Teach Engineering
Quantum Dots and Colors
Introduce teams to quantum dot solutions with an activity that has them expose solutions to a blacklight, observe the colors, and take measurements. Groups graph the data and analyze the dependence between particle size and color...
Curated OER
Differential Thermal Calorimetry
Students access prior knowledge of infrared rays, ultraviolet rays, gamma rays, x-rays and cosmic waves. In this electromagnetic waves lesson, students hold a mock trial electromagnetic spectrum. Students present characteristics of the...
Nemours KidsHealth
Skin Cancer: Grades 6-8
Do we really need sunscreen? What are the risks of tanning? Learners explore these questions through a series of informational texts and engaging, hands-on activities.
Curated OER
A Star Sheds a Comet Tail!
In this comet tails and stars learning exercise, students read about the star Mira and the vast clouds of gases it emits. They use a photograph from the Galaxy Evolution Explorer satellite to solve 5 problems about the scale of the...
Curated OER
Sensing Energy: Designing to Stay Cool
Students examine the energy the sun produces on a daily basis. In groups, they discover the properties of visible and invisible light. They also adjust the exposure time to change the properties of various objects. To end the lesson,...
Curated OER
Is It Hot in the Light?
Third graders make observations about the temperature of items in direct sunlight. In groups, they discuss why asphalt, brick and cement are warmer than items surrounding them. To end the lesson, they examine how heat transfers energy...
Curated OER
Practical Illustrations of Astronomical Concepts Relating to the Solar System
Eighth graders are introduced to concepts related to the Solar System. In groups, they participate in an experiment in which they must describe a ray of light and how it travels. They draw a diagram of the electromagnetic spectrum and...
American Museum of Natural History
Journey to the Stars
Fifteen detailed pictures and informative captions delve deep into the exploration of stars—their life cycle and importance in the universe.
Curated OER
Sunlight Necklaces
Third graders review the placement and role of the sun in the solar system. Using beads, they create a necklace which they can use to identify the amount of sunlight is being illuminated. In groups, they record observations on the...
Curated OER
How Are Magnetic Fields Related To Sunspots?
Students discover that sunspots are the result of intense magnetic forces on the photosphere of the sun by observing images from the SOHO satellite.
Curated OER
Unraveling the Mysteries of Objects in Space
Students study emitted and absorbed light, and label each type of spectrum. They identify elements by their spectral signatures and use a spectroscope.
Curated OER
Spectral Surprise
Students create spectral colors. In this hands-on science lesson, students examine the electromagnetic spectrum as they follow steps to create a model that separates and displays light.
Curated OER
Solar Activity
In this solar activity activity, students complete a puzzle given a word bank with matching numbers. The numbers correlate to the answers to basic math problems that use the order of operations. Students use their mathematical answers to...
Curated OER
Charting Weather: Melbourne
In this earth science worksheet, middle schoolers check the accuracy of the weather forecasts in their area for a week. Then they complete the chart by recording the forecast for the week's weather and then recording the actual weather...
Curated OER
Introducing Sunburn Issues
Seventh graders recognize their skin type and the times when they are in danger of getting sun burnt. They use knowledge of causes and prevention of sunburn to persuade others to protect their skin.
Curated OER
Solar
Students study solar energy. In this renewable energy lesson students complete several lab activities using different controls and variables.
Curated OER
Environment: Battling for Oxygen
Students construct an interactive ozone depletion model using gumdrops and toothpicks. After analyzing the data obtained from the model, they record it on butcher paper and complete worksheets about oxygen.
Curated OER
The Atmosphere
Here is a suitable set of slides to use when teaching about the layers of the atmosphere, climate, global winds, and types of clouds. These slides will support a few different lectures. You will probably want to replace the diagrams with...
Curated OER
The Moon's Atmosphere
In this moon's atmosphere worksheet, high schoolers read about the tenuous lunar atmosphere and solve 4 problems. They find the density of helium particles, they find the grams of given atoms in the moon's atmosphere and they find the...
Curated OER
Linkages Between Surface Temperature and Tropospheric Ozone
High schoolers use data microsets of mean near-surface air temperature and tropospheric ozone residual averages to infer patterns. Students analyze changes in tropospheric ozone and then hypothesize about the consequences of these changes.
Curated OER
Global Environmental Issues: Air and Water Pollution
Thinking about designing a project for your social studies or environmental science classes? Use an overview of a project that prompts class groups to research an environmental issue.
Curated OER
Ozone Hole - Changes in the Stratosphere
Halting the depletion of the hole in the ozone layer has been one of humanity's happy recoveries from previous damage done to the environment. Meteorology masters muse the Montreal Protocol and examine data on changes in the ozone....
Mr. E. Science
Atmosphere
Earth's atmosphere is full of different energies, from thermal to wind to electromagnetic radiation. Through the presentation, class members discover these energies and how they determine weather patterns.
Curated OER
Ozone Tag
Seventh graders explain the role of stratospheric ozone and predict at least three ways in which depleted ozone would change her/his lifestyle. They then describe the process by which chlorine or bromine compounds can break down ozone...