Curated OER
Meteorology -- Clouds
Fourth graders examine the processes of condensation and evaporation. They identify the three types of clouds and state the weather that is possible with each type of cloud. They ask questions to end the lesson.
Curated OER
Outdoor Observation
Students examine their outside environment. They use their senses to make observations of the four seasons. They keep a chart of all of the data they have collected.
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Agriculture
Students examine the types of agriculture in their own state and in their local community. They examine how food makes it to their local grocery store. They compare data from different states.
Curated OER
How Soft or Hard is Your Water?
Students test samples of water to determine how a chemical water softener affects water's ability to form suds. After collecting their data and analyzing their results, students answer follow-up questions about their lab.
Curated OER
"Across Oregon On The 45th N Parallel" A Transect of Oregon
Students explore the physical geography of Oregon. In groups, students collect weather and elevation information on Oregon. They organize the data and create maps and graphs of the information. Afterward, students compare the...
Curated OER
Environment: Climate Change
Students explore climate change and the greenhouse effect. Using provided definitions, they assess local weather conditions and analyze long term climatic data for their areas. Once they explore the concept of and connection between...
UAF Geophysical Institute
System Interactions: The Lorax and the Truffula Tree
If the Lorax were to write a letter, what would he write? Introduce your class to systems and feedback loops through the whimsical stylings of Dr. Seuss. Learners take on the Lorax's point of view to write a letter, among other activities.
Wind Wise Education
What Causes Wind?
Through watching several classic air pressure demonstrations, middle schoolers determine that high pressure areas move toward lower pressure areas, heated air causes a drop in pressure, and forces exist when pressures are unequal....
Curated OER
Dateline: El Niño
Students explore El Nino and take the role of a reporter gathering the facts for a news story. Reports are presented orally, like a newscast, written or in whatever form the teacher prefers.
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Tracking a Hurricane
Students play the role of amateur meteorologists and track a hurricane. In this hurricane instructional activity, learners follow a hurricane by tracking its coordinates on an overhead map. Students work in small groups to place dots on...
Curated OER
Is Global Warming Affecting Hurricanes?
In this hurricane worksheet, students use data charts showing the number of hurricanes and the severity of these hurricanes to determine if global warming is causing an increase in hurricanes. This worksheet has 2 short answer questions.
Curated OER
Wind Energy
Students explore wind energy by making a pinwheel to model a wind turbine. They experiment with their turbine by placing it in different locations for optimal energy.
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What Causes Irregular Temperature Patterns?
Students examine common trends in climate across the U.S. They identify the anomalies in hot-cold temperature differences in the U.S and locate them on the map using latitude and longitude coordinates.
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Troical Atlantic Aerosols
Students explore the effect aerosols have upon he weather and climate. They observe NASA satellite images to explore and draw conclusions about aerosol transport. From studying the images, students track the path of aerosols. They...
Curated OER
High and Low: Pressures and Fronts
Students investigate basic information about high- and low-pressure fronts and how they affect the weather. They observe weather patterns and cloud formations. Students study the basic pattern of movement of high- and low-pressure...
Curated OER
Contrails and the Climate
In this contrails and climate worksheet, students read a short article about the effects of contrails on the weather and the climate. They answer 5 questions about the article.
Curated OER
Trees: Are They Thriving or Surviving?
In this trees survival lesson plan, 8th graders discuss what trees need to grow, brainstorm things that could adversely affect tree growth, and compare characteristics of thriving trees vs. surviving trees. Students learn about the...
Curated OER
If You Can’t Stand the Heat
Students design and build their own solar cooker. In this math lesson, students determine the relationship between the angles of the sun, reflection and cooking time of the solar cooker. They test their project, collect data and...
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Understanding Cloud Formation
Students view a demonstration that simulates cloud formation. They read a poem about clouds, participate in a class demonstration using warm water and ice and write a paragraph summarizing their observations.
Curated OER
Shining the Light on Skin
Students investigate the relationships between certain environmental factors and levels of exposure to sunlight. The variables of location, time of year, and day, and the weather which affect the intensity of the sun are explored in this...
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Science: Suddenly Snow
Students engage in snow-related activities during the first winter snowfall. After explaining the elements needed for it to snow, they preserve snowflakes on frozen slides and observe them under a microscope. Then, they write diamante...
Curated OER
Hurricanes
Learners use the internet to research the characteristics of hurricanes. Using this information, they read about past hurricanes and use a weather map to trace current disturbances in the oceans. They also discuss hurricane safety and...
Curated OER
The Geography of Tornadoes OR
Students learn some basic facts about tornadoes and map two selected tornado statistics by state, and observe, analyze and speculate about the pattern(s) created by the completed map.
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Reasons for the Seasons
Sixth graders conduct and analyze a survey that explores public perceptions about the reasons for seasonal change. They measure the changing length of days, observe shadows and discuss how the Earth's axis of rotation affects the seasons.