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Unit Plan
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12: Earth Science: Heat Budget of Planet Earth

For Students 9th - 10th
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] The balance of heat entering and exiting Earth's atmosphere.
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Article
Enchanted Learning

Enchanted Learning: The Earth's Atmosphere

For Students 6th - 8th
The Earth's atmosphere is a thin layer of gases that surrounds the Earth. It composed of 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, 0.9% argon, 0.03% carbon dioxide, and trace amounts of other gases. This thin gaseous layer insulates the Earth from...
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Interactive
PBS

Skydive From the Stratosphere

For Students 9th - 10th
This simulation allows you to experience Joe Kittinger's famous 1960 skydiving feat. As you ascend the troposphere and stratosphere you can view changes in several atmospheric conditions. The challenge will be surviving the leap once you...
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Website
Exploratorium

Exploratorium: Global Climate Change: Atmosphere

For Students 9th - 10th
Use this site to explore real scientific data relating to the atmosphere. With this information you can gather evidence, test theories, and come to conclusions. Click on the data examples to view a full scale version.
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Activity
American Geosciences Institute

American Geosciences Institute: Earth Science Week: Build Your Own Weather Station

For Students 9th - 10th
Students are guided in how to build their own weather station that will measure temperature, humidity, precipitation, atmospheric pressure, and wind direction and speed.
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Graphic
Other

Gfdl: Temperature (F) Response Due to Increased Atmospheric Co2

For Students 9th - 10th
An animated model of the Earth from the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory showing how global temperatures increased from 1870 to 2100 due to rising amounts of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
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Unit Plan
Other

Digital Library for Earth System Education: Teaching Box: Essentials of Weather

For Teachers 9th - 10th
A suite of lessons focusing on the basic elements of climate and weather. Inquiry-based exploration of extreme weather events and the factors of weather including clouds, wind, air pressure, temperature, and the water cycle.
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Handout
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12: Earth Science: Temperature and Heat in the Atmosphere Study Guide

For Students 9th - 10th
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Discusses the characteristics of temperature and heat and how they behave. Includes some questions to check for understanding.
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Unit Plan
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12: Earth Science: Temperature and Heat in the Atmosphere

For Students 9th - 10th
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Overview of temperature and heat.
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Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Analyzing Greenhouse Gases and Global Temperature Data Over Time

For Teachers 9th - 10th
In this activity, students plot data on the concentrations of various greenhouse gases in Earth's atmosphere and look for trends. They will learn that greenhouse gases allow the Sun's light to pass through them to the surface of Earth,...
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Handout
NASA

Nasa Earth Observatory: Ocean and Climate Fact Sheet

For Students 9th - 10th
Read about Earth's oceans and the effects that climate have had on the rising temperatures over the past one hundred years. Discover how the Earth's ocean and atmosphere are interlocked so that when one changes, the other is affected.
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Unit Plan
TED Talks

Ted: Ted Ed: Is Our Climate Headed for a Mathematical Tipping Point?

For Students 9th - 10th
Scientists have warned that as CO2 levels in the atmosphere rise an increase in Earth's temperature by even two degrees could lead to catastrophic effects across the world. But how can such a tiny, measurable change in one factor lead to...
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Unit Plan
National High Magnetic Field Laboratory

Magnet Academy: Anders Celsius

For Students 9th - 10th
Anders Celsius is most familiar as the inventor of the temperature scale that bears his name. The Swedish astronomer, however, also is notable as the first person to make a connection between the radiant atmospheric phenomenon known as...
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Unit Plan
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12: Earth Science: Stratosphere

For Students 9th - 10th
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Describes the properties of the stratosphere.
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Unit Plan
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12: Earth Science: Troposphere

For Students 9th - 10th
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Characteristics of the troposphere.
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Unit Plan
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12: Earth Science: Troposphere

For Students 9th - 10th
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Characteristics of the troposphere.
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Handout
Encyclopedia of Earth

Encyclopedia of Earth: Physics & Chemistry: Boiling Point

For Students 9th - 10th
A scientific explanation of what a boiling point is, the factors that can alter a liquid's boiling point, changes of state that occur at the boiling point, and how the normal boiling point relates to a liquid's vapor pressure. (Updated:...
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Activity
National Geographic

National Geographic: Sources, Sinks, and Feedbacks

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students will learn about how the Earth's carbon cycle works, as they examine the relationship between levels of carbon dioxide and water vapor in the atmosphere and the temperature of the ocean's surface. Includes online student...
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Unit Plan
OpenStax

Open Stax: Requirements for Human Life

For Students 9th - 10th
Earth and its atmosphere have provided us with air to breathe, water to drink, and food to eat, but these are not the only requirements for survival. Although you may rarely think about it, you also cannot live outside of a certain range...
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Website
PBS

Pbs Learning Media: Above the Clouds: Telescopes on Mauna Kea

For Students 9th - 10th
This video segment adapted from First Light explains why the highest peak in the Pacific, Mauna Kea, is an ideal site for astronomical observations. Featured are new telescope technologies that allow astronomers to explore the universe...
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Unit Plan
American Geosciences Institute

American Geosciences Institute: Climate and Weather

For Students 6th - 8th
Eight hands-on lessons module in which students explore climate and weather. Inquiry-based investigations include observing weather, weather reporting, weather maps, weather satellites, causes of weather, and climate change.
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Interactive
Concord Consortium

Concord Consortium: Stem Resources: Greenhouse Gases

For Students 9th - 10th
Do you understand the relationship between temperature and carbon dioxide in our atmosphere? This computer model shows factors such as clouds and carbon dioxide that could cause global temperatures to rise. Students investigate how the...
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Lesson Plan
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Weather Basics

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students are introduced to the basics of the Earth's weather. Concepts include fundamental causes of common weather phenomena such as temperature changes, wind, clouds, rain and snow. The different factors that affect the weather and the...
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Unit Plan
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Air Pollution

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students are introduced to the concept of air quality by investigating the composition, properties, atmospheric layers and everyday importance of air. They explore the sources and effects of visible and invisible air pollution. By...