Lesson Plan List for: Earth and Space Science

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Resource	Grade Level	Media Type
Jet Streams and Weather Students learn about jet streams and explore the effects of the polar-front jet stream on weather conditions in North America.	9-12	Lesson Plan
Seasons on Earth Students study satellite data and explore an example of long-term climate change to learn about the seasons, changes in climate, and the role of Earth’s tilted axis.	6-12	Lesson Plan
Our Knowledge of the Universe Students investigate the history of astronomy to see how major conceptual and technological advances have sculpted the current view of the universe.	9-12	Lesson Plan
You Can Die Here – Death Valley California This Nature lesson will help students to evaluate how the interactions of air, moisture, wind, and topography combine to create the extreme environment found in Death Valley, California.	8-10	Lesson Plan
Acid Rock WebQuest Acid Mine Drainage and Its Impact on Water Quality	9-12	Lesson Plan
Breaking it Down - Weathering and Erosion This Nature lesson discusses the processes of weathering and erosion and how they work together to shape the earth’s landscape.	9-12	Lesson Plan
You’re As Cold As Ice! In this Nature lesson, students learn how glaciers and glacial movement have affected the Earth through a series of Web interactives and hands-on activities.	9-12	Lesson Plan
Feeling Hot, Hot, Hot! In this Nature lesson, students will learn about different types of volcanoes, how and why they erupt and the physical impact of volcanic eruptions.	9-11	Lesson Plan
Looking Back in Time This lesson plan will provide a concrete way for the students to understand the concept of “distance in space equals distance in time.”	5-8	Lesson Plan
Earth, the Universe, and Culture The following lesson will help the students understand the cultural nature of scientific research.	5-8	Lesson Plan
Theories This lesson will help the students understand that science theories change in the face of new evidence, but those changes can be slow in coming.	5-8	Lesson Plan
Accidental Discoveries This lesson will help the students understand that science theories change in the face of new evidence, but those changes can be slow in coming.	5-8	Lesson Plan
The Relationship Between Science and Technology Students will learn how technology can help scientists solve a problem. One of the challenges scientists face with any spacecraft is attitude control. Students will be introduced to the problem of attitude control in space and two different ways scientists address it.	5-8	Lesson Plan
Stressed Out! In this lesson, students will identify methods for detecting and locating earthquakes, utilizing excerpts from the Nature episode titled “Can Animals Predict Disaster?”	9-11	Lesson Plan
Creativity in Science This lesson will take a look at the different roles scientists play in discoveries.	5-8	Lesson Plan
Performing Well Under Pressure In this Nature lesson, students will explore the characteristics of diamonds. They will begin building an understanding of their formative environment, the resulting crystal structures and the physical properties of earth materials.	9-11	Lesson Plan
As the Rotor Turns: Wind Power and You An Investigation of Wind Power as an Energy Resource in Pennsylvania	6-8	Lesson Plan
Siting Wind Power Wind Power Curves and Community Considerations	9-12	Lesson Plan
Solar Cooking Warming Up to the Properties of Solar Radiation and Its Uses in Our Homes	6-8	Lesson Plan
Melting Ice In this media-rich lesson, students explore the role that ice plays on Earth, the factors causing it to melt, and the local and global consequences of melting ice.	6-12	Lesson Plan
Exploring Environmental Change Students explore the connections that can exist in a natural environment, and examine how changes to the environment, particularly those caused by human activity, can affect those connections.	6-9	Lesson Plan
What’s in Your Stream? A Survey of Water Quality in Pennsylvania Streams	9-12	Lesson Plan
Global Climate Change: The Effects of Global Warming Students conduct an experiment to determine CO₂ levels in four different gases, examine evidence of global warming in our environment, and consider their own role in contributing to global warming.	9-12	Lesson Plan
Earthquakes Students explore the causes of earthquakes, including the role of tectonic plates, and consider the efforts scientists are making to better understand and predict these sometimes deadly events.	6-12	Lesson Plan
Raising the pH Passive Treatment of Acid Mine Drainage	6-8	Lesson Plan
Human Impact on Water Quality Students explore human impact on water resources, investigate the quality of their community's water supply, and consider ways to clean up and avoid further pollution.	6-8	Lesson Plan
The Scientific Process Students explore how they can use the processes of science to learn about events that occurred in the past. They make observations, develop a hypothesis, and use evidence to test their hypothesis to see how well it holds up in light of their evidence.	6-8	Lesson Plan
Development of a Habitable Planet Students investigate the origin of the elements, the process of planet formation, the evolution of life on Earth, and the conditions necessary for life as we know it.	6-12	Lesson Plan
Plate Tectonics Students are introduced to the theory of plate tectonics and explore how the theory was developed and supported by evidence.	6-8	Lesson Plan
Global Climate Change: Understanding the Greenhouse Effect Students study past climate change, explore the effect of greenhouse gases on Earth's atmosphere today, and consider human impact on global warming.	6-12	Lesson Plan
Natural Hazards Students are introduced to a variety of natural hazards and explore how understanding these threats make us better able to avoid or reduce their potential harmful impact.	6-12	Lesson Plan
Your Own Backyard Students are introduced to a variety of environments, discuss the environmental features of the area where they live, and take a field trip to explore a local environment.	K-2	Lesson Plan
Volcanoes Students investigate the processes that build volcanoes, the factors that influence different eruption types, and the threats volcanoes pose to their surrounding communities. They use what they have learned to identify physical features and eruption types of several actual volcanic episodes.	6-12	Lesson Plan
Water Conservation Students study the availability of fresh water on Earth and the methods that can be used to purify and conserve it. They also assess how much water they and their families typically use, and think about ways to reduce water usage.	6-8	Lesson Plan
What's the Weather? Students learn about meteorology and weather changes, and discuss how weather affects daily life.	K-2	Lesson Plan
Cycling Water Through the Environment Students explore the water cycle and investigate the different forms that water can take in the environment.	3-5	Lesson Plan
The Lunar Cycle Students learn about the Moon's changing appearance and how orbital motion causes the Moon’s phases.	3-5	Lesson Plan
Our Super Star Students learn basic facts about the Sun, model the mechanics of day and night, and use solar energy to make a tasty treat.	K-5	Lesson Plan
What's Your Hypothesis? Students use theories of dinosaur extinction and mammalian survival to examine the relationship between hypothesis and evidence.	K-2	Lesson Plan
Fun with Fossils Students create their own fossils, and then learn how real fossils form, and investigate what they can tell us about the past.	3-5	Lesson Plan
Recycling and Composting Students learn about the value renewable resources hold for our society and the broader community of living things. They expand their understanding of two important conservation activities we can engage in: recycling and composting.	K-5	Lesson Plan

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Lesson Plan List for: Earth and Space Science