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Classroom Activities and Demonstrations

Advanced level

Click the topics below to find hands-on activities for your classroom that relate to Windows to the Universe content. Some of the activities in this section were developed by our team of content developers and expert teachers. Others are ones that we use and recommend.

Windows to the Universe Educator Members - login to get access to free copies of PDF versions of activity descriptions, worksheets, assessments, and associated powerpoints.

Non-members can purchase PDFs and powerpoints (click on "purchase" in the right hand column). Alternatively, you can get access to these resources for only $20/yr (a $230 value) by joining as an Educator Member today!

Free html versions of activities and worksheets are available for most activities - links to these are available in the table below, in the left hand column.

These activities are appropriate (or could be easily adapted) for high school (i.e. grades 9-12). The Science Standards addressed are on each activity page.

Science and Literacy

Title of activity	Brief description	Bookmark (Members only)	PDF/PPT (Educator Members Only)	Purchase PDF/PPT (Non Educator Members)
Snapshot Exercise	A great activity to use on field trips or class outings - have students write a "snapshot" of their experience.		Sensory Detail Word Bank Sensory Observation Sheet	Purchase
The Scientist Project	Students research a given scientist and then present interviews to the class.		Worksheet Suggested Assessment	Purchase
Using Current Event Articles in the Science Classroom	Various ideas for using current event articles in your classroom.			Purchase

Our Solar System

Title of activity	Brief description	Bookmark (Members only)	PDF/PPT (Educator Members Only)	Purchase PDF/PPT (Non Educator Members)
A Solar System Coloring Book	A ready-to-use coloring book applet!			Purchase
Great Planetary Debate	Students research a given body in the solar system and then defend their planet or moon in a Great Debate!		Worksheet Suggested Assessment	Purchase
I don't know my solar system. . .please ex-planet!	An activity that leads students in researching a given planet or moon of the solar system		Worksheet	Purchase
Looking at the World in a Different Light: Quiz	Questions that go along with the Windows to the Universe tour Looking at the World in a Different Light
Lunar Lollipops	Learn the phases of the Moon!
Terrabagga Activity	Use a homemade magnetometer instrument to learn about planetary magnetic fields.		Worksheet Instructions for Students:	Purchase
The Magnetometer	Build your own magnetometer, use this to learn about planetary magnetic fields.			Purchase
Windows to the Universe Scavenger Hunt	Questions that have students explore the Space Missions, Solar System and Sun section of the Windows to the Universe site

Atmosphere and Weather

Title of activity	Brief description	Bookmark (Members only)	PDF/PPT (Educator Members Only)	Purchase PDF/PPT (Non Educator Members)
Combining Clouds and Art in the Classroom	An interdisciplinary lesson plan combining landscape painting and cloud identification		Powerpoint Presentation
Create a Cloud in a Bottle	Students learn how clouds form by making a model cloud form in a bottle.			Purchase
Create a Tornado	Create a tornado in a bottle!
Create Your Own Fog	An activity on making fog
Create Your Own Lightning	An activity on making lightning
Create Your Own Thermometer	An activity on making a thermometer starting with a straw
Feeling the Heat	Students explore the urban heat island effect by collecting and interpreting data.		Data Collection Worksheet Los Angeles Data Cards Powerpoint presentation	Purchase
Hurricanes and Climate	Students investigate maps and data to learn about the connections between hurricanes and climate.		Hurricane Map Worksheet 1 Worksheet 2 Map of Hurricanes Sea Surface Temperatures	Purchase
Introduction to Ozone Reading Activity	An article to read with an accompanying worksheet for students		Worksheet Answer Key	Purchase
Latent Heat and Clouds	A hands-on exploration of latent heat and its relation to clouds
Let's Make Oxygen	Show the presence of oxygen and how to burn steel.		Beginner Worksheet Intermediate Worksheet	Purchase
Make it Rain!	A rain activity
Reading Graphs with a Logarithmic Scale	Read logarithmic graphs of atmospheric gases		Worksheet	Purchase
Temperature and the Earth's Atmosphere	Interpret graphs to learn how temperature varies through the atmosphere		Worksheet Layers of Earth's Atmosphere	Purchase
The NCAR Cloud Viewer	Print and use to identify cloud types (760K PDF)
Three Clouds Activity	One demonstration and two hands-on activities - all about clouds!
Thunder and Lightning	A simple activity
Using the Very, Very Simple Climate Model in the Classroom	Through a simple online model, students learn about the relationship between average global temperature and carbon dioxide emissions. Selected by CLEAN!			Purchase
Watch the Sky	A great activity to get your students thinking about what they see in the sky
Weather Crossword Puzzle	A reading and puzzle exercise available at three levels

