Lessons that help elementary students develop an understanding of how the Sun’s light warms Earth’s air, land, and water and how variation in daylight hours are associated with seasonal change are highlighted. Lessons that provide opportunities for primary students to make observations about the seasons, including weather, behavior, and changes in the plants and animals they see outside are also available.
Setting the Stage for Understanding the Climate System’s Complex Interactions
This article highlights lesson plans about components of Earth’s climate system, including weather, water and the water cycle, the oceans, and Earth’s atmosphere. Lessons are aligned to the National Science Education Standards.
Lessons About Organisms, Their Adaptations, and Their Environments
This article highlights lesson plans that help elementary students understand that animals and plants can only survive in certain environments. Lessons about migration and fossils are also included.
Lessons about Earth’s Past Climates
This article describes and links to lessons that allow elementary students to explore three examples of climate proxies: tree rings, fossils, and ice cores. It also includes a few lessons that introduce climates of the recent and distant past to students.
Collecting Climate Data
This article highlights lessons that either allow elementary students to collect and analyze weather and climate data or learn about tools and technologies that make such data collection possible.
Science Lessons About Our Environmental Impact
This article lists and describes science lessons and activities about environmental issues and the greenhouse effect for elementary students. All lessons and activities are aligned to the National Science Education Standards.
Consequences of Climate Change: Lessons about Water Availability and Extreme Weather
This article highlights lessons for elementary students about the availability of freshwater worldwide and extreme weather events. Lessons are aligned to the National Science Education Standards.
