Curated OER
Water and Ice
Students explore the physical properties of water. For this water lesson, students explore water as it changes states. They observe, measure and use communication skills to describe change.
Curated OER
The Greenhouse Effect
Seventh graders investigate the temperature change in open and closed containers. For this earth science lesson, 7th graders relate this lab activity to greenhouse effect. They create a line graph from data collected in the experiment.
Curated OER
How Mountains Shape Climate
Students use raw data to make a climatograph; they explain the process of orographic precipitation and the concept of a rain shadow.
Chicago Botanic Garden
Are You Bigfoot?
Scholars independently explore several websites to calculate their ecological footprint. Using their new found knowledge, they answer six short-answer questions and take part in a grand conversation with their peers about how our...
Chicago Botanic Garden
Calculating Your Ecological Footprint
You can lower your ecological footprint by recycling! Lesson four in this series of five has individuals, through the use of a computer, calculate their ecological footprints. Through discussions and analysis they determine how many...
Virginia Middle School Engineering Education Initiative
Save the Penguins: An Introduction to Thermodynamics and Heat Transfer
Heat things up in your physical science class with this interactive lesson series on thermodynamics. Through a series of class demonstrations and experiments, young scientists learn how heat is transferred through conduction, convention,...
Curated OER
Greenhouse Gases
Although the worksheet for the lab activity is not included, this is an activating activity for your class to do when learning about the greenhouse effect. They lay three thermometers underneath a lamp: one out in the open, one under a...
It's About Time
Volcanos and the Atmosphere
In the summer of 1815, snow fell every month in New England. Was this related to the volcanic eruption of Tambora in Indonesia earlier in the year? Young scientists design their own experiments to research the long-term effect a volcanic...
Curated OER
Barriers to Change: The Myths about Vehicle Idling
Learners have the opportunity to confront some of the most common misconceptions that surround vehicle idling, and employ the concept of social marketing to initiate change. The goal is to give students an appreciation of the impact of...
Curated OER
Bacteria Change Earth's Atmosphere
Tenth graders organize information to explain how photosynthetic bacteria contributed to climatic changes that happened on Earth. Students create a timeline by using a storyboard to tell the story of the change.
Curated OER
Let's Get To the Core!
Students practice analyzing ice core samples to discover climate changes. Using the samples, they identify and graph the gas amounts. They use these numbers to determine their effect on global warming. In pairs, they complete a...
Curated OER
Global Change- Time and Cycles
Students study trees and their growth. In this investigative instructional activity students work in groups to reconstruct a 50 year climatic history using a simulated tree ring.
Curated OER
Our Special Planet Earth
Students explore what is special about our planet. They explore the various climates that are found on the planet Earth. Students create an advertisement to convince people why their favorite environment would be the best place to visit.
Curated OER
ANIMALS OF ANTARCTICA
Students are introduced to the animals of Antarctica and how they adapt to their environment and the changes of the seasons after being read the story,"Counting Penguins" . They pick an animal and predict how he/she thinks this animal...
Curated OER
Mock Environmental Summit
Students increase understanding of human impact on Earth's sytems and the climate. They develop persuasive and critical skills as writers and presenters. They become familiar with political decision making processes.
Curated OER
Surface Air Temperature Trends of the Caribbean
Students investigate the seasonal changes to sea surface and near-surface air temperatures near the equator. They use actual satellite data to track and graph the differences in air and sea temperatures during different seasons in the...
Curated OER
Utah's Own
Fourth graders examine the effects of humans on the environment. In this Social Studies lesson, 4th graders analyze human changes to the environment. Students explore the actions and effects at a community level.
Curated OER
Polar Energy
Students define and read an article on polar energy. In this polar energy lesson plan, students answer questions about the article. Students participate in activities related to isotopes, half-life and radiocarbon. Students make...
Curated OER
The Cherokee: Trail Where They Cried
Students read the Trail of Tears about the Cherokee Nation removal and write a letter pretending they are the grandparent of a Cherokee child. In this Trail of Tears lesson plan, students understand the changing of boundaries.
Curated OER
Awesome Adaptations!
Second graders explore biology by researching animal characteristics. In this adaptation lesson, 2nd graders identify the history of several animals and research the changes that have occurred to their anatomy over thousands of years....
Curated OER
Environment: Arctic Climate and Geoscience
Students conduct a thorough investigation of the Arctic and how climate change affects it. After listing a KWL chart, they record their findings on a bulletin board. Finally, in an Arctic Alive! interactive lesson, students take a...
Curated OER
Village Research
Sixth graders research global warming. In this science lesson, 6th graders collect data in the Waterton Townsite, Apgar Village and St. Mary area. Students interpret the data and form a hypothesis about global warming.
Curated OER
A Meal of Endurance
Students evaluate the nutritional value of the explorers' meals. This is done through analyzing caloric intake versus caloric expenditure, describing the trend in diet change that explorers experienced over a two year expedition, ...
Curated OER
Water Supply
Fourth graders explore weather patterns by completing an Internet project. In this water cycle lesson plan, 4th graders read assigned text including a Magic School Bus book about precipitation and water. Students complete a water science...