Geology

Title of activity	Brief description	Bookmark (Members only)	PDF/PPT (Educator Members Only)	Purchase PDF/PPT (Non Educator Members)
Changing Planet: Permafrost Gas Leak	Students investigate permafrost borehole data to learn about recent changes in the permafrost and correlate them to the changing concentrations in atmospheric methane.		Worksheet Data Sheet	Purchase
Dante's Peak Movie Review	Have students watch and then write a movie review for this popular movie.		Worksheet Assessment Rubric	Purchase
Layers of Rock	Create and investigate a model of sedimentary layers.		Worksheet	Purchase
Let's Take a Rock Apart!	A hands-on exploration of the minerals that make up a rock.		Worksheet Teacher Key	Purchase
Magnetometer Extensions Activity	Use your homemade magnetometer to learn about sea floor spreading and finding ore deposits.		Worksheet for Seafloor Spreading Model Worksheet for Ore Deposit Model	Purchase
Making Sedimentary Rocks!	Students make a model of sedimentary rock layers to understand how rocks form layers and represent ancient environments.			Purchase
Model a Moving Glacier	Students make a model of glacier motion and then experiment with it.			Purchase
Pangaea Puzzle	A fun activity that explains plate tectonics
Roger the Rock	Writing and artwork exercise where students create a children's book to show the rock cycle		Worksheet Assessment	Purchase
Shake, Rattle and Roll	An easy way to show how surface area affects weathering
Snack Tectonics	Students create a tasty model that illustrates plate tectonic motions.			Purchase
Take a Stab!	Model-building activity that will help students visualize what lies below a surface			Purchase
Tetrahedron Model	Students build a tetrahedron model using simple materials. Activity focuses on silica tetrahedron.			Purchase
The Magnetometer	Build your own magnetometer, use this to learn about planetary magnetic fields.			Purchase
Thirsty Rocks	Investigate porosity and permeability using sandstone.			Purchase
Who's on First? A Relative Dating Activity	From the Learning from the Fossil Record Module

Geography

Title of activity	Brief description	Bookmark (Members only)	PDF/PPT (Educator Members Only)	Purchase PDF/PPT (Non Educator Members)
Changing Planet: Sea Levels Rising	Students review topographic maps and use that knowledge to explore the impact sea level rise will have on coastal communities.		Worksheet	Purchase
Cookie Mapping	In this yummy activity, students make a geologic map of a chocolate chip cookie!		Grid	Purchase
Geographic Regions and Backyard Geology with the USGS Tapestry Map	Students investigate maps in class or online!		Worksheet 1 Worksheet 2	Purchase
Introduction to Maps	This quick lesson exposes students to a variety of types of maps.			Purchase
Mapping Ancient Coastlines	Explore bathymetric contour lines and sea level change!		Worksheet	Purchase
Mapping Potato Island	Students make a contour map of a potato!			Purchase
Mapping Your Classroom	Students construct a map of the desk locations.		Worksheet	Purchase
The Land Plan Challenge	Students plan towns and learn how planning affects the environment and the larger community.		Activity and Worksheet Template 1 Template 2 Template 3	Purchase

