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Association of American
Geographers
Discovery.com,
Lesson Plans Library, Grades 6-8
Discovery.com,
Lesson Plans Library, Grades 9-12
Exploring the Environment� (ETE) online series
- Global
Climate Change. Features an integrated approach to environmental
earth science through modules and activities, is developed at the NASA
Classroom of the Future�; at Wheeling Jesuit University.
Lawrence Hall of Science, University of California at Berkeley, Great
Explorations in Math & Science (GEMS), Teacher's
Guide:
Library of Congress
- Visions
In the Dust: A Child's Perspective of the Dust Bowl This unit helps
students gain an understanding of Dust Bowl history through the eyes
of a child. Using Karen Hesse's Newbery Award-winning Out of the Dust as an introduction to this aspect of the Great Depression,
students have the opportunity to identify with the personal experiences
of youth in the 1930s. In addition, students examine primary source
materials of the period to correlate the fictional text with actual
visual, auditory, and manuscript accounts.
(link updated 12 April, 2001).
National Geographic Lesson Plans
National Geographic Xpeditions:
New York Times On the Web Learning Network
- Hurricanes: (Grades 6-8 , 9-12 )
Classroom Resources for Science and Social Studies Teachers
(September 4, 2007)
- And Now for the Weather (and Climate) Report ... (Grades 6-8 , 9-12 )
Analyzing Data Related to Weather and Climate
"In this lesson, students make basic weather predictions and investigate a weather cable channel and its response to climate change. They then interpret and compare charts and graphs about weather and climate and reflect on how climate changes impact their own life and the business community."(June 5, 2007)
- Polar Projects (Grades 6-8 , 9-12 )
Exploring and Analyzing Research Being Conducted During the International Polar Year
"In this lesson, students will examine categories and research topics relating to the Arctic and Antarctic regions. They will then select one area of study and create related projects to share with the class while assessing the importance of this topic to the scientific community and the world at large. " (February 27, 2007)
- Playing Hot and Cold (Grades to 6-8;9-12)
Exploring How Mammals Adapt to Challenging Climates
"In this lesson, students will learn about homeothermy. Through research and poster projects, they will gain insight into the diversity among mammals and the adaptations that allow specific mammals to survive in their native climates. " (Tuesday, February 20, 2007)
- A Coastal Dilemma (Grades 6-8 , 9-12 )
Demonstrating the Effects of a Rise in Water Level on Coastal Communities
"In this lesson, students consider the effects of global warming and create scale models of regions along the Atlantic coastline to illustrate the results of the rising water level on human communities." (January 16, 2007)
- Global Warming (Grades to 6-8;9-12)
Classroom Resources from The Learning Network
(Monday, May 1, 2006)
- Keep Off the Reef! (Grades to 6-8;9-12)
Examining the Endangerment of Coral Reefs as a Byproduct of Global Warming
"In this lesson, students conduct research to prepare proposals for an aquarium exhibit that highlights the significance of coral reefs. Students will focus their study on global warming and its impact on coral reefs around the world." (Tuesday, April 4, 2006)
- Tour du Jour? (Grades to 6-8;9-12)
Projecting the Impact of Increasing Global Temperatures on the Tourist Economy
"In this lesson, students learn how warmer temperatures have impacted ice drift tourism on the northern coast of Hokkaido, Japan. They then consider the ways a continued warming trend might impact other global tourist destinations in the future. "(Wednesday, March 15, 2006)
- Feeling Vulnerable (Grades to 6-8;9-12)
Examining the Connection Between Global Poverty and Natural Disasters
"In this lesson, students learn about some of the ways the developing world is vulnerable to the impact and effects of natural disasters. They then investigate some "natural disaster hotspots" around the globe and assess how vulnerable these areas are. "(Tuesday, March 14, 2006)
- Chilling Predictions (Grades to 6-8;9-12)
Exploring the Economic, Political and Environmental Issues That Global Warming Has Created for the Arctic
"In this lesson, students will research and prepare an almanac on the Arctic. They then examine the laws that attempt to provide jurisdiction over this area and consider how these laws will be affected if geography of the Arctic continues to change due to the effects of global warming." (Tuesday, October 11, 2005)
- Going the Way the Wind Blows (Grades to 6-8;9-12)
Examining How Climate and Geography Affected Prehistoric Humankind
"In this lesson, students will consider the various ways geography has affected civilization, then research how various species of ancient humans were affected by geography and climate. They then create dioramas illustrating their findings for a class exhibit, and write journal entries from the perspective of their assigned prehistoric people." (Wednesday, October 6, 2004)
- Getting into Hot Water (Grades to 6-8;9-12)
Learning about Greenland's Ecology and the Mechanisms of Global Warming
"In this lesson, students study Greenland's ecology as a means to understanding the central role of water in global warming. Then they write essays that compare the effects of global warming on different world regions." (Wednesday, June 9, 2004)
- Chilling
Out. "Considering Alternative Sources of Energy to Prevent
Further Global Warming. " Lesson Plan (dtd 4 Nov 2003)
from the New York Times. "In this lesson, students
learn about the urgency of investigating new sources of alternative
energy. They then synthesize their knowledge by explaining why current
forms of alternative energy are too limited or inefficient to replace
fossil fuels.
