Lesson Plan
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Earthquakes and Plate Tectonics

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars research about earthquakes that took place within a certain distance from their place. In this geology lesson plan, students explain why earthquakes occur. They analyze patterns of different earthquakes using a computer...
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Are You Ready to Rock?

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders investigate rock samples using magnifying class. In this earth science lesson, 2nd graders identify the physical properties and describe them verbally with their partners. They compare their findings with the class.
Lesson Plan
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Physical Properties of Minerals

For Teachers 5th - 9th
Students study minerals and their physical properties.  In this mineral lesson students use technology to investigate minerals and their properties. 
Lesson Plan
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Sampling Rocks

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students explore Earth science by identifying types of rocks in their schoolyard. In this geology lesson plan, students collect a group of rocks from their playground and categorize them based on color, shape and size. Students read the...
Lesson Plan
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Mesozoic Murals

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students create a mural of one of the Mesozoic Periods. In this geologic timeline lesson, students will research the plants and animals that lived in the Mesozoic Era in order to create a mural to scale that represents one of the three...
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The Slope of Land in Your Community

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students participate in finding the slope of a sand pile and then other materials. In this geology instructional activity, students describe what happens to the piles of materials when they are poured through a funnel. Students measure...
Lesson Plan
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Sedimentation Lab Activity

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Learners predict how sediments in a water column will settle.  In this earth science lesson, students examine the layers of sedimentation. Learners are given sediments to place into a column of water and observe how they settle....
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Geologic Time Scale Analogy

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Students examine geologic time to scale. In this geologic time lesson, students create a time-scale metaphor that shows some of the Earth's important events. Students present their metaphor to the class.
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Watch Out for Landslides

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students conduct an experiment.  For this landslides lesson, students learn about landslides and discuss how they could minimize the risk of landslides.  Students complete an experiment to see if changing the slope of the land...
Lesson Plan
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Geologic Timelines

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Young scholars create a timeline of geologic events of the Phanerozoic Eon. In this geologic timeline lesson, students view a handout that shows a timeline of the Earth's history. They create their own timeline of the Phanerozoic Eon...
Lesson Plan
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Rock Candy Crystals

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students discover how rocks are created.  In this rock formation lesson plan, students investigate saturation, evaporation, and phase changes in geology.  Students create rock candy from skewers, string, boiling water and sugar.
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Thirsty Rocks: Please "Porous" a Drink!

For Teachers 5th - 10th
Discover what it means when a stone is porous or permeable. In this geology instructional activity, investigate a sandstone and complete a lab exercise which displays how porous and permeable a stone can actually be then measure these...
Lesson Plan
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To The Clock of Eras

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders investigate the events of geological time using a chart called a "Clock of Eras". In this geological events lesson plan, 3rd graders compare a standard clock to a geological clock. In addition, students consider periods...
Worksheet
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Geologic Time Scale

For Students 8th - 10th
In this geologic time scale worksheet, students are given a list of terms and eras which they use to complete a time scale. They classify organic and inorganic changes that took place in the Precambrian era, the Cenozoic era, the...
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Thinking about Erosion

For Teachers 7th - 9th
In this erosion worksheet, students complete a graphic organizer about erosion. They include 4 reasons erosion occurs and they write about the consequences of erosion.
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Earth's Interior

For Teachers 8th - 10th
In this Earth's interior worksheet, young scholars read about the geology of the Earth, the layers of the Earth's crust and the forces that change the Earth's surface. Students label the Earth's layers on a diagram, they answer 2...
Worksheet
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Geological Time Scale

For Students 9th - 12th
In this geological time activity, student use a geologic time scale to understand the difference between eons, eras, and periods. Then students complete 2 short answer questions.
Lesson Plan
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Scientists Use Web Site to Report Volcano Activity

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students react to statements about volcanoes, then read a news article about scientists monitoring eruptions at Augustine volcano in Alaska. For this earth science and current events lesson, the teacher introduces the lesson with a...
Lesson Plan
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Fossils Footprints Across Time

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Young scholars examine fossils to understand how they are formed and how they give information about geological history. In this fossil lesson plan, students research and write about fossils and make models of different fossil types.The...
Worksheet
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Rocks and Rock Formation

For Students 4th - 5th
In this rock formation worksheet, students read a 2 page detailed text about rocks and their formation. Students then answer 15 essay, matching and multiple choice questions about the information.
Worksheet
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Relative Ages of Rocks

For Students 7th - 12th
In this ages of rock worksheet, students will review the processes and techniques of determine the age of rocks. Then students will use a rock layer diagram to determine what rock materials are older or younger. This worksheet has 16...
Lesson Plan
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Origins: Earth Is Born

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students develop a timeline of all the major events involved in the formation of the Earth and the emergence of humans. In groups, they focus on a specific topic by watching a PBS program and taking notes. After the video, they list...
Lesson Plan
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History of Rock

For Teachers 5th - 10th
Students study a specific type of rock then share that expertise with other students in small groups. They view a rock and write observations about the rock to form small groups. In addition, they present their rocks an obervations to...
Lesson Plan
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The Effects Of Earthquakes

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students investigate the concept of how earthquakes occur and the after effects of how they effect landforms. They conduct research it using a variety of resources and measure the varying intensities of how earthquakes effect the...