Climate and Global Change

Title of activity	Brief description	Bookmark (Members only)	PDF/PPT (Educator Members Only)	Purchase PDF/PPT (Non Educator Members)
Blooming Thermometers	A graphing activity that allows students to discover how the timing of blooming has changed as climate changed
Carbon Dioxide - Sources and Sinks	Find out about sources and sinks of carbon in the environment. Selected by CLEAN!			Purchase
Changing Planet: Adaptation of Species (Birds and Butterflies)	Students investigate how shape and structure of bird beaks affects the type of food that birds are able to eat, and view how global climate change is affecting many species of animals.		Worksheet Class Summary Powerpoint Presentation	Purchase
Changing Planet: Bark Beetle Outbreaks	Students learn about the role of the mountain bark beetle in a forest ecosystem along with how and why beetle infestation has grown to be an epidemic. They use research, play a game, and analyze maps in this multi-step lesson.		Worksheet Game Beetle Spread Maps Powerpoint presentation	Purchase
Changing Planet: Black Carbon - a Dusty Situation	Students investigate the climate effects of increasing amounts of black carbon on the absorption of solar radiation on the Earth's surface.		Worksheet 10 Percent Dot Paper 50 Percent Dot Paper 80 Percent Dot Paper	Purchase
Changing Planet: Changing Mosquito Genes	Students investigate the topics of evolutionary adaptation and phenotypic plasticity to understand how species respond to the impacts of global climate change.		Worksheet	Purchase
Changing Planet: Disappearing Lizards	Students review the nature of ecosystems and food webs and investigate the role of global warming on the extinction of lizards.		Worksheet Powerpoint presentation	Purchase
Changing Planet: Fading Corals	Students learn about coral ecosystems and use online tools to understand the impacts that a warming ocean has on these ecosystems.		Worksheet	Purchase
Changing Planet: Grapevines and Drought (Climate Change and Your Breakfast!)	Students explore weather and climate data and correlate this to the production of maple syrup.		Worksheet	Purchase
Changing Planet: Infectious Diseases	Students will learn about how infectious diseases spread, and how climate change is affecting the impact of these diseases.		Worksheet 1 Worksheet 2 Powerpoint presentation	Purchase
Changing Planet: Melting Glaciers	Students sort photographs of glaciers and measure glacial retreat to observe how alpine glaciers have retreated over the past century. Classroom Activity Kit available! Selected by CLEAN!		Worksheet Photo Pairs	Purchase
Changing Planet: Ocean Acidification - The Chemistry is Less than Basic!	Students use a pH indicator solution to detect the presence of carbon dioxide and changes in acidity, and to model ocean-atmosphere interactions.		Worksheet	Purchase
Changing Planet: Permafrost Gas Leak	Students investigate permafrost borehole data to learn about recent changes in the permafrost and correlate them to the changing concentrations in atmospheric methane.		Worksheet Data Sheet	Purchase
Changing Planet: Rising Ocean Temperatures - Rising Sea Levels	Students investigate how thermal expansion of water affects sea level		Worksheet	Purchase
Changing Planet: Sea Levels Rising	Students review topographic maps and use that knowledge to explore the impact sea level rise will have on coastal communities.		Worksheet	Purchase
Changing Planet: Survival of Trees	Students investigate the role of gases in plant growth, and how proxy records, field work, and controlled experiments assist scientists in understanding Earth processes.		Worksheet	Purchase
Changing Planet: The Case of the Leaky Gyre	Students model circulation in ocean gyres, explore characteristics of ocean gyres found around the world, and predict the climate impacts of changes to the circulation in these gyres.		Worksheet	Purchase
Changing Planet: The Warming of Our Large Lakes	Students observe models of water stratification, then analyze and interpret temperature profile data from the Great Lakes.		Worksheet Temperature Profiles	Purchase
Changing Planet: Withering Plants - Stressing Over Lost Water	Students learn about how plants exchange gases and materials with their environment, then extract leaf stomata and examine them under the microscope Selected by CLEAN!		Worksheet	Purchase
