Curated OER
Building Up, Breaking Down
Students explore their school building and examine the rocks it is made of. They discover how rocks become building materials and participate in a variety of activities surrounding this subject.
Curated OER
Go With the Flow
Students experiment with a simulated river bed and examine how erosion takes place faster with a young, fast-moving river than with a slow, older river.
Curated OER
How Big is a Crowd?
Sixth graders compare the relative sizes of the five Great Lakes and their human populations. They describe some of the problems that arise when many people depend on a limited resoure. Students discuss how the Great Lakes and the...
Curated OER
Water, Water, Everywhere!
Get kids excited about environmental studies with these exciting lesson plans about water!
Teach Engineering
Rocks, Rocks, Rocks: Test, Identify Properties and Classify
Time is growing short. Teams work together to identify physical properties of rocks in order to determine the properties that would best suit their cavern shelter design.
Curated OER
Natural Inquirer Ecosystem Article Lesson
Students discover new ways to preserve the ecosystem by completing graphic organizers. For this environmental lesson, students read an article from the Natural Inquirer in small groups and fill out a graphic organizer based on the...
Curated OER
Social Studies: Your Family Does What?
Sixth graders compare and contrast their own personal culture with that of Japan. They fill out questionnaires, compile the results, and match them with Japanese answers to the same forms. Students create a Venn diagram of the...
Curated OER
Creating Journals
Students take a virtual tour of Yosemite and selects photographs to use in their journal.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Earth Science for Middle School
This digital textbook covers core earth science concepts and includes interactive features, real-world examples, videos, and study guides.
American Museum of Natural History
American Museum of Natural History: O Logy: Earth: Our World in Motion
This resource is a place for learning all about the Earth--the Earth's layers, its history, rocks and minerals, and interesting Earth science facts and discoveries. Explore, ask questions, find information, and meet American Museum of...
American Geosciences Institute
American Geosciences Institute: Earth Science Week: What's Under My Feet? Learning to Use a Geologic Map
Students use geologic maps to learn about rocks and minerals.
Ducksters
Ducksters: Earth Science for Kids: Geology Glossary and Terms
Find a glossary and terms of geology in the Earth sciences on this website. This site contains definitions for words such as erosion, fossil, glacier, rocks, minerals, mantle, and topography.
San Diego Natural History Museum
San Diego Natural History Museum: Mineral Matters: Mine Games
Learn about minerals and have fun, too, playing Sedimentary, My Dear Watson, Knowledge Nuggets, Mining for Minerals (Interactive), and Minerals Matter. Downloadable features.
American Geosciences Institute
American Geosciences Institute: Earth Science Week: Gold Panning
Have students simulate the Gold Rush by panning for gold in the classroom.
Ducksters
Ducksters: Earth Science for Kids: Minerals
Investigate the subject of minerals including characteristics, properties such as luster and streak, types of minerals, and fun facts on this site.
Ducksters
Ducksters: Earth Science for Kids: Rocks, Rock Cycle, and Formation
Kids learn about the science of rocks and the rock cycle. How different types such as igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic form from minerals with the help of nature.
American Geosciences Institute
American Geosciences Institute: Earth Science Week: Investigating Different Rock Types
In this investigation, learners explore the characteristics of various types of rocks.
Enchanted Learning
Enchanted Learning: Rocks and Minerals Find It! Quiz
Students use the online "Little Explorers" picture dictionary to seek answers to questions about rocks and minerals. This exercise, which promotes dictionary use, deductive reasoning, and earth science vocabulary, would work well with...
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Earth Science: Rocks Study Guide
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] This study guide summarizes key points about rocks and their properties. Includes a few questions to check for understanding.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Rocks and Processes of the Rock Cycle
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Instructional videos, grade-level texts, interactive activities, and quick assessments about rocks and processes of the rock cycle.
Scholastic
Scholastic: Study Jams! Science: Landforms, Rocks & Minerals: Sedimentary
A slideshow, a karaoke song to sing along to, and a short multiple-choice quiz on sedimentary rocks and how they are formed.
Quia
Quia: Dig Into Geology
Site provides games and activities that will allow students to have fun, and learn more about rocks and minerals at the same time.
Read Works
Read Works: Hard Rocks
[Free Registration/Login Required] Students read about hunting for gem stones including diamonds, rubies, emeralds, and more. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in cause and effect.