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Warm and Toasty
Students are introduced to the concepts of specific heat and heat capacity. In groups, they design an experiment to test these two topics on various fabrics. They compare and contrast the amount of heat loss on the different materials...
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Eyes on the Estuaries
Learners study estuaries and compare several ones in the U.S. In this estuary lesson students interpret data and compare the distribution of different species.
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As the World Turns
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...
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Plate Tectonic - Volcanoes Pre Lab
Second graders draw and compare parts of volcano. They investigate parts of a volcano and distinguish between magma and lava.
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The Mesozoic Era
Sixth graders recognize that the Earth was different in different eras. In this Mesozoic Era instructional activity, 6th graders compare the time frame of the different eras and how long they lasted for by graphing them. Students study...
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Spaced Out
Students explore the transit of Venus and the information that this minieclipse provides about the distance between the Earth and the sun. They create their own astronomical units.
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How Does Your Magma Grow?
Students identify the three types of plate boundaries and the Earth's tectonic plates system. They examine how the Galapagos Islands were formed and hydrothermal vents.
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2005 Submarine Ring of Fire Expedition: What's for Dinner?
Students compare and contrast photosynthesis and chemosynthesis as sources of primary production for biological communities, and describe sources of primary production observed in biological communities associated with volcanoes of the...
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Exploring the Dynamic Nature of the Sun
Students compare and contrast images of the sun taken at different times and viewed at different scales. They record their observations in a journal and create a graphic organizer to help analyze their observations.
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Discovering Planet X
Students investigate the movements of the planet Pluto. Students participate in a hands-on activity to record data similar to the movements of the planet Pluto. Students compare their data to that found on a website.
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Understanding the Roots
Pupils investigate the parts of a flower. In this earth science lesson, students read the book The Magic School Bus Plants Seeds and identify various plant parts. Pupils construct a model of a flowering plant from various art supplies.
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Are You Ready to Shake
Students examine earthquakes and tsunamis. In this Earth science instructional activity, students investigate the causes and hazards associated with earthquakes and tsunamis.
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Solar System Slide Show
Students work in small groups to research a planet in our Solar System in order to compare it to Earth. They examine the planet's size, atmosphere, rotation and revolution periods, temperature, and other attributes. They collect...
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The Achaean
Fourth graders study the characteristics of the Achaean era. For this Achaean era lesson, 4th graders examine the clock of eras and compare the characteristics of different eras. They determine that the rocks associated with this era can...
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Australia: Aboriginal Religion
Students compare and contrast Christianity and the religion of the Aborigines in Australia. In this Aboriginal religion lesson plan, students discuss the creation story of the Aborigines and discuss the "dreamtime." Students discuss...
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Soil Structure
Sixth graders examine how different soils are made up of varying proportions of clay, silt, and sand. They compare soil samples, conduct Internet research, and create a model to demonstrate the relative sizes of grains of clay, sand, and...
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Treasures in Jeopardy
Learners compare and contrast deep sea coral reefs to shallow water reefs. In this coral reef lesson students develop a poster that could be used to educate the public about the importance of coral reefs.
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Energy Efficiency Ambassadors
High schoolers compare two products that provide the same function but require different amounts of energy. In this energy efficiency lesson plan students research and demonstrate energy efficiency in action and how it applies to...
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Controlling the Flow of the Colorado River: A Study of Dams
Students research and map the Colorado River and its dams and predict the effects of a dam on an area. They suggest reasons a dam would be built and compare the Colorado River system with other major river systems within the US and...
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Dinosaurs 2: What Were Dinosaurs Like?
Students compare and contrast dinosaurs to animals that are alive today through basic research.
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Extinction
Students peruse illustrations of living things and extinct life forms, which they compare and categorize as living or extinct.
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Dinosaur Prints
Students examine dinosaur footprints and compare them to the shape of elephant footprints and to the size of their own footprints.
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Locating Vent Fields Using CTD Data
Students describe the way hydrothermal vents work. Students work on locating vent regions through remote collection of data about water temperature and density. Comparing density and temperatures graphs, students search for indicators...
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Gravity
Students explore gravitational force. Through experimentation, students observe the acceleration of objects when they fall. They examine air resistance, and how the human body is attracted to the earth. Students discover the...