CO2: How Much Do You Spew?	Students analyze the energy consumption of a hypothetical household to determine the amount of carbon dioxide they are adding to the atmosphere each year.		Worksheet and Scenarios	Purchase
Dark Skies: Volcanic Contributions to Climate Change	Discover how volcanoes can alter the Earth's climate
Feeling the Heat	Students explore the urban heat island effect by collecting and interpreting data.		Data Collection Worksheet Los Angeles Data Cards Powerpoint presentation	Purchase
Glaciers: Then and Now	Students compare photographs of glaciers to observe how Alaskan glaciers have changed over the last century. Selected by CLEAN!		Worksheet Photo Pairs	Purchase
Graphing Sea Ice Extent in the Arctic and Antarctic	Check the pulse of the seasons, compare opposite hemispheres, and see whether long-term trends in ice cover are changing as global temperatures rise. Selected by CLEAN!		Monthly Graphic Worksheet Yearly Graphing Worksheet Data Tables Student Instructions	Purchase
Hurricanes and Climate	Students investigate maps and data to learn about the connections between hurricanes and climate.		Hurricane Map Worksheet 1 Worksheet 2 Map of Hurricanes Sea Surface Temperatures	Purchase
Irradiation Experiment	ACCENT Climate Change Curriculum, also available in German and Italian
Living During the Little Ice Age	Discover how modest climatic cooling changed life for Europeans during the Little Ice Age
Looking into Surface Albedo	Students investigate how color affects heat absorption.		Worksheet Bhutan: Land and Glaciers Sea Ice and Ocean Greenland Land and Glacier	Purchase
Making Sedimentary Rocks!	Students make a model of sedimentary rock layers to understand how rocks form layers and represent ancient environments.			Purchase
Mapping Ancient Coastlines	Explore bathymetric contour lines and sea level change!		Worksheet	Purchase
Model a Moving Glacier	Students make a model of glacier motion and then experiment with it.			Purchase
Natural Records of Climate Change: Working With Indirect Evidence	Students play a game to learn about indirect evidence, like those that record ancient climate changes.
Ocean Circulation Experiment	ACCENT Climate Change Curriculum, also available in German and Italian
Paleoclimates and Pollen	Conduct a classroom paleoclimate study!		WA Teacher's Key WA Student Guide WA Study Conclusions CO Teacher's Key CO Student Guide CO Study Conclusions	Purchase
Plugged in to CO2	Students investigate various appliances and electronics, discovering how much energy each uses and how much carbon dioxide (CO2) is released to produce that energy. Selected by CLEAN!		Worksheet 1 Worksheet 2 Fuel Mix Data Graphic	Purchase
Resources for Teaching about Biogeochemical Cycles	A collection of resources for teaching about biogeochemical cycles including links to content, activities, podcasts, and scientist profiles.
Solar Radiation Experiment	ACCENT Climate Change Curriculum, also available in German and Italian.
Sunspots and Climate	Students investigate data to discover how Earth's climate is affected by changing quantities of sunspots.
The Difference Between Weather and Climate	Students graph weather and climate data to learn the difference
The Land Plan Challenge	Students plan towns and learn how planning affects the environment and the larger community.		Activity and Worksheet Template 1 Template 2 Template 3	Purchase
The Little Ice Age	Students investigate multiple pieces of data to learn about the Little Ice Age
Thermal Expansion and Sea Level Rise	Discover how thermal expansion of water might affect sea level!			Purchase
Trees: Recorders of Climate Change	Collect and analyze tree ring data to discover when the Little Ice Age occurred.
Using the Carbon Cycle Interactive Game in the Classroom	Through an online game, students learn how carbon cycles through the Earth system			Purchase
Using the Very, Very Simple Climate Model in the Classroom	Through a simple online model, students learn about the relationship between average global temperature and carbon dioxide emissions. Selected by CLEAN!			Purchase
Where Have All the Glaciers Gone?	Compare "then and now" photographs to see how much glaciers have changed over the last century.

