Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Much is Dirt Worth?

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders graph the percentages of the materials that make up the Earth and complete computations based on their results.  In this topsoil lesson, 4th graders diagram the different layers of Earth's composition.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Earth's Dramatic History

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students create a timeline.  In this Earth's History instructional activity, students research the history of life on Earth and use the information collected to create a timeline.  Students also answers the provided discussion...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Greenhouse Gases: The Chemistry Behind the Culprits

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders investigate the effect of different gases in the atmosphere. In this chemistry lesson, 9th graders explain how these gases contribute to global warming. They suggest possible solutions to this growing problem.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Where Did They Come From?

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Give science learners nine questions about the biogeography of hydrothermal vents and turn them loose to research this fascinating habitat. Working in cooperative groups, they prepare a report that addresses each of the questions. A...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Explosive Ideas!

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students explore the layers of the Earth and the dynamic changes that they cause on Earth's surface. Volcanoes and earthquakes become the focus of the lesson as the Oregon State quarter and its Crater Lake images are linked to the topic.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Civilizations of the Americas

For Teachers 7th
Study and compare multiple aspects of both Aztec and Inca civilizations. Young historians explain how each of the empires came to be, and how they were both defeated by the Spanish. The resource starts out as a good lesson, but is...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

So Much Water, So Little to Drink

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students explore salt and fresh water. In this water lesson, students investigate the amount of Earth covered by water. Students compare the amounts of salt water to fresh water. Students create a visual representation to aid comprehension.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Devastation of Indian Quake

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students read an online article at CNNfyi.com to determine what happened in India after an earthquake. They determine the magnitude of this earthquake and address the issue of relief efforts from other countries.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Changing Earth

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students observe and analyze weathering. In this earth science lesson plan, students demonstrate physical and chemical weathering in two experiments, then write questions for a class Jeopardy game.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The No Zone of Ozone

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students explore the causes and effects of the Earth's ozone holes through discussion and an interactive simulation. Using gumdrops and toothpicks, they conduct a large-group, interactive ozone depletion model.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

As the Sun Burns

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Pupils examine the types of light the sun gives the Earth. They describe the electro-magnetic spectrum and how to protect themselves from different types of light. They identify the layers of the atmosphere as well.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Coal: More Than Meets the Eye!

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Students participate in a hands-on simulation to help them explain that coal resources are deposited unevenly between the earth's surface and under the ground.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

UV light & Ozone layer

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Middle-school meteorologists absorb information about ultraviolet radiaton and consider the ozone layer. The book that learners are supposed to refer to is not available, so you might want to locate some graphics or posters...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Earthquake Formation

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Young scholars explore earthquakes. In this natural disaster and engineer career education lesson, students identify features of the earth's surface that increase the likelihood of an earthquake. Young scholars use visual aids to locate...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Groundwater Movement

For Teachers 4th - 9th
Students study groundwater movement beneath the surface of the Earth. In this agriculture instructional activity, students experiment with how water moves through rock materials such as sand, gravel, and clay.
Lesson Plan
Center Science Education

Paleoclimates and Pollen

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Demonstrate for your earth scientists how plant pollen of the past has become part of sedimentary deposits, providing clues about ancient climates. Then give them simulated sediment layer samples to analyze for different types of paper...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Fossil Fuels (III), The Geology of Coal: Interpreting Geologic History

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students hypothesize about why various samples of coal have different characteristics. Pupils use information that they found during Internet searches to ascertain the validity of their hypotheses and verify the "story" of coal. ...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Types And Magnitudes Of Earthquakes

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students investigate the concept of earthquakes and the different types of magnitudes. They research the Richter scale and how it is used to measure the intensities of earthquakes. Students then apply the concept by completing a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Effects Of Earthquakes

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students investigate the concept of how earthquakes occur and the after effects of how they effect landforms. They conduct research it using a variety of resources and measure the varying intensities of how earthquakes effect the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Incorporating 3D Visualizations into Your Classroom

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students make observations through 3-D visualizations. They explore scientific and geologic processes through the use of 3-D pictures.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Phytoplankton in the Gulf of Maine

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students use satellite data to see the correlation between sea temperature and sunlight in the Gulf of Maine.  In this phytoplankton instructional activity students use Excel to analyze data. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Our Earth

For Teachers 8th - 10th
In this Earth's environment worksheet, students complete a crossword puzzle given 35 clues about a variety of topics related to our Earth. Topics include ecosystems, precipitation, biomes, energy transfer, soil, weathering and rocks.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Layered Earth

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Young scholars role play plate tectonics by creating a "plate statue" made up of students. In this earth science lesson, young scholars describe how Earth's movement cause earthquakes and volcanoes. They draw and name the different...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Investigating Properties of Water: Temperature

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Investigate how temperature affects the density of water and stratification that occurs in bodies of water when temperatures vary. Water of differing temperatures is given different colors to see the layers that form. The lesson is meant...