Information and Activities for Earth Science Students and Teachers
Learning about the atmosphere, climate, and earth sciences is critical for students, yet these topics are often complex and challenging to teach. Below are links to five different earth science subject groups that relate to the Global Monitoring Division's research and mission. Within each subject group educators can easily access background information about the topics, student handouts, and classroom activities that can be incorporated into lesson plans. Information and activities are geared toward grades 7-12. Teachers should feel free to modify the activities to meet the needs of their students. The following materials were created and compiled by Louise Belnay, former science teacher and curriculum developer at NOAA’s Global Monitoring Division in Boulder, CO. Any questions, comments, or suggestions, should be directed to her at louise.belnay@noaa.gov.
Select a Topic:
Physical Science
Teacher Background Information
Critical Thinking Activities |
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Teaching Guides | Student Handouts |
Electromagnetic Spectrum | Electromagnetic Spectrum |
Getting to Know Sunspots | Getting to Know Sunspots |
Sunspot Cycles and Climate | Sunspot Cycles and Climate |
Math Application Activities |
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Teaching Guides | Student Handouts |
Using Sound Waves to Study Climate | Using Sound Waves to Study Climate |
Sunspots and Climate Change | Sunspots and Climate Change |
Lab Activities |
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Teaching Guides | Student Handouts |
Heat, Temperature and Conduction | Heat, Temperature and Conduction |
Matter on the Move | Matter on the Move |
Radiation | Radiation |
Earth System Science
Teacher Background Information
Critical Thinking Activities |
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Teaching Guides | Student Handouts |
Goldilocks Effect | Goldilocks Effect |
What Goes Around Comes Around | What Goes Around Comes Around |
Atmospheric Layers | Atmospheric Layers |
Creature Features | |
System Science and the Lorax | System Science and the Lorax |
Understanding the Earth System | Understanding the Earth System |
Math Application Activities |
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Teaching Guides | Student Handouts |
Earth's Heat Budget | Earth's Heat Budget |
Problem Solving |
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Teaching Guides | Student Handouts |
Sphere Interactions | |
Ice Ages | Ice Ages |
Population Growth |
Lab Activities |
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Teaching Guides | Student Handouts |
Convection | Convection |
Radiative Heating of Land and Water | Radiative Heating of Land and Water |
A Balanced Tangle | A Balanced Tangle |
Earth System Interactions
Math Application Activities |
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Teaching Guides | Student Handouts |
Chlorofluorocarbons | Chlorofluorocarbons |
Global CO2 Emissions | Global CO2 Emissions |
Problem Solving |
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Teaching Guides | Student Handouts |
Co2 and Temperature | Co2 and Temperature |
Warming to Evolution | Warming to Evolution |
Lab Activities |
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Teaching Guides | Student Handouts |
What's So Special About CO2 | What's So Special About CO2 |
Getting to Know CO2 | Getting to Know CO2 |
Climate and Climate Change
Critical Thinking Activities |
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Teaching Guides | Student Handouts |
A Livestock Dilemma | A Livestock Dilemma |
On the Trail of Greenhouse Gases | On the Trail of Greenhouse Gases |
Reading an Ice Core | Reading an Ice Core |
The Story is in the Ice | The Story is in the Ice |
International Conference | International Conference |
Math Application Activities |
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Teaching Guides | Student Handouts |
Icebergs | Icebergs |
Global Carbon Budget | Global Carbon Budget |
Understanding PPM and PPB | Understanding PPM and PPB |
Problem Solving |
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Teaching Guides | Student Handouts |
Comparing Climates | Comparing Climates |
Sugar Candy Greenhouse Gases | Sugar Candy Greenhouse Gases |
Tree Rings | Tree Rings |
Volcanoes and Climate Change | Volcanoes and Climate Change |
Lab Activities |
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Teaching Guides | Student Handouts |
Air Trapped in Ice | Air Trapped in Ice |
Life in a Bag | Life in a Bag |
Methane - Up Close and Personal | Methane - Up Close and Personal |
Climate Change Interactions
Critical Thinking Activities |
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Teaching Guides | Student Handouts |
Climate Refugees | Climate Refugees |
Atmospheric Trace Gases | Atmospheric Trace Gases |
Climate Change Symbols | Climate Change Symbols |
Problem Solving |
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Teaching Guides | Student Handouts |
Climate Change and Disease | Climate Change and Disease |
Global Warming Effects Wheel | |
Analyzing a Feedback Mechanism | Analyzing a Feedback Mechanism |
Lab Activities |
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Teaching Guides | Student Handouts |
The Ups and Downs of PH | The Ups and Downs of PH |
What's Behind Sea Level Rise | What's Behind Sea Level Rise |
Polar Ice Caps Melt | Polar Ice Caps Melt |
Science on a Sphere Explorer Activity
All documents are in a printable Adobe Reader (.pdf) format.