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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Latent Heat and Clouds

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Learners explore latent heat and how it relates to clouds in the atmosphere.  In this earth science lesson students investigate how clouds are formed. Learners examine clouds and the water cycle.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

I Don't Think We're in Kansas Anymore (Grades 2-5)

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Learners give examples of erosion and weathering processes. They determine causes of America's Dust Bowl phenomena.Students define erosion as the condition in which the earth's surface is worn away by the action of water and wind.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Our Natural Resources

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students investigate natural resources and man-made items. In this earth science lesson, students classify items from trash into man-made items or natural resources. Students construct a flow chart to investigate the life cycle of a...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Greenhouse Effect

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders investigate the temperature change in open and closed containers. In this earth science instructional activity, 7th graders relate this lab activity to greenhouse effect. They create a line graph from data collected in...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Understanding the Roots

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students 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. Students construct a model of a flowering plant from various art supplies.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Severe Weather

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders investigate the cause and effect of severe weather. In this Earth Science lesson, 9th graders use a learning contract and a rubric to develop a presentation about severe weather.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Characteristics of Energy

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students explore Earth science by completing energy worksheets in class. In this energy forms lesson plan, students identify and define a list of energy vocabulary terms and a K-W-L chart. Students view a matter video clip in class and...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Invisible Energy in Light

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Students investigate radiant energy. For this earth science lesson, students use solar beads and clear sunscreen to observe radiant solar energy. Students note observations.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Studying Earthquakes in the Classroom

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students simulate p waves (longitudinal) & s waves (transverse) using a slinky and rope, simulate one of the three types of lithospheric boundaries, and investigate plate tectonics at some select Web sites.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Moon Phase Stations

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders investigate the moon. In this Earth science instructional activity, 3rd graders discuss the moon phases and how every 4 weeks the moon cycles through these phases.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sowing Seeds

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students observe earth science by participating in a planting activity. In this seeds lesson, students identify the process for seeds to transform into plants which eventually produce food. Students sow seeds in the ground and eventually...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Dendrology Scavenger Hunt

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine leaves that are assigned to them.  In this earth science lesson students work in groups and find examples of leaves that the instructor asks for. 
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Four Seasons

For Teachers K - 2nd
Learners identify the change in the seasons. In this earth science lesson, students describe weather of each of the seasons and illustrate pictures of each season. Learners discuss their illustrations with their classmates.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Weather Forecasting Basics

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders analyze weather diagrams and weather maps. In this earth science instructional activity, 8th graders explain why it is important to know the weather. They complete a handout at the end of the instructional activity.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mineral Lab

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders examine the physical properties of different minerals. In this earth science lesson, 8th graders explain the uses of minerals in their daily lives. They complete the mineral identification table during the lesson.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Geological Wonder: Niagara Falls

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students research the geological features of Niagara Falls. For this earth science lesson, students create a poster board proposing a new website for the tourist center. They share their project in class.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Analyzing The Research Of The Earth

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners investigate the concept of technology. They are taught about various science applications and how the technology is used in the disciplines. Students pick a subject to research and then indicate the technologies related to it...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Noblesville Fall

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers brainstorm questions based on a given narrative about an actual fallen meteorite. For this earth science lesson, students organize their responses into different categories.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Moon Phases - Finally Making Sense of Them

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students investigate the different phases of the moon.  In this lunar cycle lesson, students create models of the sun, earth and moon and investigate why we observe the moon the way we do.  Students observe a PowerPoint presentation...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water Cycle in a Box

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders investigate how the water cycle is vital for all living things to survive on Earth. They observe the teacher set up a simulation of the water cycle using a Plastic Earth Simulator, desk lamp, and water, and make...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Making Hail

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders investigate the different types of precipitation and conduct a hail experiment. They identify the types of precipitation during a slideshow, and define key vocabulary terms. Next, in small groups they follow the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rocks and the Rock Cycle

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students investigate the 3 types of rocks and the rock cycle. In this rocks and minerals lesson, students watch YouTube videos about igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks. Students examine a rock and mineral kit while watching the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Much Water?

For Teachers 8th - 10th
Young scholars investigate amount of water available in different countries around the world, compare it to their daily water use, and explore how unequal distribution of water can cause challenges to survival. Students then discuss...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Water Cycle

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders investigate evaporation, condensation, and precipitation. They observe a water cycle kit and record their observations, and examine how water condenses on the outside of a cup. Next, they observe an evaporation...