This article explains the monthly variations in the Moon's appearance as seen from Earth. Directions for using Oreo cookies to illustrate the four major phases of the Moon are provided. The article is targeted to children ages 10-12.

The front of this poster is a cartoon profile of the atmosphere, showing the "good and bad" roles of ozone in the stratosphere, high troposphere, mid-troposphere, and surface. On the back is an article for students, beginning with an explanation of... (View More) ozone's roles, and an introduction to spectroscopy. Also includes detailed instructions for building a classroom spectroscope using a CD or a DVD as a diffraction grating. See related resources to download a PDF file that is a pattern for making the spectroscope body out of construction paper. (View Less)

This lesson originally appeared in "The Technology Teacher" and introduces common weather concepts and terminology. Students learn about weather map symbols and are invited to show real weather scenarios by drawing symbols on a map. A base map of... (View More) North America is provided along with weather scenarios that are quoted or adapted from the Los Angeles Times that students can use to create their weather maps. SciJinks is a joint NASA/NOAA educational website targeting middle school-aged children and their educators. It explores weather and Earth science through articles, videos, images, and games. (View Less)

This article introduces weather terminology and encourages discussion of the weather. A suggested project is provided for learners to create a book of weather terms. Using the list of terms provided, students define and identify the kind of unit... (View More) used to measure this characteristic of weather; describe, draw or show an instrument used to collect measurements; show how a measurement is calculated or converted from one unit to another (e.g., from degrees Fahrenheit to Celsius); and include a story found in a newspaper, magazine or online about this weather term. The article originally appeared in "The Technology Teacher" magazine. SciJinks is a joint NASA/NOAA educational website targeting middle school-aged children and their educators. It explores weather and Earth science through articles, videos, images, and games. (View Less)

This article discusses how the Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer (MISR) instrument found on the Terra satellite is used to understand how particles in the atmosphere interact with sunlight and how particle pollution affects Earth's climate.... (View More) Directions for building a demonstration model of MISR out of cardboard tubes is included, along with short activities to show how it's multiple viewing angles allow MISR to differentiate the kinds of particles in the air because they scatter light differently, depending on their size, shape, and composition. (View Less)