Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Why Do Some Birds Have Two Homes When We Have One?

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders study migratory birds in the temperate forest and the tropical rainforest. In this migratory birds instructional activity, 6th graders participate in different activities that explain patterns  of migration, research...
Lesson Plan
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Using GLOBE Data to Study the Earth System (College Level)

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students use the GLOBE Website to locate and study environmental data. They use the GLOBE Graphing Tool to display data. Students describe the role of solar energy in the annual fluctuations of soil moisture. They describe reservoirs and...
Lesson Plan
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Three D Constellations

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers address a major misconception in astronomy, the understanding of scale. The lesson is designed to introduce students to both celestial coordinates and to the first rung on the distance determination ladder, parallax.
Lesson Plan
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Build a 3-d Plant Model

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders construct a three-dimensional model of a flowering plant. They examine the major plant parts and their basic functions. They demonstrate an understanding of the similarities and differences in the physical...
Lesson Plan
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Hurricanes and Tornadoes (Grade 4-8)

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students investigate the concepts of hurricanes and violent weather conditions. In this violent weather lesson, students access an Internet site and watch a video about how air masses behave, how a tornado forms, how hurricanes form, and...
Lesson Plan
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PRIMATE CLASSIFICATION: Evolution, Cladograms,

For Teachers 7th - 10th
Students transfer examples (names) of primates from their location in an outline hierarchy of primate groups into a set of nested boxes reflecting that same hierarchy. A cladogram can then be drawn illustrating how these groups are...
Lesson Plan
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Water Cycle

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders explore ways water moves through various reservoirs on Earth, examine how human activities change water cycle, investigate substances present in water that indicate human activity, and discuss how understanding water cycle...
Lesson Plan
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Plants, Animals and Our Environment

For Teachers K
Students draw and label the basic needs of animals. They draw and label the basic needs of plants. Students understand the basic needs of plants and animals are not only the same, but are interrelated. They know that the environment...
Lesson Plan
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Flower Power

For Teachers 5th - 9th
Students explore the parts of flowers and how they reproduce. They dissect flowers and observe the reproductive organs. Students observe anthers and ovaries of Tiger Lilies under a microscope. They investigate how insects and other...
Lesson Plan
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The Monarch Butterfly Watch

For Teachers 2nd - 12th
Students explore monarch migration through the Journey North web site. In this butterfly lesson, students use the internet to identify a butterfly's migration pattern. Students write in electronic journals.
Lesson Plan
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Guetemala's Changing Forest

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders compare their local ecological zone to the tropical rainforest. In this natural ecology lesson, 8th graders complete an activity about the differences in ecological zones. They compare their biome to the Guatemalan...
Lesson Plan
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How Trees Contribute to the Water Cycle

For Teachers 3rd
In this water cycle instructional activity, 3rd graders conduct an experiment where they observe and calculate how water transpires in different types of trees.  Students engage in a class discussion and use Venn Diagrams to compare...
Lesson Plan
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Weather Alert

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students become familiar with the effects of weather on humans.  In this weather pattern lesson, students identify weather patterns and how people can prepare for them.  Students complete a weather research sheet.
Lesson Plan
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The Letter Bb

For Teachers Pre-K - 1st
Students participate in a variety of activities to practice words with the Bb sound. In this Bb sound lesson, students use craft rolls to create butterflies. Students create a letter book with B words
Lesson Plan
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Rainfall Mapping

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students explore rainfall and habitats. In this rainfall lesson, students explore the relationships among rainfall, vegetation, and animal habitats. Resources are provided.
Lesson Plan
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Using the Synoptic Code for the Prediction of Weather

For Teachers 9th - Higher Ed
Students interpret the synoptic code. They construct a thermoscreen with an anemometer. Students identify different types of clouds and understand and read barometric pressure. Students predict weather pattern as they apply to fronts.
Lesson Plan
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FLIGHT FAIR

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students conduct their personal investigations into paper airplane flight. Cooperative teams are formed, with students choosing the paper airplane design that they are most interested in building.
Lesson Plan
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Our Zoo Friends

For Teachers 1st
First graders plan and create a model zoo depicting the natural habitats of animals. Their models include animals and a display of written factual information about the animals. Students present their project by conductig a tour of...
Lesson Plan
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The Delicate Balance within a Forest Ecosystem

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Learners examine the causes and effects of alterations in a forest ecosystem and evaluate how human actions may only seem to have minor consequences, but can lead to extinctions of large numbers of populations. Students produce an...
Lesson Plan
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Dimming The Sun

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students review the meanings of global warming and global dimming. While watching a video, they take notes on different aspects of the issue. In groups, they develop a list on what can be done to reduce global dimming. They...
Lesson Plan
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Backyard Blitz

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Learners create a landscape design using shapes, colors and textures. A key is created with hyperlinks to information reports pertaining to the plants, trees and shrubs used in the design. Explore design principal utilizing a variety of...
Lesson Plan
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Particulate Matter- How Dirty is the Air We Breathe?

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders investigate air pollution. In this air pollution lesson, 4th graders test the air quality by using a block of wood and petroleum jelly. Students investigate the pollutants on the wooden block.
Worksheet
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Student Exploration: Mineral Identification

For Students 8th - 9th
In this mineral identification worksheet, students read nine vocabulary words and answer 5 short answer and fill-in-the-blank questions regarding minerals. There are four additional pages of related activities. 
Interactive
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Milk and Monarch Butterfly Mania Journal Entry

For Students 7th - 8th
In this milk and monarch butterfly mania journal entry worksheet, students write a scientific journal entry about the milkweed plant, using the information from another linked website.  This worksheet includes many links to other...