Curated OER
The Sun: Earth's External Heat Engine Part 1 of the Astronomy Model
Students become familiar with the variables that control Earth's solar energy supply. They explore the source and nature of solar energy, the genesis of radiation, and the structrue of the Sun, gas spectra are observed and sample...
Curated OER
The Reasons for the Seasons
Young scientists use a globe and a light to simulate the rotation of the earth and sun to show the seasons. Additionally, they simulate direct sunlight and indirect sunlight showing intensity of the sun, and answer questions based...
California Academy of Science
Kinesthetic Astronomy: Birthday Stars
Space explorers take a virtual trip around the sun right within your classroom! They stand in a circle facing away from the "sun" (a lamp) in the center of the room. As they move according to your instructions, they view different...
Curated OER
Orienting a Photovoltaic Cell
By mounting a light bulb on a stand and a PV cell on another, physics apprentices experiment with the angle of incidence. Their goal is to determine the optimum angle for collecting solar energy. The use of a scientific calculator...
S2tem Centers SC
Seasons
Winter, spring, summer, and fall—take the learning of the seasons beyond the elementary level to the middle school classroom. Curious learners begin by watching videos about the seasons and the rotation of planet Earth. Then,...
Curated OER
Geology Word List
In this science worksheet, students review the vocabulary words for the separate categories related to the concept of geology.
Curated OER
Fall Lesson Plans
Fall lesson plans can combine science, history, and writing into an enticing combination.
Curated OER
The Seasons
Discover the change of the seasons by modeling the Earth-Sun system. Learners model the orbit of the Earth around the sun and explore how and why the patterns of winter and summer occur.
Curated OER
Seasons
Students investigate the reason for seasons on Earth during three activities. They construct a model of the Earth and Sun to identify patterns in the changes of the angle of light on the Earth's surface. Then they conduct a heat...
Curated OER
Making Sense Of A Round World On A Flat Surface
Young scholars engage in a instructional activity that is concerned with the development of geography skills. They take part in a number of activities that center around finding and traveling to different locations. The instructional...
Curated OER
Earth's Movement in Space
Students explain how the Earth's tilt and rotation causes night and day. In this earth science lesson, students determine how seasonal changes are caused by Earth's revolution. They play a jeopardy team game at the end of the unit to...
Curated OER
The Four Seasons - Earth's Rotation
Students identify characteristics in correlation with each season and identify dates of the changing seasons. They identify and describe how the Earth rotates around the sun and its effects on the temperatures of the earth.
University of Arizona
The Exotic Vacation
Students explain the concepts and vocabulary of Earth's rotation. They plan imaginary vacations based on the seasons in different locations. This is a very creative lesson plan, which students enjoy.
Curated OER
Planet Earth
In this Earth activity, students review the characteristics of the Earth including it's rotation and revolution. This activity has 9 fill in the blank and 7 short answer questions.
Curated OER
Reasons for Seasons
Students track photoperiod (daylight hours) over time and predict how daylight change during different seasons. This helps build their understanding that ever-changing daylight is the driving force for migrations and all other seasonal...
Curated OER
Good Timing
Students investigate time, how people measure it, and how it influences our lives. They complete an online Webquest, analyze various calendars, answer discussion questions, and identify references to time in a newspaper article.
Curated OER
Portable Sundial
Students work together to identify the accuracy of sundials. They track the position of the sun and create a shadow plot. They discover the difference between real time and clock time.
Curated OER
Holiday Exercises
In this interactive holiday worksheet, students view 20 symbols of various holidays and match the correct name of the holiday to the symbol.
Curated OER
Seasonal CEENBoT
Students simulate the Earth's revolution around the sun using CEENBoT. In this earth science instructional activity students calculate the Earth's distance in AU and it's speed of revolution. They explain how the Earth's movement cause...
Curated OER
Tracking Sunrise and Sunset
Middle schoolers collect, record, and graph the sunrise and sunset times. They explain how the relationship between the tilt of Earth's axis and its yearly orbit around the sun produces the seasons.
Curated OER
Navigation
Students study the basic methods for finding one's position on Earth. Latitude can be deduced from the height above the horizon of the pole star or of the noontime Sun, while longitude requires an accurate clock giving universal time.
Curated OER
Stargazers And Skywatchers
Pupils recognize the daily motion of the Sun across the sky, defining the main directions of east, west, south and north. They see how the first calendars were based on changes in the Sun's noontime elevation, and on locations of sunrise...
Curated OER
Stargazers and Skywatchers
Students are introduced to the apparent motion of the Sun across the sky and the way it changes in summer and winter.
Curated OER
Stargazers and Skywatchers
Learners observe the daily motions of the sun and relate them to the functions of a sundial. They determine the locations of sunrises and sunsets and determine how the elevation of the sun effects temperature.