Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Energy

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students see that energy is everywhere in nature - in the light of the sun, in wind, in falling water and erupting volcanoes. Without energy, there is no life. This instructional activity provides many good ideas across the curriculum to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Social Class, Social Change, and Poverty

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners begin to explore poverty and its implications on society and future generations. They should have had experience with identifying social change that happens gradually and social change that happens quickly because of natural...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Hawaiian Hot Spots

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students describe how plate tectonics contribute to the development of volcanoes. In this earth science instructional activity, students examine the map of Hawaii and explore the physical and biological environment there. They write a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mini-Landslide

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students explore how different materials (sand, gravel, lava rock) with different water contents on different slopes result in landslides of different severity. They measure the severity by how far the landslide debris extends into model...
Activity
Discovery Education

Hurricane Force

For Teachers 9th - 12th
It's important to make sure houses can withstand winds. A hands-on activity has learners create a structure out of household materials. They use a fan to simulate hurricane-force winds to see if their structures can withstand the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Endangered Species in the Sonoran Desert

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners identify and explain some caused of endangerment and extinction for species as well as explain the effects of extinction on an ecosystem. Teachers use this lesson plan before teaching students about collecting insects or plants.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The True Cost of Coffee

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students examine the economic, health and environmental risks of being a one-crop country. They explain the risks of relying on one crop. They also identify the factors that resist change.
Lesson Plan
2
2
Curated OER

Earthquakes and Volcanoes

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Even though volcanoes look alike, they can be very different based on the types of lava that erupts from their surface. Learn about strata volcanoes, shield volcanoes, and the varying viscosity of lava with an engaging hands-on...
Lesson Plan
1
1
Curated OER

Volcanoes and People

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students discover that volcanic eruptions are geologic events that take place within the upper part and on the surface of the Earth's lithosphere. They explain how volcanoes are related to the Earth's lithosphere. They focus on the May...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Earth's Water

For Teachers 4th - 8th
If the majority of our planet is covered with water, why do we need to bother conserving it? With a thorough and varied investigation into the location and types of water on the earth, learners will gain an understanding of why this...
Lesson Plan
Chymist

How Do We Affect the Quality of Our Atmosphere

For Students 9th - 12th
Explore the makeup of the earth's atmosphere. Using the set of specific experiments, pupils examine the main elements and compounds present in the atmosphere. Their study extends to investigate the effects of atmospheric...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ammonium Nitrate - Is it worth the Risk?

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Learners consider that ammonium nitrate is used as a fertilizer and an explosive. They study the chemistry of ammonium nitrate and consider the advantages and disadvantages of this compound. The dual nature of Ammonium Nitrate was...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Food Pesticides and Their Risks to Children

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students examine an industrial disaster in India which affected the food for generations to come. In groups, they research the history of pesticides and place them into groups based on the type of pests they control. They partcipate in...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Shadow Know-How

For Students 5th - 6th
In this science activity, students identify 11 bird species by their shadows or silhouettes. Students write the name of the bird in the box under the shadow. Answers are provided upside down at the bottom of the page.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Learning About Weather

For Teachers 1st
First graders investigate natural weather disasters by writing an essay.  In this weather lesson, 1st graders research one aspect of dangerous weather such as hurricanes, snow, floods, etc.  Students take notes on their...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Understanding Ecosystems: Erosion and Flooding

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students study the balance in the environment needed for ecosystems. They discuss what can lead to erosion and flooding.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Natural Hazards

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers 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. ...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water-Is There Going to be Enough?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers research the availability, usage and demand for water in the local area historically and use projections of the availability, usage and demand for water up to the year 2050. They gather data and present the information in...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Life in a Hurricane Zone

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students investigate the social effects of hurricanes. For this social studies lesson, students assume the persona of residents of the Dominican Republic and write diary entries and letters regarding the devastation caused by Hurricane...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Global Precipitation Measurement Mission (GPM) Lesson

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Introduce your class to one of the ways that technology is benefiting humanity. The Global Precipitation Measurement Mission involves the data collected by nine satellites from different countries with a united focus on studying world...
Lesson Plan
ARKive

An Introduction to Endangered Species

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Playing games is a wonderful way to practice skills, start a discussion, or build memory. First, the class discusses extinction and conservation, and then they play a game of bingo. The game cards are printable and include images of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Making & Breaking : The Rock Cycle

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers examine the rock cycle and how rocks can change over time.  In this geotechnical engineering lesson students draw a diagram of the rock cycle.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

In the Eye of the Storms

For Teachers 10th
Tenth graders study the major hurricanes of the Atlantic Ocean. In this weather lesson, 10th graders read an article and answer various questions. Students discuss their findings with their classmates.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Dam Impact

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Young scholars explore the environmental impact of dams. In this environmental impact lesson, students explore the major environmental impacts of dams and the engineering solutions used to address the major issues.