Colorado State University
What Makes a Gas, a Greenhouse Gas?—The Carbon Dioxide Dance
Investigate a heated topic in environmental science. Scholars team up to play the parts of gas molecules in the atmosphere. As the teacher moves about, acting as the electromagnetic wave, learners react as their molecules would to the...
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Exploring the Night Sky: Fall/Winter
Young scholars explain how moon phases occur. They explain three ways that the night sky has been used through history. Students locate some of the constellations in the night sky. They discuss stories and myths surrounding stars.
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The Water Cycle
Students are introduced to the components and importance of the water cycle. They are shown how groundwater moves using a model. Students list 9 places on earth where water is found. They define the terms cycle and water cycle.
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Phases of the Moon: Cooperative Learning
Third graders examine the phases of the moon. In this moon phase instructional activity, 3rd graders listen to a read aloud of The Moon Seems to Change by Franklyn M. Branley and discuss the phases of the moon. They complete a moon phase...
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The Solar System
Learners explore planets of the solar system, write reports, and create dioramas.
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Plasma
In this matter worksheet, students review the states of matter, including plasma. Students read about where plasma is found and then complete 3 short answer questions.
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How Far Away Is Saturn?
Students work together to create a scale model of the solar system. They write a descriptive paper and a paper comparing and contrasting the Earth to Saturn. They discuss their writings with the class.
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The Toilet Paper Solar System
Students classify the planets in the solar system, study planetary objects, and measure the relative distance between planets. In this solar system lesson, students use toilet paper to complete a scale model of the distance between the...
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Our Solar System
Students investigate the coincidental parade of planets and witness dramatic views of the solar system by researching websites and participating in online activities. They write about their findings.
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Take a Spin Through the Solar System
Second graders participate in a variety of activities to explore the Solar System in this unit.
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Comets
Students explore the nature and composition of a comet. They research comet facts, legends, and myths. They identify different types of comets and describe what happens to a comet as it travels closer to the Sun.
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Charting Seasonal Changes
Students research the Earth's patterns of rotation and revolution, create a chart and graph of these patterns and use them to explain the causes of night and day and summer and winter.
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Leap Year
In this Leap Year reading comprehension worksheet, can learn about the various types of calendars (lunar, solar, etc.) and answer 7 multiple choice questions. Also included is a word search of key terms.
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Globe Lesson 12: Global Time
Students explore the concept of global time. In this geography skills lesson, students use standard meridians and the hour scale on globes to determine global time as they respond to questions in this self-directed lesson.
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Neptune
In this Neptune worksheet, 4th graders learn facts about the planet Neptune and read a short paragraph about the planet. Students enhance their understanding of planets.
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Worksheet 12
In this math instructional activity, students explain the vector parametric equation for a line, scalar parametric equations, symmetric equations, and the implicit equation for a line.
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Retrograde Motion of Mars
Students investigate the motion of Mars. In this space science lesson, students use transparencies to trace the path of Mars through constellations. Students discuss the characteristics of the planet.
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The Big Bang
Students explore our universe. In this solar system lesson, students gain knowledge about the solar system, galaxy, the universe and the Big Bang Theory. Students watch videos and view a slideshow.
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Energy Resources
In this energy resources worksheet, students read about the greenhouse effect and global warming. Then they explain why scientists are so concerned with greenhouse gases. Students also describe how global warming affects people worldwide.
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Green House Effect
Young scholars read about the green house effect and how our environment is deteriorating and what we can do to help it. In this green house effect lesson plan, students conduct a home and school energy audit, and create a rap.
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Navigation By the North Star: A Lesson Plan in Four Parts
Students investigate why the North Star was important for navigation, how stars move across the night sky, how to locate the North Star, how to make a crude sextant, and how to determine latitude using a sextant and the North Star. They...
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Star Child Astronomy
Students gain understanding of the relationship of Earth within the Solar System. They increase knowlegde of the planets, sun, moon, meteoroids, asteroids and comets.
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Inner Planets
Learners create a booklet about the inner planets after researching the characteristics of each planet. Students research the following items for each planet: moons, size, rotation, orbit, atmosphere, an interesting fact. Their final...