Water

Title of activity	Brief description	Bookmark (Members only)	PDF/PPT (Educator Members Only)	Purchase PDF/PPT (Non Educator Members)
Build a Model Watershed	Students construct a model land surface and use the model to explore basic concepts of watersheds.			Purchase
Changing Planet: Fading Corals	Students learn about coral ecosystems and use online tools to understand the impacts that a warming ocean has on these ecosystems.		Worksheet	Purchase
Changing Planet: Melting Glaciers	Students sort photographs of glaciers and measure glacial retreat to observe how alpine glaciers have retreated over the past century. Classroom Activity Kit available! Selected by CLEAN!		Worksheet Photo Pairs	Purchase
Changing Planet: Ocean Acidification - The Chemistry is Less than Basic!	Students use a pH indicator solution to detect the presence of carbon dioxide and changes in acidity, and to model ocean-atmosphere interactions.		Worksheet	Purchase
Changing Planet: Rising Ocean Temperatures - Rising Sea Levels	Students investigate how thermal expansion of water affects sea level		Worksheet	Purchase
Changing Planet: Sea Levels Rising	Students review topographic maps and use that knowledge to explore the impact sea level rise will have on coastal communities.		Worksheet	Purchase
Changing Planet: The Case of the Leaky Gyre	Students model circulation in ocean gyres, explore characteristics of ocean gyres found around the world, and predict the climate impacts of changes to the circulation in these gyres.		Worksheet	Purchase
Changing Planet: The Warming of Our Large Lakes	Students observe models of water stratification, then analyze and interpret temperature profile data from the Great Lakes.		Worksheet Temperature Profiles	Purchase
Exploring Density of Salt and Fresh Water: Par 5	A fun activity that involves the interaction between fresh water and salt water			Purchase
Graphing Sea Ice Extent in the Arctic and Antarctic	Check the pulse of the seasons, compare opposite hemispheres, and see whether long-term trends in ice cover are changing as global temperatures rise. Selected by CLEAN!		Monthly Graphic Worksheet Yearly Graphing Worksheet Data Tables Student Instructions	Purchase
Mapping Ancient Coastlines	Explore bathymetric contour lines and sea level change!		Worksheet	Purchase
Ocean Circulation Experiment	ACCENT Climate Change Curriculum, also available in German and Italian
The Land Plan Challenge	Students plan towns and learn how planning affects the environment and the larger community.		Activity and Worksheet Template 1 Template 2 Template 3	Purchase
Thermal Expansion and Sea Level Rise	Discover how thermal expansion of water might affect sea level!			Purchase

