The following lesson plans were developed by teachers attending the CCAG 2004 Workshop and are designed for grades 4-6. Click the print icon in the upper right hand-corner of each Flash Paper screen to print the lesson plan. Click the new window icon in the upper right-hand corner of each Flash Paper screen to open the lesson plan in a new window.

Aerosols and Cloud Identification

Grade level: 4-8
Overview: These lessons are designed to be part of a comprehensive weather unit, but may be used in isolation for purposes of getting students started taking observations of clouds and aerosols. They involve relatively simple techniques and few materials and apparatus.

Atmospheric Science and The A-Train Satellites

Grade level: 4-6
Overview: This workshop introduces students to the A-train satellites, their missions, and how students can be a part of it. The workshop will focus on hands-on activities that deal with weather and some of its components.

Cloud Activity - Changing Clouds

Grade level: 5-8
Overview: In this activity students will reinforce their understanding of cloud nomenclature through role play. Students will add prefix or suffix changes to the basic cloud types: cumulus and stratus. As the names of the clouds change the students will portray changes in appearance of clouds from the ground by changing behavior, student made signs, and /or costumes. This activity demonstrates how adding the modifiers alto, cirrus, and nimbus to stratus and cumulus changes the height of the cloud in the atmosphere and the appearance from the ground.

Clouds - The Sky Above

Grade level: 5-8
Overview: Students will explain how clouds form and identify and describe different cloud types.

Earth's Air and Water

Grade level: 6
Overview: This unit teaches students about Earth’s atmosphere and the water cycle and how they relate to cloud formation. It is the first part of three units having to do with Earth’s atmosphere, weather, and climate.

Clouds: A Brief Guide (PowerPoint)

Grade level: 5-12
Overview: A PowerPoint presentation about clouds.

Are All Clouds the Same? & Clouds in a Jar (2-parts below)

Grade level: 6-8
Overview: This unit is being designed as an introduction to clouds in order to prepare students for the activities involved in the collection of data for the Globe cloud protocol. I have chosen to work with clouds because it requires very few materials and therefore will not involve much cost. The unit will begin with an inquiry-based approach, where students will use their observational skills to identify the difference between the cloud types. They will then do a web quest to gather information about the different cloud types. This will include interactive learning tools on the web. They will participate in classroom lessons and labs on the formation of clouds. Students will then be ready to learn the Globe Cloud protocol and begin collecting and submitting daily data.

Temperature: Some Hot Fun with a Cool Topic!

Grade level: 6-8
Overview: This lesson is an introduction to the concepts of heat and temperature, and the scales we use to measure them.

Unit on Aerosols Using the Sun Photometer

Grade level: 5-12
Overview: The atmosphere is constantly changing, sometimes in a matter of minutes. The changes have consequences in the climatic conditions to which students are usually aware in a way that they tend to overlook the complexity of the process involved. This unit consists of three lessons that will give an understanding to the students on the use of the sun photometer .

Digital Library for Earth System Education
http://www.dlese.org/dds/index.jsp

DLESE is the Digital Library for Earth System Education, a geoscience community resource that supports teaching and learning about the Earth system. DLESE is funded by the National Science Foundation and is being built by a community of educators, students, and scientists to support Earth system education at all levels. DLESE provides:

* Easy access to quality teaching and learning resources about the Earth as a system for a wide range of learners

* Services to help users effectively create, use and evaluate digital learning resources

* Interfaces and tools to allow student exploration of Earth data