Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Planet Protectors

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore ways to protect the earth.  In this environmental issues and technology lesson, students investigate the water quality in their community and compare their findings to the water quality in other geographic...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

LCROSS Moon Mission

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students read to discover the sequence of events of the LCROSS moon mission.  For this space science lesson, students read an article about the LCROSS moon mission and the events that took place.  After reading, students answer...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The 'Solar' System Past and Present

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Learners identify cardinal and intermediate directions, recognize that models changes due to new or improved observations and technology, identify the major characteristics of the planets including their positions in the solar system,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The No Zone of Ozone

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students explore the causes and effects of the Earth's ozone holes through discussion and an interactive simulation. Using gumdrops and toothpicks, they conduct a large-group, interactive ozone depletion model.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

As the World Turns

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Students will use their bodies to act out the motions of Earth by exploring orbits, rotations, and the turning of the earth as it revolves around the sun. Doing research to find correct answers to their questions will help them act out...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Testing the Caverns

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students build model caverns using paper mache or clay and bury them in a tray of sand. They test the models by dropping balls onto them to simulate an asteroid hitting the earth. They evaluate the effectiveness of a structure against...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

My Place In Space

For Teachers 4th - 8th
The purpose of this unit is for students to make the rich set of connections between astronomy and the rest of science and technology, language arts, cultural studies (social studies), math, art, and music.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Detecting Meteors by Radio in the Classroom

For Teachers 12th
Twelfth graders describe and interpret the science of optical and radio telescopes, space probes and remote sensing technologies (Unit E) They explain the role of radio and optical telescopes in determining characteristics of stars and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Astronomy

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students explore the rotation of the Earth and observe the shapes of constellations. After discussing how the Earth moves. volunteers use a flashlight and globe to model the movement of the sun-Earth system. Using Digitalis technology,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Tornado Chasers

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students explore how tornadoes are the most violent storms on earth. Raging at speeds of up to 300 miles per hour, their awesome winds can flip cars through the air like leaves, snap trees like matchsticks, and reduce entire towns to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Naturally Speaking

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students identify the Earth's natural resources and classify them as renewable or non-renewable. They simulate the distribution of resources and discuss the fairness and effectiveness of the distribution. They identify ways that they use...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Look At Sunspots

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students research how the development of new technology has increased our knowledge of how the sun works. This instructional activity is part of a three-part series aimed at showing students how our knowledge of the universe must be...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A River Ran Through It

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students research how water is used to generate electricity. They investigate water's potential-to-kinetic energy transfer in hands-on activities about falling water and waterwheels. They take measurements, calculate averages and graph...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Global Warming

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students examine how human produced emissions of carbon dioxide contribute to global warming. Using the internet, they research the future effects of global warming on the Earth. In groups, they discover ways to reduce daily energy...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Seafloor Block Model

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students construct a 3-D block model of the ocean floor to study fundamental earth processes. This is a preconstructed cut out that allows the students to put it together but then to add their own colors as well. There is an evaluation...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Day on the Space Station

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders discover what it would be like to live in space. For this technological advancements lesson, 5th graders discuss how space life would be different from Earth life. Students also identify how technology has made life in...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Recycling and Waste Reduction

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students investigate recycling and waste reduction and its positive impact on the environment. In this environmental science lesson, students determine how and why materials are recycled. They apply their knowledge by making...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

History of Mythology, Astronomy and Astrology

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders examine the relationships of science and technology and how it influences people's perceptions of places.  In this mythology and astronomy lesson students view a PowerPoint presentation and complete a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Move Your Muscles!

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students, through teacher lecture and class discussion, explore the three different types of muscles in the human body and the effects of microgravity on these muscles. They explain what happens to muscles in outer space and describe the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

All The Seasons

For Teachers K
Students explore winter, spring, summer, and fall. In this science and technology lesson plan, students use "Kid Pix" to draw pictures that represent the four seasons.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Phases of the Moon

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Pupils sketch the different phases of the moon after exploring them on an internet program. In this moon phases lesson plan, students discuss how the Sun, Earth, and Moon are related.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduction to Biomes

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders use scientific skills and processes to recognize how living things depend on one another and on the environment for survival and the human use of natural resources impacts the environment. Explain how Earth's surface...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Facts and Myths about our Solar System

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders explore popular ideas about the Sun and Moon. In this space science lesson, 6th graders separate commonly accepted details about our solar system into facts and myths. Students research a particular idea and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Viewpoint on Causes of Global Warming - An Assignment Using Anonymous Electronic Peer Review With a Dropbox

For Teachers Higher Ed
Students are told that studies exist that suggest human activities are not causing warming of the Earth. Students are given the opportunity to further their writing, critical thinking and reasoning skills. While enhancing their computer...