Curated OER
The Air Up There!
Students create a model of a column of air and discover one of the reasons why low and high pressure systems exist and why low pressure is often associated with bad weather.
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Layering the Air
Students study the layer of the atmosphere. In this instructional activity on the atmosphere, students discuss the composition of the air around us and how the atmosphere was formed. Students create a scale model of the layers of the...
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Formation of Rain
Students sequence the steps leading to the formation of rain, and design a model to represent these steps. This task assesses students' abilities to classify, generalize, infer, interpret and communicate data, and construct a pictorial...
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Global Climate Change
Second graders investigate the effect of melting glaciers to sea level. In this earth science lesson plan, 2nd graders simulate the process in the lab by conducting an experiment using ice cubes and clay. They explain the consequences of...
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The Water Cycle Game
Students study the path and forms of water through Earth. In this water cycle lesson plan, students role-play water as it moves throughout the Earth. Students play the water cycle game and complete various stations to learn about water...
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Outcomes Science 4: Earth & Beyond
In this earth and beyond science worksheet, students read through an 18 page packet containing information and questions pertaining to global carbon cycles. There are website links available on the pages where additional information on...
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Circle the Earth - Explore Surface Types on a Journey around Earth
Students use CERES percent coverage surface data with a world map in locating landmasses and bodies of water at Earth's Equator.
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Build A Model of the Water Cycle
Middle schoolers identify and describe the steps in the water cycle. They discover the sun as the source of the cycle. They work together to create their own water cycle model.
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It's Raining, It's Pouring: The Water Cycle
Students investigate the relationship of the steps in the water cycle, and create a simulation of the water cycle in a jar.
Space Awareness
The Intertropical Convergence Zone
Young scientists know it is hotter along the equator, but why is it also rainier? Through the process of completing two experiments and a worksheet, scholars discover the answer is the intertropical convergence zone. First, they...
PHET
Planet Designer: What’s Trending Hot?
Excite scholars to design their own planet in this first of five lessons. The lesson starts with a pre-activity assessment, a complete lesson plan that is easy to implement, and a post-activity assessment that would look great...
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Aerosol Lesson: Language Arts
Students construct a model of a volcano. They read "NASA Facts Atmospheric Aerosols" and discuss the impacts of volcanic eruptions. They write informative essays about how aerosols impact the Earth.
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Cloud Observations using GLOBE Protocols
Students observe which of ten types of clouds are visible and how much of the sky is cloud covered. They see that by observing clouds, we can get information about temperature, moisture, and wind conditions in different places in the...
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Greenhouse in a Bottle
Young atmospheric scientists create models of an atmosphere with and without clouds to determine the effect of cloud cover on Earth's temperatures, as well as figuring out whether dark or light surfaces absorb more energy. You may wish...
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Greenhouse Effect ...Building Our Own
Pupils explore the greenhouse effect. They set up a simplified model of the earth and the greenhouse effect. Students compare temperatures inside a jar to temperatures outside the jar. Pupils collect information and create a line graph....
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Creating Station Models
Students work in groups to interpret weather maps. They use latitude and longitude readings to complete a worksheet together and turn in the worksheet along with the maps and a rubric.
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The Nine Planets
Sixth graders examine and investigate the solar system. They participate in a Webquest, and create a Powerpoint presentation that is meant to be a research guide to help alien visitors find a suitable habitat in the solar system.
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Greenhouse Effect- Online Interactive
In this greenhouse effect activity, students learn about Earth's climate change by reading a 7 paragraph text. Students then answer 10 questions. This is an online interactive activity.
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Meteorites
Students model how meteors fall to the surface of planets. In this space science lesson plan, students identify different types of meteorites using an interactive online website. They investigate the relationship between a meteorite's...
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What Goes Around Comes Around!
Students create an ecosystem in a jar to show a model of the water, carbon, and nitrogen cycle. Working in small groups, they research and present orally the information they find on this cycle.
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Using Mathematic Models to Investigate Planitary Habitablity
Students examine how the sun's intensity affects the temperature on various planets. They determine whether or not these planets could be habitable. Finally, they factor in the average albedo of the planets to determine whether or not...
Space Awareness
Oceans on the Rise
Temperature rises and land disappears! Through a lab exploration, learners understand the effect of temperature increase on water similar to the effect of global warming on our oceans. As they heat the water in a flask, they measure the...
Teach Engineering
Building a Barometer
Forget your local meteorologist — build your own barometer and keep track of the weather with an activity that provides directions to build a barometer out of a narrow necked bottle, a glass, and some water. Using their barometer,...
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Pipeline to the Coral Reefs
Students discuss the relationship of density to stratification. In this marine science lesson, students create a model of upwelling events using cold and warm water. They discuss how water phenomena affect coral reefs.