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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What is Soil?

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Students examine soil. In this earth science lesson, students define and describe weathering and erosion as it relates to soil. Students compare and contrast potting soil with forest soil and complete a science observation worksheet.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Soil Composition

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Students examine soil. In this soil composition lesson students participate in soil sedimentation and filtration activities. The students discuss what non-living and living things are in soil and why it is so important.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Edible Soils

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students create soil profiles, including rock, clay, silt, sand, and humus, in clear plastic cups out of edible materials.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Digging the Earth's Crust

For Teachers 4th - 9th
Young scholars investigate the Earth's crust. In this geology lesson, students identify the materials made up of the Earth's crust and investigate the different kinds of soil.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Erosion

For Teachers K - 12th
Young scholars examine soil erosion and what causes it.  In this soil lesson students complete several experiments on soil erosion and the weathering process. 
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Water We Drink

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders relate that the quality of their drinking water is subject to the condition of the environment and water found in streams and creeks in their community. They track the travel of a wad of paper from a student's desk to a...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Under Our Feet

For Teachers 1st - 2nd
Students investigate the forest ecosystem to learn of the living and non-living elements of the soil. In this ecosystem lesson, students examine soil for twigs, moss, fungi, leaves, roots and other matter.   Students complete a...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Tree Top Canopy Field Trip

For Teachers 1st - 6th
Learners visit the Greenheart Canopy Walkway. For this environmental lesson, students experience a coastal rain forest ecosystem. Learners interact and explore the different layers of the rain forest.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rocks and Soil

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore the physical properties of rocks. They explore the three different types of rocks and are able to compare and contrast their different properties. Students simulate the creation of sedimentary rock, they also...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Earth Changes

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students investigate the earth's structural layers by participating in hands-on activities. They identify the earth's structure and investigate earthquakes.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sedimentary Rocks

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders discuss the basic properties of rocks, the processes involved in the formation of soils, and the needs of plants provided by soil. They write descriptions in their Science journal and identify and discuss each type of...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water Filtration Challenge

For Teachers 4th - 7th
Students create an all-natural water filtration system. In this lesson on natural water filtration, students build upon prior knowledge to build a filtration unit made of plants, soils, sand, pebbles and rocks that can purify...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Oolitic Sand: An Introduction

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders investigate the characteristics of different types of sand. They compare and contrast the types of sand by making observations with a dissecting microscope. Then students draw what is seen and include shape, color, and...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Big Fat, Juicy Worms

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students collect and study information about worms. They discover how an earthworm helps process and loosen the soil. They write in their journals as well.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Earth Changes

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students explore the make-up of the earth and the changes it undergoes in an earthquake. In this earth science instructional activity, students have two activities as part of a unit. First, to use a Styrofoam ball to model the earth's...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Richmond Nature Park Field Trip

For Teachers 1st - 5th
Students identify different plants and their uses by attending a field trip. In this Canadian plant lesson, students explore the great outdoors of Vancouver, B.C. and discuss the uses of plants by the Native Americans that once resided...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Conservation in Small Places - Composting

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
A fabulous lesson introduces the art of composting to your gardeners. In it, youngsters learn about the composting process and how it actually works. They discuss the environmental benefits of composting, and use the "lasagna" method...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Trees and Erosion

For Teachers 1st - 7th
Students examine the connection between trees and erosion. In this erosion lesson students experiment with the effects of rain on a hillside. Students investigate the number of trees and the amount of erosion.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Making a Terrarium

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Students construct and maintain model of natural habitat, suggest improvements to the model of the natural habitat to make it more realistic and habitable, and demonstrate careful observation and recording of how animals survive in their...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Tree Birthdays

For Teachers 1st - 2nd
Students investigate the growth of trees. In this tree growth activity, students discover that trees make a ring each year they live. Students use new voabulary such as bark, phloem, and cambuim to talk about tree parts. Students create...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Archaeology: Digging in the Classroom

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students explore how an archaeologist works and makes discoveries. In this archaeology lesson, students participate in a simulation in which they excavate broken pottery. Students use measurement, geometry, and observation skills during...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Compost and Composting Experiments

For Teachers 4th - 12th
Students investigate the composting process through a variety of experiments. In this ecology lesson, students discuss the benefits of composting. They examine how compost affect plant growth.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ecosystems - Plants and Animals Together

For Teachers 4th - 7th
Students study the biotic and abiotic factors of an environment.  In this exploratory lesson students examine the different trophic levels and how organisms are connected. 
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Which Sand Contains The Most Salt?

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students investigate the salinity levels of sand samples taken from several different sources. They conduct tests and observations to measure the current salt levels. They develop a hypothesis from the experiment to determine the factors...