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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Modeling the Electromagnetic Spectrum

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners construct a model of an electromagnetic spectrum using play-doh and string. They use exponents and plot the radio/microwave, infrared, and visible bandwidths of the spectrum.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Garbage or Art?

For Teachers 3rd
The three R's are, reduce, reuse, and recycle. Third graders use recycled materials to design and create an environmentally themed piece of art. They discuss and examine major art works that were created using recycled materials, then...
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Lesson Plan
California Academy of Science

Natural Resources Bingo

For Teachers 2nd - 8th
Bingo isn't just a silly game, it's a great way to practice all types of skills. After reviewing that the earth is composed of natural resources, what those natural resources are, and sustainability, the class plays a game of bingo. The...
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Lesson Plan
University of Colorado

Looking Inside Planets

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Researchers use scientific data to understand what is inside each of the planets. The first in a series of six, this lesson builds off of that concept by having pupils use a data table to create their own scale models of the interiors of...
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Lesson Plan
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Chicago Botanic Garden

Calculating Your Ecological Footprint

For Teachers 7th - 9th Standards
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...
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Lesson Plan
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Chicago Botanic Garden

Are You Bigfoot?

For Students 5th - 6th Standards
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...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Why Do We Have Seasons?

For Teachers 1st
First graders watch a video about the seasons. They role play with the teacher the sun and earth. The student's heads are the earth, their foreheads are the Northern Hemisphere. The teacher shines a flashlight on them to simulate the sun...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Regolith Formation

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explain the difference between regolith formation on Earth and the Moon. In this space science lesson, students model the different factors affecting regolith formation on Earth. They identify the different types of weathering.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Comprehension: Compare and Contrast Topics in Two Texts

For Teachers 3rd
A scripted activity can be a big help for new teachers. This fully scripted three-day learning activity provides teachers with the means to demonstrate how to compare and contrast two topics in two texts. Learners will work as a class to...
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Lesson Plan
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University of Colorado

Strange New Planet

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
The first remote sensors were people in hot air balloons taking photographs of Earth to make maps. Expose middle school learners to space exploration with the use of remote sensing. Groups explore and make observations of a new planet by...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Teaching Strategies for the Social Studies Classroom

For Teachers Higher Ed
Engage your class in a lesson that is concerned with the development of skills in the realm of teaching strategies needed for Social Studies. They will participate in delivering content using several strategies that are demonstrated by...
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Lesson Plan
California Academy of Science

Carbon Cycle Role Play

For Teachers 3rd - 12th Standards
Anytime you make concepts clear with role playing or hands-on experience, it's a win for the whole class. Ping-Pong balls are used to represent carbon in a carbon cycle role-play activity. In small groups, children first discuss what...
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Lesson Plan
US Environmental Protection Agency

Tree Rings: Living Records of Climate

For Teachers 5th - 10th
Open with a discussion on weather and climate and then explain how tree rings can provide scientists with information about the earth's past climate. Pupils analyze graphics of simulated tree rings from various US locations for the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Solar Car Series: during What Part of the Day Can the Most Sun Power Be Collected?

For Teachers 5th - 8th
In preparation for solar car races, middle schoolers attempt to discover what time of day the most solar energy can be collected. Begin by demonstrating the use of a voltmeter for measuring solar cell output. Take them outdoors to take...
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Printables
Texas State Energy Conservation Office

Global Climate Change

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Here is an extensive reading resource that addresses our climate change crisis. It thoroughly explains the greenhouse effect, related Earth cycles, and the history of climate change. Use it as part of the intended unit, published by the...
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Lesson Plan
NASA

Making Oxygen and Carbon Dioxide

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Some like it hot! Scholars observe both exothermic and endothermic reactions as part of the carbon dioxide oxygen cycle. First, scientists demonstrate (or watch) a chemical reaction to create pure oxygen using fire for confirmation....
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Lesson Plan
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University of Colorado

Clay Planets

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Why do scientists use models? In the first installment of 22, groups create scale models of our solar system. They then share and discuss their models.
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Handout
National Institute of Open Schooling

Hydrogen and s-Block Elements

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
Lesson 19 in the series of 36 analyzes the element hydrogen and the s-block elements. Through readings, answering questions, and discussion, learners write about and explain their occurrence, physical and chemical properties, and uses. 
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Lesson Plan
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Chicago Botanic Garden

Carbon, Greenhouse Gases, and Climate

For Students 10th - 12th Standards
Climate models mathematically represent the interactions of the atmosphere, oceans, land, sun, surface, and ice. Part two in the series of four lessons looks at the role greenhouse gases play in keeping Earth warm and has participants...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What Is Clay?

For Teachers Pre-K - 12th
This resource could come in handy the next time you feel like teaching about clay. Basic sculpting techniques, vocabulary, and history of clay are outlined in this informative resource. Use prior to teaching an art project involving...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Building Your Space Station

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students discuss the benefits of the International Space Station. They evaluate the challenges the designers faced when trying to design the space station. Students discuss the use of scale models when designing large structures and...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Solar Arrays for the Space Station

For Teachers K - 4th
Young scholars explore the challenges that are faced when transporting materials into space. They review the various forms of energy, including solar arrays, that are used on the International Space Station and how generating this energy...
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Lesson Plan
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Chicago Botanic Garden

Understanding the Greenhouse Effect

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Dive into the power of the sun with a two-part lesson. Budding scientists model the greenhouse effect in a hands-on activity, and then participate in a skit that explores the earth's energy balances and what really occurs in the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Persuade the Aliens!

For Teachers K - 12th
Why do we do what we do? Imagine that people on a faraway planet came to visit Earth. Could you convince them to adopt a custom or behavior that we participate in here? Learners of all ages write persuasive essays. If you're using this...