Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What's the Connection Between Convection and Inversion?

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders observe a simulation demonstrating the difference between convection and inversion. They explain where and when convection and inversion layers occur and how each impacts air quality, and by connection, human health.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sky and Cloud Windows

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Young scholars monitor the weather, clouds, and sky. In this weather lesson, students create a sky and cloud window to focus their sky observations. They write observations in a notebook and include the date, time, cloud cover, types of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sun and Temperatures

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Learners consider the relationship of temperature to environmental conditions and then apply their knowledge to a practical event. The task assesses students' knowledge and application of that knowledge to an additional situation.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Blizzard of 1993

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students read and interpret the information from a barograph from a major winter storm. This task assesses students' abilities to interpret and analyze graphs, construct data tables and graphs, generalize, infer, apply knowledge of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Formation of Rain

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students sequence the steps leading to the formation of rain, and design a model to represent these steps. This task assesses students' abilities to classify, generalize, infer, interpret and communicate data, and construct a pictorial...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Formation of Wind

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Learners correctly sequence the steps leading to the formation of wind, and describe the cause and effect relationships involved in the formation of wind. This task assesses students' abilities to classify, generalize, infer, interpret...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Just How DO Those Plates Move?

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Learners experiment with water, temperature and paper to explore how convection currents occur and how they are used to explain the movement of the Earth's plates.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

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...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Let There Be Light

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders explore electricity. In this electricity instructional activity, 5th graders experiment with open and closed circuits. Students determine how to properly connect a battery and bulb to illuminate the bulb.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sound Box

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students make simple observations and identify relevant variables, such as frequency and diameter. They then discuss the relationship between variables. The task assesses students' abilities to make simple observations and make...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ice Cream Chemical and Physical Changes

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders identify characteristics of a simple physical and chemical change. They describe objects by the properties of the materials from which they are made and that these properties can be used separate. Students describe the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Elements and Compounds

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders explore the chemical and physical properties of a variety of elements in a lab setting. They organize the data they collect onto a spreadsheet and then choose one element from the periodic table to research. They...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Let the Sunshine in

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students collect and analyze data to study wavelengths of visible light. They cover Styrofoam cups with three different colors of sun filtering products and shine a lamp directly on the cups. They determine the most effective filtering...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lesson Plan: Global Warming

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore the concept of global warming. For this climate change lesson, students explore the provided links to PBS NOW sources and research the greenhouse effect and the effects of global warming. Students support their...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Four Seasons - Earth's Rotation

For Teachers K - 3rd
Students identify characteristics in correlation with each season and identify dates of the changing seasons. They identify and describe how the Earth rotates around the sun and its effects on the temperatures of the earth.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sedimentary Rocks

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders receive an introduction to the rock cycle. They dicuss the geologic rock cycle. They create a simulation of a sedementary rock.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Newton's Laws

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars examine and discuss Newton's Laws and discover his contribution to physics. In groups, they participate in an experiment in which they much apply the Laws to the world around them. They describe contact and conservative...
Lesson Plan
Alabama Learning Exchange

What Burns When a Candle Burns? an Introduction to Using the Scientific Method

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers use the scientific method to discover the role of a candle's wick and how radiation allows candle wax to change from solid to liquid to gas. They work in small groups to use the steps of the scientific method approach in...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Aerospace Engineering

For Teachers 8th - Higher Ed
Students explore oil field applications of Shape Memory Alloys.  In this engineering instructional activity students divide into groups and research mini research applications then complete a project. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Where My Peeps At?

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Learners conduct a series of activity that demonstrates Charles' and Boyle's Law. In this chemistry instructional activity, students determine the relationship among pressure, volume and temperature. They solve problems using...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Wind

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders watch an experiment that demonstrates the causes of wind. They design and make an original weather craft.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sea Surface Temperature Trends of the Gulf Stream

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students explore the importance of the Gulf Stream. Using a NASA satellite images, they examine the sea surface temperature. Students collect the temperature at various locations and times. Using spreadsheet technology, they graph the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sea Surface Temperature Trends of the Gulf Stream

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students use authentic satellite data to produce plots and graphs of sea surface temperature as they explore the seasonal changes of the Gulf Stream.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Graphical Determination of Density

For Teachers 10th - 11th
Students determine the density of metal shot by a graphical method using significant digits in making measurements and calculations. Students graph a seris of laboratory measurements and determine density from a mass verses volume graph.