- Adding Fuel to the Fire (Grades to 6-8;9-12)
Examining Interconnections between Energy Consumption, Fuel Emissions, and Gross Domestic Product in Select Countries
Students will consider global warming and the greenhouse effect, and then explore how these issues are affecting countries with both growing and high energy usage. Then, students will graph their findings and write papers considering how continued usage can affect the future of the atmosphere and the global economy. (Thursday, October 23, 2003)
- Hot
Spring. News Snapshot (dtd 18 April 2002) from the New
York Times. "Every Monday through Friday, News Snapshot
features a newsworthy and provocative photo from The New York Times,
along with the basic set of questions answered by journalists when relaying
the news-- who, what, where, when, why and how." This snapshot
features the mid-April heat wave in the Eastern US. (link posted
19 April 2002)
- Icing
on the World. News Snapshot (dtd 21 March 2002) from the New
York Times. "Every Monday through Friday, News Snapshot
features a newsworthy and provocative photo from The New York Times,
along with the basic set of questions answered by journalists when relaying
the news-- who, what, where, when, why and how." This
snapshot features the disintegration of an ice shelf in the Antarctic. (link
posted 19 April 2002)
- Weathering
the Odds (Grades 6-8 , 9-12 )
Learning About Weather Forecasting in the Science Classroom
"In this lesson, students learn about the limitations of weather
forecasting and how consumer-driven weather forecasting companies attempt
to meet the demand for accurate, long-term weather forecasting. They
then act as meteorologists, researching the weather patterns of specific
regions and developing weather forecasts." (November 13, 2001)
- Eye
on the Storm (Grades 6-8 , 9-12 )
Exploring How Tracking the History of Natural Disasters Helps Predict
the Future
"In this lesson, students first learn about how geologists collect
information about past hurricanes to determine patterns that may help
with storm prediction. They then research the history of natural disasters
in different regions of the United States and develop regional insurance
profiles based on their findings and related predictions." (July
24, 2001)
- Weather:
You Like It or Not (Grades 6-8 , 9-12 )
Learning About the Importance of and Flaws in Weather Prediction
"In this lesson, students explore the importance of and flaws in
weather prediction, and prepare their own weather report on a specific
type of storm." (March 7, 2001)
- Clearing
the Air (Grades 6 to 12)
Exploring Emissions and Substances that Influence Global Climate
Change
"In this lesson, students investigate a variety of emissions that
contribute to global warming. As presenters at a mock international
summit, students prepare recommendations for reversing the global warming
trend." (October 3, 2000)
- Walking
on Thin Ice? (Grades 6 to 12)
Exploring the Interpretation of Scientific Evidence
"In this lesson, students examine scientific evidence of changes
in the Arctic ice cover. Students participate in a simulation of an
international conference and debate the relationship between global
warming and changes in the arctic ice cover." (August 29, 2000)
- Storming
the Web (Grades 6 to 12)
Exploring How the Internet Has Changed the Way We Learn About Weather
"In this lesson, students explore the importance of weather prediction
and the Internet's role in changing the way weather is reported. By
participating in an Internet scavenger hunt, students will come to a
greater appreciation of the role weather prediction through the Internet
plays in their own lives as well as the lives of people all over the
world." (June 1, 2000)
- Dust
in the Wind (Grades 6 to 12)
Exploring the Causes and Effects of Droughts
"In this lesson, students investigate the causes and effects of
droughts by participating in a simulation "town hall meeting".
