Lesson Plans > Science > Earth Science > Earth Science: Part 1

	Earth Science: Part 1 (14)
		1. Earth Within the Solar System
				Earth's Location and its Effects • Middle School  1 - 3 class periods The Earth is a special planet, just the right distance from the Sun and the right size to support a diversity of living organisms. In this lesson, students will explore life's requirements and how the Earth meets these requirements. Students will also research the characteristics of another planet in our solar system, decide whether they think this planet could support life, and create a project on a fictional colonization of this planet or a visit of humans to this planet.
			1b. Earth's Location and its Effects
				Origins of the Solar System • High School • Middle School  1 class period For centuries, people have sought to understand where the Earth, the Sun, and the planets came from. As human technology and knowledge of the universe have improved, the theories of the origin of the solar system have changed. Currently, scientists generally believe that the solar system was formed from a ball of interstellar gas and dust 4.5 billion years ago. In this lesson, students will identify some of the components of the solar system and explore how the solar system was formed.
			1e. Fly Me to the Moon
				Fly Me to the Moon • Middle School  1 class period Why are people so fascinated by the Moon? For many reasons, the event of the lunar landing of Apollo 11 on July 20, 1969 was anxiously watched and listened to by people throughout the world. This lesson explores the age-old attraction to the Moon by engaging students in a study of some important scientific aspects of the Moon and the impact of the lunar landing.
		2. Earth's Cycles: Rotation and Revolution
			2d. The Reasons for Seasons
				The Reasons for the Seasons • Middle School  2-3 class periods The exciting changes of the seasons in many parts of the world provide us with variation in our food, clothing, and recreation, and have inspired artists throughout the ages. However, seasonal change is a process that is often misunderstood. In this interdisciplinary lesson, students will make a model of the Earth-Sun system showing how the tilt of the Earth's axis and Earth's orbit around the Sun cause the seasons. Students will also look at seasons as an inspiration for music by listening to Vivaldi's "The Four Seasons."
		3. The Water Cycle
				Watersheds and Land Use • Middle School  1-2 class periods How can a farmer reduce the number of insects on the farm without polluting the water? In this lesson, students will conduct a computer simulation where they make land use decisions for a national park, a farm, a neighborhood and a city. Students will be scored for their ability to make decisions that both solve the problem presented and protect the watershed. Students will also reflect on the reasons that some decisions would lead to better results than others.
			3c. Transport
				Comparing the Heat Capacity of Soil and Water • High School • Middle School  45 minutes Engage students in a lab to compare the heating capacity of soil (or sand) and water. Students will gain awareness of the differences in heating capacity of land and water and how those differences cause winds and other localized weather phenomena. (Submitted by Greg Metcalf - Highland Springs High School -- Henrico County Public Schools - Virginia)
		4. Oceanography
				Ocean Currents • Middle School  Approximately 4 class periods Ocean currents are great moderators of our climate, transporting heat throughout the Earth. But what causes currents to form? In this series of lessons, students will make several types of currents, sketch and record observations of the currents they create, learn about the forces that contribute to ocean current patterns, explore the importance of ocean currents, and compare different methods of locating ocean currents.
		5. Surface Water Systems
				Watersheds and Land Use • Middle School  1-2 class periods How can a farmer reduce the number of insects on the farm without polluting the water? In this lesson, students will conduct a computer simulation where they make land use decisions for a national park, a farm, a neighborhood and a city. Students will be scored for their ability to make decisions that both solve the problem presented and protect the watershed. Students will also reflect on the reasons that some decisions would lead to better results than others.
			5e. Surface Water Systems and Society
				Watersheds on the Web • Middle School  Varies In this lesson, students will gather information about their watershed using the EPA website. Students can find out about local environmental problems, sources of pollution, endangered species, fish advisories and other topics. Students will use an interactive on-line map of their own neighborhood in order to obtain information.
		6. Atmospheric Structure and Composition
				Layers of the Atmosphere • Middle School  Approximately 3-5 days Although we cannot see the air around us, the atmosphere is essential to the survival of life on Earth, providing oxygen to breathe, carbon dioxide for photosynthesis, and protection from the Sun. In this lesson, students will create a model of the layers of the atmosphere, identify the characteristics of each of the layers, and describe how temperature and air pressure change with altitude.
		7. Earth's Climate
				Global Warming • Middle School  1-2 class periods In this lesson, students will explore the evidence for global warming, the causes of global warming, and the effects of climate change on people and wildlife.
				Climate and Weather • Middle School  1 class period What's the difference between climate and weather? Weather varies each day, while climate refers to patterns of temperature and precipitation over time. In this lesson, students will discuss the difference between climate and weather, then use the Internet to compare climate and weather information for the place where they live.
		8. How's the Weather?
				Weather Prediction • Middle School  2-3 week project In this lesson, students set up a weather station and use it to record weather conditions over the course of two weeks. Students then analyze their data and use it to predict the weather for the following two days. Next, students compare their predictions to the actual weather. Students then use satellite images and weather maps obtained from the Internet in order to investigate current atmospheric conditions and predict the weather. This lesson is designed to help students achieve several of the "Science as Inquiry" content standards from the National Science Education Standards.
			8b. Temperature
				Comparing the Heat Capacity of Soil and Water • High School • Middle School  45 minutes Engage students in a lab to compare the heating capacity of soil (or sand) and water. Students will gain awareness of the differences in heating capacity of land and water and how those differences cause winds and other localized weather phenomena. (Submitted by Greg Metcalf - Highland Springs High School -- Henrico County Public Schools - Virginia)
		9. Taking Turns: Weather Patterns
			9d. El Ni±o
				El Niño • Middle School  1-2 classes In this lesson, students will explore the conditions that lead to an El Niño event by looking at images and animations. Students will also investigate the effects of El Niño on climate and economies and learn about the benefits of predicting El Niño events.
		10. Wild and Woolly Weather
			10c. Hurricanes
				Hurricanes • Middle School  2 class periods, plus extension Some storms may start out harmless, but develop into destructive hurricanes given certain conditions. In this lesson, students will explore how hurricanes are formed and the conditions that influence them. Students will also view images and movies of hurricanes.