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Lesson Plan
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California Academy of Science

Kinesthetic Astronomy: Earth's Rotation

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
After completing the activity, "Kinesthetic Astronomy: The Meaning of a Year," zoom in on Earth's rotation using the same simulation setup and this outline. Each class member dons a map of the Western Hemisphere and plays the part of...
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Lesson Plan
1
1
Science 4 Inquiry

Journey Through the Spheres of the Earth

For Teachers 5th - 8th Standards
Each of the Earth's spheres interacts with the other spheres in predictable ways. Young scientists explore these interactions through a hands-on activity, graphing, and watching a video. They summarize their knowledge in a video or...
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Lesson Plan
NorthEast Ohio Geoscience Education Outreach

Earth, Sun and You

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers model Earth's revolution round the sun by walking a mini-globe around a lamp. You will assess whether or not they tilt and rotate the planet properly and that the revolution is counterclockwise. Discussion beforehand...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Alkaline Earth Metals

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students investigate the characteristics of alkaline earth metals. In this alkaline earth metals lesson plan, students experiment with a variety of alkaline earth metal compounds and perform tests to observe their properties. Students...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Digging the Earth's Crust

For Teachers 4th - 9th
Students investigate the Earth's crust. In this geology lesson, students identify the materials made up of the Earth's crust and investigate the different kinds of soil.
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Lesson Plan
Space Awareness

Meet Our Home: Earth

For Students 1st - 6th
Earth is a complex structure. Learners explore their home, the earth, using a fun hands-on activity. They create tactile models of the earth using ordinary household materials that represent some common features: land, polar caps,...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Earth's Interior

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders identify the layers of the Earth's interior, while learning to use WP utilities.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What's Below the Earth's Surface?

For Teachers 1st - 6th
Students identify the geological layers of the Earth. They graphically depict each layer's characteristics. Students label and develop a color key for their exhibit. They create a down-to-Earth 3-D display with Erasable Markers.
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Lesson Plan
US Department of Energy

Draft-O-Meter

For Teachers K - 8th
Help your class improve the energy efficiency of their homes with the draft-o-meter. Simply tape a sheet of plastic wrap to a pencil and use it to observe any air leaking through windows, doorways, and other locations around the house....
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Lesson Plan
Earth Day Network

Conserving Water Through Art!

For Teachers K - 5th
Having fresh, clean drinking water is a privilege many people take for granted. Help raise awareness about the scarcity of water and the importance of conservation by discussing different ways water is used in everyday life. Brainstorm...
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Lesson Plan
California Academy of Science

Which Way is North?

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Who needs a compass to find cardinal directions? Just place a stick in the ground and record the movement of its shadow over the course of a day. Then, measure the shadow lengths in order to determine a north-south line. A simple...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Earth Day Lesson

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Young scholars analyze Earth science by answering environmental study questions. In this Earth Day instructional activity, students read the book The Lorax and identify the themes within it. Young scholars define several recycling...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Earth Day - Hooray

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Students listen to the story, Earth Day - Hooray!, and discuss the story as it is being read.  In this Earth Day lesson, students discuss incentives and penalties in regards to taking care of the Earth.  This lesson plan also includes...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Changing Planet: Permafrost Gas Leak

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Pair earth scientists up to use an amazing online arctic portal mapping tool and Google Earth to analyze permafrost changes. They compare changes to data on atmospheric concentrations of methane to see if there is a correlation. Then...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Fossil Fuels (Part I), The Geology of Oil

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Junior geologists work through three mini-lessons that familiarize them with the formation and location of fossil fuels. Part one involves reading about petroleum and where it comes from via a thorough set of handouts. A lab activity...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Life on Earth and Beyond, Our Search for Answers

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students in a special education classroom are introduced to how the universe and solar system was formed. Using the internet, they research the characteristics of Earth that support human life. In groups, they compare and contrast...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Agents of Erosion

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders observe and identify the effects of geological activities and weathering on Earth's surface. They also take a look at reports of events such as storms, earthquakes, floods, and volcanoes. There is a hefty hands-on activity...
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Activity
It's About Time

The History and Scale of the Solar System

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Take scientists beyond our earthly reach and into the solar system. Pupils create a model of the solar system and discuss strengths and weaknesses of their model. They calculate distances in light years, discuss the nebular theory, and...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Earth Changes

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Learners explore the make-up of the earth and the changes it undergoes in an earthquake. In this earth science lesson, students have two activities as part of a unit. First, to use a Styrofoam ball to model the earth's structure, and...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Changing Earth

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students observe and analyze weathering. In this earth science lesson, students demonstrate physical and chemical weathering in two experiments, then write questions for a class Jeopardy game.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Out on a Limb: Earth Day

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Young scholars understand the importance of trees to the environment and their community. For this Earth Day lesson, students discuss the value of trees and plan a project to plant trees. Young scholars understand the role of an...
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Lesson Plan
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Curated OER

Layers of the Earth

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders study the earth's surface.  In this planet structure lesson students view a PowerPoint presentation then draw and label the earths layers. 
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Earth from Space Maps

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
Students use photo images from space to create a large map of the United States or the world, find where they live and label other places they know. They are exposed to a Web resource that allows them to view photo images of Earth taken...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Wow! What a lesson plan! Six terrific activities are described in great detail, in this 31-page document! Learners will model and explain cloud formation, sketch and identify certain cloud types, calculate and compare incoming and...