Curated OER
Density Currents
Students experiment with currents caused by temperature variations that simulate the origins and flow of polar bottom currents. They discover water density is affected by temperature and salinity, resulting in deep water currents.
Curated OER
Maintaining Body Heat
Students observe and compare heat loss in various objects with surface area-to-volume ratios and transfer this comparison to the physical characteristics of animals in their environment. In small groups they conduct an experiment...
Curated OER
Warm up to the Gulf Stream
Students find out the temperature difference between the Gulf Stream and the surrounding water. They locate the Gulf Stream on the infrared image of the eastern seaboard of the US.
Curated OER
Rain Making - Understanding the Formation of Rain
Students read and conduct and experiment to learn about rain formation. In this water forms lesson, students read about the formation of rain and its purposes. Students then complete a rain experiment activity.
Curated OER
Water Density Boundaries
Students create observable layers in water that represent a separation based upon density differences. They model density boundaries using differences in temperature and salinity. They, in groups, perform a meaningful experiment...
Oceanic Research Group
Heat Transfer and Cooling
Astronauts train underwater to simulate the change in gravity. An out-of-this-world unit includes three hands-on activities, one teacher demonstration, and a discussion related to some of the challenges astronauts face. Scholars apply...
Illustrative Mathematics
Comparing Freezing Points
Subtracting negative numbers can be confusing to your middle schoolers. Here, they are able to draw a number line and put their answer in sentence form to check their understanding of negative numbers.
Curated OER
A Climate Conundrum
After viewing a video and reading an article about the threatened turtles and tortises in The Amazon River area, collaborative groups create a poster or presentation about how we can help them. Several links to other related lesson plans...
Curated OER
CO2 and Air Pollution
Seventh graders observe and test for the presence of carbon dioxide gas. They compare concentrations of carbon dioxide gas and conclude high concentrations of carbon dioxide gas are unhealthy for human beings.
Curated OER
Loud or soft?
Send this cute activity home with kids, to increase family involvement. They'll consider what would happen if rice was bounced in a tambourine, and then they'll complete a sound activity by makings an instrument out of wax paper and a...
Curated OER
Greenhouse Effect: A Computer Simulation
Young scholars complete an online simulation of the greenhouse effect. In this instructional activity on the greenhouse effect, students use a website, similar to a webquest, to simulate and answer questions on how the greenhouse effect...
Curated OER
The Climate Change Skeptic's Argument: Natural Solar Cycles or Human Activity?
Teachers explore patterns in sunspots and total solar irradiance to understand the counterpoint to the human effect of global warming. In this professional development tool, teachers work through a lesson on the sun's natural patterns to...
Curated OER
AFRICAN-AMERICAN HOMESTEADERS
Middle schoolers analyze the factors that inhibited and fostered African American attempts to improve their lives during Reconstruction, the role of class, race, gender, and religion in western communities, and the challenges diverse...
Curated OER
Extreme Weather
Students examine different types of extreme weather and how to prepare for them. In this weather lesson plan students explore different types of extreme weather and create disaster preparation posters for different types of extreme weather.
Curated OER
Pollutants on Coral
Students consider the effects of acid pollution on coral reefs. They brainstorm previous knowledge about coral reefs, examine a piece of coral and observe its reaction to acid and list ways we can prevent pollution from reaching the reefs.
Curated OER
Graphin' and Glyphin' Utah Weather
Fourth graders use glyphs as a way to visually represent information about Utah weather. These nonverbal representations help students collect and interpret data in a visual format.
Curated OER
A Climate Conundrum
Students study climate change and how it would affect our lives. In this climate instructional activity students view a video then divide into groups and discuss possible solutions.
Curated OER
Graphin' And Glyphin' Utah Weather
Fourth graders investigate the concepts of looking at sets of data. The focus of the study is upon the local weather of Utah. They study the weather found in the city and in the country and make comparisons based upon geographical location.
Curated OER
The Dead Zone: A Marine Horror Story
Students graph dissolved oxygen versus depth using data taken from NECOP Program. In this marine science lesson, students explain the causes of hypoxia. They recommend possible solutions to this problem.
PBS
Pbs, Secrets of the Ocean Realm: Mountain in the Sea
This experiment allows your students to study the effect of temperature on water motion and also to create their own density driven current.
Other
Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences: Salinity and Deep Ocean Currents
For this activity, students will investigate how temperature and currents affect the salinity of ocean water, making predictions after studying ocean maps. It is recommended that teachers do the experiment themselves before presenting it...
Alabama Learning Exchange
Alex: What's Wrong With Global Climate Change?
Students will identify factors that affect the solubility of a salt and test one of the factors (temperature). They will apply their experience to ocean salinity, the effects of temperature on the composition of ocean water, and what...