Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Planets in a Bottle

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Students experiment with yeast. In this environmental conditions instructional activity students test the viability of samples of yeast. Students investigate the effects of environmental conditions on the yeast.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Exploring Meteorite Mysteries: Building Blocks of Planets

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students simulate the formation of chondrites and asteroids. In this astronomy instructional activity, students demonstrate accretion using balloons and static electricity. They compare and contrast their models to the actual process of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Harvesting the New World: Changing Land Uses and Contact Between Cultures in Colonial Times

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders differentiate the Native American and European values. In this world history lesson, 9th graders define colonialism in their own words. They study the effects of epidemics and other diseases to Native American populations.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Day at the Beach: How to Keep Our Planet Clean

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students write a persuasive essay based on cleaning up the coast and other philanthropic values. In this writing lesson, students determine what is needed in order to keep the planet clean, and offer solutions to the International...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Time Travel to the Edge of the Universe and Back!

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students analyze the size of the universe and calculate the time to travel to near and distant destinations.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Does Global Warming Increase the Intensity of Atmospheric Natural Disasters?

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Young scholars study global warming by communicating the problem, process and solutions.  In this global lesson plan students use graphs, research and write a critical stance on natural disasters.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mercury, Venus, and Earth

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Young scholars learn information about the planets Mercury, Venus, and Earth by playing a trivia game.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Solar System: The Four Inner Planets and Earth's Moon and Astronauts

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders read THe Magic School Bus: Lost in the Solar System. For this language arts and science lesson, 2nd graders explore the four inner planets. Students view the inner planets using Google Earth.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Investigating the Dynamic Martian Polar Caps

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students download NASA Hubble Space Telescope images of the Martian polar ice caps in summer and winter, and measure and compare various images of the changing Martian and Earth polar ice caps.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Solar System

For Teachers 1st - 5th
Learners explore planets of the solar system, write reports, and create dioramas.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introducing The Gulf Stream

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders research the average temperatures of different places on Earth. In this earth science lesson, 6th graders explain how the sun's heat cause ocean movement. They discuss how temperature change affects the weather we experience.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Clay Planets

For Teachers 4th - 10th
Learners create scale models of the planets out of clay and compare them to the real planets.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Inner Planets

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students research characteristics of the planets and record their findings on Planet Web worksheet. They create fold paper to create a foldable booklet to display the information they discover about the planets.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Plan a Mission to Recently Discovered Planet

For Teachers 5th - 9th
Students plan a mission to a recently discovered planet. In this science instructional activity, students research spacecraft design, distances in space, long-term missions in space, and life-sustaining planets. Students work in groups...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Earth Day

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Students participate in activities to make them aware of Earth Day and its significance, and how they can make a difference in saving the environment.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Heat is On

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Young scholars investigate climate change. In this current events lesson, students research the listed Web sites that include information about the effects of greenhouse gases on the Earth. Young scholars discuss how to combat the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Planetary Surface Evolution and Resurfacing

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students are provided with drawings of planet surfaces in order to investigate different types of planetary terrain. They make observations for each planet and discuss the characteristics observed. The lesson includes background...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Martian Colony Proposals

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders design a proposal for a Martian colony to be presented to a group of their peers. They review their knowledge of Mars. Students evaluate for themselves which of their classmates proposal best fits their criteria.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Perspectives on Animals

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Engage your class in a discussion about humane treatment of animals by recognizing the basic rights of all races, religions, classes, etc. Have volunteers stand on a milk crate without shoes until they become uncomfortable as an example...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Endangered Species 1: Why are Species Endangered?

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Emerging ecologists examine endangered species by visiting the US Environmental Protection Agency website. They consider human contribution to the decline of different species. They research an endangered animal and then craft a poster...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

HABITAT for the other 90%

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners examine the connection between the habitat needs of endemic species to the habitat needs of humans.  In this habitat lesson pupils research the habitat requirements of a given family then develop an idea to improve the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Comprehension: Compare and Contrast Topics in Two Texts

For Teachers 3rd
A scripted instructional activity can be a big help for new teachers. This fully scripted three-day learning activity provides teachers with the means to demonstrate how to compare and contrast two topics in two texts. Learners will work...
Lesson Plan
Space Awareness

Continental Climate and Oceanic Climate

For Students 1st - 5th
There's nothing better than a cool breeze blowing in from the ocean. Scholars explore how water affects change in temperature using a hands-on experiment on climate. They use measurement tools to compare the continental and oceanic...
Lesson Plan
ARKive

Species Discovery

For Teachers 6th - 8th
How do you classify a newly discovered species? Learners view a presentation and complete research about biodiversity and the classification hierarchy. The lesson includes activities with dichotomous keys and work on classifying both...