Life

Title of activity	Brief description	Bookmark (Members only)	PDF/PPT (Educator Members Only)	Purchase PDF/PPT (Non Educator Members)
Adaptation Investigation	Investigate how shape and structure of beaks affects the type of food that birds are able to eat.		Student Data Table Class Summary Powerpoint presentation	Purchase
Carbon Dioxide - Sources and Sinks	Find out about sources and sinks of carbon in the environment. Selected by CLEAN!			Purchase
Changing Planet: Adaptation of Species (Birds and Butterflies)	Students investigate how shape and structure of bird beaks affects the type of food that birds are able to eat, and view how global climate change is affecting many species of animals.		Worksheet Class Summary Powerpoint Presentation	Purchase
Changing Planet: Bark Beetle Outbreaks	Students learn about the role of the mountain bark beetle in a forest ecosystem along with how and why beetle infestation has grown to be an epidemic. They use research, play a game, and analyze maps in this multi-step lesson.		Worksheet Game Beetle Spread Maps Powerpoint presentation	Purchase
Changing Planet: Changing Mosquito Genes	Students investigate the topics of evolutionary adaptation and phenotypic plasticity to understand how species respond to the impacts of global climate change.		Worksheet	Purchase
Changing Planet: Disappearing Lizards	Students review the nature of ecosystems and food webs and investigate the role of global warming on the extinction of lizards.		Worksheet Powerpoint presentation	Purchase
Changing Planet: Fading Corals	Students learn about coral ecosystems and use online tools to understand the impacts that a warming ocean has on these ecosystems.		Worksheet	Purchase
Changing Planet: Grapevines and Drought (Climate Change and Your Breakfast!)	Students explore weather and climate data and correlate this to the production of maple syrup.		Worksheet	Purchase
Changing Planet: Infectious Diseases	Students will learn about how infectious diseases spread, and how climate change is affecting the impact of these diseases.		Worksheet 1 Worksheet 2 Powerpoint presentation	Purchase
Changing Planet: Survival of Trees	Students investigate the role of gases in plant growth, and how proxy records, field work, and controlled experiments assist scientists in understanding Earth processes.		Worksheet	Purchase
Changing Planet: Withering Plants - Stressing Over Lost Water	Students learn about how plants exchange gases and materials with their environment, then extract leaf stomata and examine them under the microscope Selected by CLEAN!		Worksheet	Purchase
Food Chain Checkers	Model dynamics of a simple food chain		Worksheet and Game Pieces Gameboard	Purchase
Growing Penguins Timeline	Students make a timeline of Adelie penguin development		Penguin Photos	Purchase
Polishing the Petoskey	Students will wear away and then polish a Petoskey stone.
The Evidence of Evolution Exploratour	An in-depth examination of the science of evolution
The Traveling Nitrogen Game	Become a nitrogen atom and travel through the cycle! Classroom Activity Kit available!		Dice Codes and Reservoir Station Signs Stamp Templates Worksheet Teacher Key	Purchase
Using the Carbon Cycle Interactive Game in the Classroom	Through an online game, students learn how carbon cycles through the Earth system			Purchase

Sun and Spaceweather

Title of activity	Brief description	Bookmark (Members only)	PDF/PPT (Educator Members Only)	Purchase PDF/PPT (Non Educator Members)
Exploring the Dynamic Nature of the Sun	Compare and contrast pictures of the Sun.
Graphing Sunspot Cycles	Helps your students determine sunspot number cycles and make predictions in the near future.
Plotting Sunspot Activity	A comprehensive activity that will help your students understand sunspots
Solar Concentration Game	A great game to be played on the internet!
Solar Radiation Experiment	ACCENT Climate Change Curriculum, also available in German and Italian.
Sun-Earth Flip Books	A fun, easy way to learn about the Sun.
Sunspots and Climate	Students investigate data to discover how Earth's climate is affected by changing quantities of sunspots.
The Magnetic Sun	A variation of our magnetometer extensions activity to explore the magnetic fields of sunspots
Tracking an Active Sunspot Region	An activity that will help your students understand how a single sunspot moves across the Sun
Ulysses Solar Word Search Game	A different game for each level! The words chosen are ones that have to do with the Ulysses solar mission.

Physics and Chemistry

Title of activity	Brief description	Bookmark (Members only)	PDF/PPT (Educator Members Only)	Purchase PDF/PPT (Non Educator Members)
Diving Raisins	An activity dealing with density
Exploring Density of Salt and Fresh Water: Par 5	A fun activity that involves the interaction between fresh water and salt water			Purchase
Floating Golf Ball	A demonstration dealing with density
Frozen Film	A hands-on activity dealing with light interference
Is Air a Fluid?	Discover how gases can flow!
Magnetic Levitation	Learn basic concepts of magnetism and forces via magnetic levitation.		Worksheet	Purchase
Printable Activity Page about Magnetism	Includes a wordsearch, connect-the-dots and coloring activity.
Spectral Surprise	A model that displays the rainbow colors of the spectrum
Spectral Surprise Extensions	Includes an Electromagnetic Spectrum power point presentation and a student worksheet
Tetrahedron Model	Students build a tetrahedron model using simple materials. Activity focuses on silica tetrahedron.			Purchase
The Magnetometer	Build your own magnetometer, use this to learn about planetary magnetic fields.			Purchase
Weightlessness Demonstration	Uses everyday materials!