completing a plant art project. For this botany lesson, students utilize tights and soil to create a furry, grassy puppet style animal from cress seeds. Students cut off the excess cress after several...
Lesson Plan
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How Does Flowing Water Shape a Planet's Surface?

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Young scholars investigate how flowing water influence landforms. In this earth science lesson, students observe water behavior as it flows from the stream table at various inclinations. They discuss whether water shaped Mars landforms...
Lesson Plan
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Sundials: Observing and Using Shadows

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Students build sundials and observe changes in shadows over the course of one or more days. They identify patterns in the shadows and discuss how shadows may be used to tell time.