Looking for some fun ozone lesson plan ideas? Yes! I love teaching about this topic. My poor students. I do get so excited about science, and teaching the composition of the atmosphere, the layers of the atmosphere, the ozone layer, etc., is a blast. We literally are living in the atmosphere. It doesn’t get any more real-world than that!
So, what exactly is this layer, and what are some awesome ways to share it with your students? Let me tell you more!
Let’s bring the WOW Factor to your ozone lesson plan!
What Is the Ozone Layer? Which Layer is the Ozone In?
It (3-5 mm thick) protects the Earth from UV rays by absorbing almost all the UV rays from the sun. Discovered in 1913, this layer lays 15-30 km above the Earth’s surface. One of the top questions that we are sure to answer in the classroom when teaching about the this topic is, “What layer is the ozone in ?”. So, what is it? It is is located in the stratosphere, which is the second layer of the atmosphere.
What is the ozone layer made of? It is made of ozone. Ozone is a colorless gas made of three oxygen molecules. There can be ground-level ozone as well, in the troposphere, but it is a harmful air pollutant.
What Does the Ozone Layer Do?
As I said, it is a protective layer that fights against ultraviolet radiation by absorbing it from the sun. Because of this, all of the UV rays do not make it to Earth, and we are protected!
Ozone molecules in the ozone layer are constantly created and destroyed, but the number mostly remains stable.
3 Innovative Ways to Teach What the Ozone Layer Is and It’s Importance
Ozzy Ozone Video
I found this video online when I first started teaching. I definitely included it in my ozone lesson plan. It’s quite a bit older now, but still relevant.
This cartoon is about this adorable little ozone molecule that explains the ozone layer and teaches about its protection. It talks about what kids can do in order to save the environment.
It’s fairly simple and does not go into detail; however, it’s so cute and is a great introduction. It is also a little childish, and maybe a bit elementary, but my 7th graders loved it! I watched it every year.
It was a great visual to help them understand the basics of this topic, what it does, and what we could do to protect it.
Once we watched the video, we could move onto the next activity, whether it be a scavenger hunt, digital interactive lesson, or a hands-on activity. I’ve done it all!
Ozone Layer QR Scavenger Hunt
Looking for a way to incorporate iPods or cell phones into the classroom? This Ozone Layer QR Scavenger Hunt is a great way to incorporate different technology into your classroom!
This is a super fun way to take notes. Students can work together to scan the QR Codes. When they do, the QR code takes them to the answer to the question.
For example, question #1 says “What is ozone?”. Once students scan the QR Code, they are taken to text that says, “Ozone is a highly reactive gas that is composed of three oxygen molecules (O3).”
They are given an answer sheet where they can record all of their answers. Once they are finished, there are two QR codes that they can scan in order to do some more exploring.
This is a great review and also great for notes. The note sheet can be glued into students interactive notebook.
My students truly loved this approach to learning. It was something different than what they were used to.
Interactive Lesson
Going digital? Digital interactive lessons are my absolute favorite for teaching content and reviewing content.
This ozone layer digital interactive lesson is no exception. This is a NO-PREP lesson that can be used with Google Slides™ and a PowerPoint. It covers all things with this topic including UV rays, what the ozone layer is, stratosphere, where ozone layer is found, what damage to the ozone layer is there, CFCs, 2019 update of the ozone layer hole above Antarctica.
In this 26 slide presentation, there are interactive activities built inside such as answering in the textbox, drag and drop practice, KWL chart, and so much more.
Digital interactive lessons can be used for a flipped classroom, direct instruction, partner work, group work, science centers, self-paced learning, and SO much more!
More Resources for Your Ozone Lesson Plan
Here are some awesome resources for your classroom! It’s fun to explore the NASA website. They are able to do this in the digital interactive lesson as well.
The Environment: Ozone Layer Depletion
Which ozone lesson plan idea is your favorite?
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