Acting as community members, students must make informed decisions to
help a town and its surrounding areas that are suffering the effects
of a prolonged drought." (April 25, 2000)
- Climate
Control (Grades 6 to 12)
Studying the Earth's Biomes and Exploring the Relationship Between
Daily Life and the Environment
"In this lesson, students work in groups to explore the locations,
characteristics, and natural and human dangers to the Earth's biomes
to better understand the relationship between daily life and the environment."
(January 5, 2000)
- After
the Deluge (Grades 6 to 12)
Investigating Flood Prevention Technology in the Social Studies Classroom
"In this lesson, students examine why floods occur and the techniques
that can be used to stall or prevent them from happening. Students investigate,
in small groups, different flood prevention techniques (levees, dams,
reservoirs, and floodways) and create models based on their research
that demonstrate how their techniques work." (December 22, 1999)
- Environmental
Rhyme and Reason (Grades 6 to 12)
Analyzing "The State of the Planet" Through Research and
Poetry
"Students employ poetry as a medium to relay information and express
views about significant environmental issues that exist today and to
assess their effects on "The State of the Planet" as we enter
the next millennium." (November 23, 1999)
- Ice
Breakers (Grades 6 to 12)
A Lab Experience About the Effects of Global Warming on Icecaps
"Through participating in a number of in-class experiments using
ice, students understand the effects of global warming on icecaps and
the worldwide consequences that may result." (October 26, 1999)
- Counting
on the Havoc of Hurricanes (Grades 6 to 12)
Comparing Statistics of Hurricane Floyd to Other Recent Hurricanes:
A Math Lesson
"In this lesson, students define and classify all the different
ways in which numbers are used in forecasting and coping with the effects
of a hurricane. They then conduct research to compare and contrast these
numbers as they apply to Hurricane Floyd and other recent hurricanes.
Finally, they graph their findings." (September 16, 1999)
- The
Heat Is On! (Grades 6 to 12)
Creating Weather Emergency Guides in the Science Classroom
"In this lesson, students research various types of severe weather
conditions common to their geographic location and create weather emergency
guides. Students work in groups to develop guides for extreme weather
conditions such as heat waves, tornadoes, floods, and storms, focusing
on understanding the formation of these types of weather conditions,
forecast and surveillance methods, preparation, and safety procedures
in the event of an emergency." (July 13, 1999)
- Here
Comes the Sun! (Grades 6 to 12)
Promoting Sun Damage Prevention in the Classroom
"In this lesson, students explore the damaging effects of exposure
to the sun, warning signs of skin cancer, and sun damage prevention.
Students work in small groups focusing on these different topics, and
then create interesting, attractive and informative documents based
on their group's research to be included in the class's Safe Fun in
the Sun Guide, which will be distributed throughout the school community."
(June 15, 1999)
- Weathering
the Weather (Grades 6 to 12)
Exploring the Effects of Global Warming on Your Community
"In this lesson, students investigate global warming through initial
discussion of recent findings regarding weather patterns. Students act
as city planning "committees" concerned with how the trends
in global warming will affect the agriculture, industries and other
aspects of their city. Each committee develops a series of strategies
to better prepare for global warming trends in their city, as well as
proposes ideas for ways in which people in the city can combat the causes
of global warming." (May 18, 1999)
- Tending
to the Greenhouse (Grades 6 to 12)
Examining Causes, Effects, and Solutions for Global Warming
"In this lesson, students investigate global warming through initial
discussion of recent findings of an 11-day lengthening of the growing
season caused by warmer temperatures. Students then work in small groups,
acting as "organizations" concerned with the trends in global
warming, to research and propose solutions for restricting greenhouse
gases." (March 2, 1999)
- "Water,
Water, Everywhere, Nor Any Drop to Drink" (Grades 6 to 12)
Water as a Limited Resource and the Technologies Created to Attempt
to Best Use It
"In this lesson, students investigate the importance of water historically
and in their daily lives and examine the nature of water as a limited
resource. Students work in groups to research technological systems
that have aimed to use water in the most productive ways, evaluate those
systems, and create "How It Works" posters of those systems
that incorporate their research." (December 8, 1998)
School Resource Kit. A collection of interesting facts and
stories about greenhouse for school children, ages 7 - 12, produced by
CSIRO Education and Australian Greenhouse Office for Scientific magazine.
ScienceNetLinks. Lesson on Abrupt Climate Change (Grades 9-12)
Union of Concerned Scientists
US Geological Survey
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