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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Disappearing Water

For Teachers K - 3rd
Learners explore the water cycle. In this earth science lesson, students observe and measure water in a closed container and in an open container. Learners record their observations and compare their sets of data to draw conclusions...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Melting and Freezing

For Teachers K - 2nd
Learners explore how various substances change from a solid to a liquid or from a liquid to a solid and how temperature, pressure and nature play an important role in this process. In this melting and freezing instructional activity,...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Water Cycle

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Students simulate the water cycle. In this water cycle lesson, students create a model of the water cycle. Students draw the water cycle and write a paragraph explaining their drawing.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ecology

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Students make connections between their daily lives and the usage of natural resources as they relate to the importance of environmental quality.  In this ecology lesson, students listen to the story The Lorax by Dr. Seuss and then...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Exploring the Water Cycle

For Teachers 1st - 5th
Students investigate the water cycle. In this water cycle instructional activity, students create an ecosystem within a 2-liter bottle. Students record scientific observations as they observe the water cycle within their ecosystem.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rain On

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders explore evaporation and condensation. In this water cycle lesson, 4th graders investigate their surroundings for real-life examples of evaporation and condensation. Students conduct various experiments.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Agriculture is a Cycle

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students explore cycles in nature. In this cross curriculum agriculture lesson, students define "cycle" and research weather and planting folklore. Students make a bracelet in which individual colored beads represent the many "cycles" of...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water -- Here, There and Everywhere

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students compare quantities of water. In this water activity students examine the hydrologic cycle looking for the amount of fresh water that is available. Students use information from charts and diagrams.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Weathering

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders explore weathering and how the water cycle plays a part in weathering. In this weathering lesson, 2nd graders put gravel and sugar cubes in a jar and shake, simulating weathering. Students use the scientific method to do...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water: A Neverending Story

For Teachers K - 5th
Learners investigate the water cycle. In this water cycle science lesson, students participate in a series of activities that demonstrate evaporation, precipitation, and condensation.  Learners describe their observations using water...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water Cycle

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders investigate the water cycle. In this water cycle lesson, 2nd graders discover how the water cycle effects erosion and weathering. Students create their own terrariums to view the water cycle. Students illustrate their...
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Activity
US Department of Energy

Solar Distiller

For Teachers 4th - 10th
Explore the sun's ability to distill contaminated water with this simple set of classroom experiments. After filling two glass bowls, one with muddy water and the other with salt water, they are covered with plastic wrap and placed in...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Water Cycle

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders conduct an a water cycle experiment. In this water cycle activity, 2nd graders observe a puddle of water, they predict how it got there and what will happen to it.  Students watch a demonstration on the water cycle and...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Let's Look at the Clouds!

For Teachers K - 6th
Students investigate the water cycle and cloud formations by examining photographs.  In this weather lesson, students observe pictures of specific cloud types and identify them by putting them in groups.  Students describe the type of...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water Cycle Stories

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students create water cycle stories. In this water cycle instructional activity, students review the parts of the water cycle. They create a story that describes the journey of a water molecule as it makes its way through the cycle and...
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Lesson Plan
Texas Instruments

Land Erosion - Running Off With Soil

For Teachers 6th - 9th Standards
Learners evaluate the relationship between rainfall and runoff of a small island for one year. For this rainfall vs. runoff lesson, students analyze the relationship between the rainfall and the runoff on Barro Colorado Island over a...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Trees Contribute to the Water Cycle

For Teachers 3rd
In this water cycle instructional activity, 3rd graders conduct an experiment where they observe and calculate how water transpires in different types of trees.  Students engage in a class discussion and use Venn Diagrams to compare...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rain, Rain, Where Did You Go?

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Students study the water cycle including condensation, evaporation, and precipitation. In this water cycle lesson, students watch a video and access assigned web sites to investigate the water cycle. They complete an experiment with a...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Water Cycle in a Bowl

For Teachers K - 3rd
Students conduct an experiment on the stages of the Water Cycle.  In this water cycle lesson, students view the materials needed for the experiment and brainstorm how they relate to the Water Cycle.  Students conduct an experiment where...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Biomes and the water cycle

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students create a desert biome and a prairie biome and see how plants survive in both. For this biomes lesson plan, studnets create their biomes and see how the water cycle effect each biome and plant differently. 
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Clouds

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Students explore clouds.  In this weather lesson, students identify the steps in the water cycle, define condensation and evaporation, and relate this information to cloud formation.  Students perform a cloud experiment, predict weather...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Local Hydrologic Cycle

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students draw the water cycle as it occurs in their community.  In this water cycle lesson, students observe demonstrations of sublimation and infiltration.  They also use photographs or their own drawings of their environment to label...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Hydrologic Cycle Scavenger Hunt

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students explore the water cycle using educational resources. In this water cycle instructional activity, students use a global climate DVD to complete a scavenger hunt on the hydrologic (water) cycle.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water Cycle Bag

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students enclose water in an airtight bag and leave it in a warm area to view the water cycle. In this water cycle lesson plan, students observe evaporation, condensation, and precipitation. They then discuss what they learned about the...