California Academy of Science
Kinesthetic Astronomy: Moon Phases
We are the world! Each of your class members models Earth and holds a styrofoam ball to see its phases. Thorough teacher background information and a detailed lesson plan will make this a cinch to teach. If you do not want to purchase...
Curated OER
Star Light, Star Bright
Four modules are a part of this stellar lesson plan. Space scientists view the electromagnetic spectrum, they generate waves on a computer screen in order to measure frequency and wavelength, discover how light is related to temperature,...
Virginia Department of Education
Weather Patterns and Seasonal Changes
Get your class outside to observe their surroundings with a lesson highlighting weather patterns and seasonal changes. First, learners take a weather walk to survey how the weather affects animals, people, plants, and trees during...
Curated OER
The Reason for the Seasons
Young scholars compare graphs of their data that was generated on a NASA website. In this seasons lesson students complete a lab activity.
Virginia Department of Education
Greenhouse Gas Modeling Activity
Why are greenhouse gases called greenhouse gases? Young Earth scientists learn about greenhouse gases though experimentation in the second installment of a 3-part series. They use lamps to model radiant energy as well as warming through...
Curated OER
Exploring Mars
Students, working in small groups construct scale models of the planets and solar system. They examine images of Mars and discuss what might have caused the features. They record facts about their planetary research in their journals and...
Curated OER
Scale Model of the Solar System
Young scientists gain a better understanding of space, the solar system and its vastness by creating a scale model. Students first need to calculate the distance between each of the nine planets according to the size of their scale. This...
Curated OER
Light and Starch Production in Photosynthesis
Learners are given the unique opportunity to see the contrast between parts of a leaf that have photosynthesized and parts of the leaf that have not. This visual image helps students see the results of this biological process. At the...
Curated OER
The Four Seasons - Earth's Axis
Students explain that it is the tilt of earth's axis that causes the seasons. They engage in a variety of activities, both teacher-led and on the computer, which enable them to further explain how the Earth's axis affects the seasons.
Curated OER
The Earth in Space
Students use computer images to explain why the Earth has seasons and examine the phases of the moon. They create 3-D images and present them to the class. They answer a series of questions at the end of the lesson.
Curated OER
Fall Lesson Plans
Fall lesson plans can combine science, history, and writing into an enticing combination.
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Exploring the Night Sky: Fall/Winter
Students 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.
Curated OER
Water and Ice: Part 1
Students observe the state changes in water. In this matter lesson plan, students observe, measure, and describe water as it changes state. Students explore how water can change from a solid to a liquid then back again. They journal...
Curated OER
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.
Curated OER
Phases of the Moon
Students determine the phases of the moon. They observe experiments to formulate explanations for moon phases. Students identify waxing crescent, waning gibbous, and the causes of the phases.
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The Earth's Energy Budget
Students study the Earth's energy budget. In this investigative lesson students observe a lab that shows all aspects of heat transfer and light processes.
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Notes on the Seasons
Students complete guided notes while learning about the earth's seasons.
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Water 1: Water and Ice
Students explore forms that water can take and examine the water cycle. For this hands-on science lesson, students participate in activities that require them to change water to a solid and back to a liquid again.
Curated OER
Twisting the Air Away - The Coriolis Effect
Students examine the Coriolis Effect and its effects on the different hemispheres. In this Earth science instructional activity students divide into groups to they make predictions. Students then complete an activity to explore...
Curated OER
Things Are Heating Up!
Third graders study how heat is produced from mechanical and electrical machines and human activities.
Curated OER
Objects in the Sky
Students explore what the sky looks like at different times. They identify objects in the sky and recognize changes over time. Students observe the sky and look for objects that are common in both the daytime and the nighttime sky.
Curated OER
Why Angle Changes Intensity
Sixth graders use a flashlight and a transparency of a centimeter grid to discover how the angle of the Earth affects the changing seasons.
Curated OER
Weather Myths
Fourth graders relate myths to weather phenomenon. They write and illustrated a weather myth and present it to the class.