Curated OER
Cold Fronts
Pupils determine its' direction of movement, and list at least five weather conditions associated with the specific front, given animations of several atmospheric variables during a cold front passage. They list at least three weather...
Curated OER
Rain Shadows and Sea Breezes
Students plot the average rainfall for a variety of cities in the United States. Using the map, they work together to determine patterns on which toxicants are transported through the air. They determine the impacts of various weather...
Curated OER
Exploring Rocks
Students recognize differences in the size, shape, texture, and color of different rocks. In this rocks lesson plan, students also learn and repeat back how a volcano erupts and make one out of a toilet paper tube.
Curated OER
The Environments of Big Sur -- Which Do We Protect?
Students investigate the geological, climatic, and biological features of Big Sur. They watch a video, conduct Internet research, and create a script and images in the form of an outline in a simulation of an environmental group.
Curated OER
Weather: It Works, or Not?
Students discover the techniques meteorologists use to examine the atmosphere. In groups, they build their own weather station and observe the various weather conditions. They identify the types of weather patterns that allow the...
Curated OER
Planetary Weather
Middle schoolers study the weather on other planets in our solar system. In this planetary weather instructional activity students create a display of the different weather conditions on the other planets.
Curated OER
Personal Written Response Activity
Students complete a final written project. In this personal response lesson, students respond in a creative way to one of the issues presented in the unit. Students may choose to create a series of postcards from a natural...
Curated OER
My Friend, The Volcano
Students describe the positive impacts of volcanic activity on marine ecosystems. In this volcano lesson plan students explore the process that causes volcanic activity along the Mariana and Kermadec Island Arcs.
Curated OER
Modeling Oil and Gas Reservoirs
Students investigate energy by researching how oil reservoirs work. In this fossil fuels instructional activity, students conduct an experiment using a half full bottle of water, corn oil and oxygen, recording their data as the elements...
Curated OER
It looks Like Champagne
Students interpret phase diagrams and explain the meaning of vocabulary words. In this ocean explorer lesson plan students describe two uses of super-critical carbon dioxide.
Curated OER
Carving Mountains
Students explore geography by participating in an illustration activity. In this land-form lesson, students define vocabulary terms associated with glaciers and forests. Students utilize pens, cardboard and pottery clay to draw and...
Curated OER
What is in Soil?
Fourth graders identify and examine the components that make up soil. Individually, they use a magnifying glass to identify the organic and inorganic material in their soil sample. To end the lesson, they record the differences in the...
Curated OER
Sediment Deposition Lab
High schoolers set up a stream table, observe erosion, and record data on where various sizes of sediments settle. They draw conclusions as to what kind of sedimentary rock form in what locations.
Curated OER
Volcanoes
Young scholars study volcanoes. In this volcanoes lesson, students read several volcano paragraphs and study the pictures or diagrams. Young scholars then make an erupting volcano, complete website research about volcanoes, and answer...
Curated OER
Processes of the Rock Cycle
Young scholars explore, predict, and create each major rock form (sedimentary, metamorphic, and igneous) with colored modeling clay, discover cycle of rock formation, and examine important relationships of heat and pressure in rock...
Curated OER
Volcano!-Is That a Volcano on Your Plate?
Middle schoolers explore how and where volcanoes form. They also explore how the interactions between oceanic and continental crust create volcanoes and other mountains and earthquakes in a simulation activity using cardboard of two...
Curated OER
Who Was Here First? Relative Dating
Young scholars read about and complete question activities for the topic of relative dating. For this relative dating lesson, students read information for the topic and then complete two activities to further their understanding of...
Curated OER
The Ozone Between Us
Students investigate how ground level ozone occurs in many areas of the country. They study the ozone problems that are associated with population centers.
Curated OER
Structural Geology Laboratory
Students explore modeling of geologic structures in experiments. They study how compressive and tensile forces produce these structures. The compression makes the flatlying strata shorter and tension make the strata longer.
Curated OER
What is the Rock Cycle?
Students investigate the rock cycle. In this geology lesson, students read about the rock cycle on a website and discuss the steps of the rock cycle. Students visit a rock cycle website to complete a quiz. This is the first introductory...
Curated OER
The Rock Cycle
Students study the rock cycle of different types of rock. They arrange cut-outs of the parts of the rock cycle in the correct order and then draw the rock cycle or research different types of rocks.
Curated OER
Rocks and Minerals: Sedimentary Rocks
Students explore the concept of rock formation. In this sedimentary rocks lesson, students observe and record their findings about sedimentary rocks. Students then create limestone, coal, and sandstone models and write reports...
Curated OER
Plates on the Move
Students explore how Africa appears to be tearing apart from Asia and tha the other continents are moving and oceans are changing size.