Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How High Does the Atmosphere Go?

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students explain how relatively thin the atmosphere is, compared to the size of the planet, and determine the relative extent of the four major atmospheric layers.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Cupcake Core Sampling

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students discuss core samples. In this environment lesson plan, students experiment discovering what is beneath the surface by using cupcakes as models finding out what sort of layers are found within the cupcakes.
Worksheet
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General Description of Site

For Students 6th - 8th
In this earth science learning exercise, learners identify what a site matrix is and that is composed of a sandstone mixture. They excavate each quadrant and write detailed journal entries. Students also complete a site map that...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Why Earthquakes Occur

For Students 6th - 9th
In this earthquake worksheet, students learn about why earthquakes occur. After reading the information, they answer the 12 questions in the packet. The answers are on the last page.
Lesson Plan
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How Pollution Disrupts Our Natural Environment

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students conduct experiments to illustrate global warming. For this air pollution lesson, students first examine how a layer of greenhouse gasses might impact the earth's atmospheric temperature, then evaluate how the layer of gasses...
Lesson Planet Article
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Social Studies Lesson Plans With Science Connections

For Teachers 6th - 9th
There are great social studies lesson plans that can help students make historical connections to science.
Lesson Plan
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VARVES: Dating Sedimentary Strata: Geology, Paleontological Patterns

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Young scholars count the number of varves (annual layers of sediment) in shale billets, taken from the Green River Formation in Wyoming. The count is then extended to reflect the entire 260 meters of sediments where the billets originated.
Organizer
Curated OER

Types of Rock

For Students 6th - 12th
In this rocks worksheet, students compare and contrast the 3 types of rocks: sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic. Students complete 1 graphic organizer.
Lesson Plan
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A Bit of Engineering

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students discuss the drilling process. In this engineering lesson plan, students get into small groups and drill their own core samples in a sandwich using a plastic tubing, a jumbo straw, a slim straw and a offee stirrer predicting...
Lesson Plan
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Plate Tectonics

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Young scholars complete a data sheet. In this Earth composition lesson, students learn what happens when the Earth's plates push against each other. They watch a teacher demonstration and complete a data sheet.
Worksheet
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Curated OER

Rocks Worksheet #2

For Students 5th - 8th
Topping the page is a chart of crystal size and mineral composition of several different igneous rocks. Geology whizzes answer five multiple choice questions after analyzing the information in the chart. This is a simple, but sufficient...
Lesson Plan
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Rocks and Minerals

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students are able to describe earth processes (e.g., rusting, weathering, erosion) that have affected selected physical features in students, neighborhoods. They are able to identify various earth structures (e.g., mountains, faults,...
Lesson Plan
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Ecosystems Beneath the Surface

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders create a KWL chart about microorganisms. In this biology lesson, 6th graders create and label a diagram on a microbial mat. They investigate the processes involved in the carbon, oxygen and sulfur cycles.
Lesson Plan
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How Are Rocks Formed?

For Teachers 1st - 6th
Students identify types of rocks. In this geology lesson, students view animated graphics to identify how sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic rocks are formed. Students take a rock quiz to show how different rocks are formed.
Lesson Plan
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Sea Surface Temperature Trends of the Gulf Stream

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students explore the importance of the Gulf Stream. Using a NASA satellite images, they examine the sea surface temperature. Students collect the temperature at various locations and times. Using spreadsheet technology, they graph the...
Lesson Plan
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Earth Science/ Scientific Methods

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students identify questions and problems in the earth and environmental sciences that can be answered through scientific investigations. They design and conduct scientific investigations to answer questions related to earth and...
Organizer
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What's in the Air?

For Students 5th - 12th
In this air activity, students will choose the correct definition for atmosphere, troposphere, stratosphere, and pollutant. Then students will complete a concept map showing what components make up air. This activity has 4 multiple...
Lesson Plan
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Earth Science - Weather

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students build an understanding of the dynamics and composition of the atmosphere and its local and global processes influencing climate and air quality. They analyze air masses and the life cycle of weather systems.
Lesson Plan
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Oil and Natural Gas Formation

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students complete a narrative paper and a drawing depicting how the formation of oil and natural gas taken from the Earth's crust were once plants and animals millions of years ago. In this oil and natural gas lesson plan, students read,...
Lesson Plan
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Building for the Big One

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Young scholars build and test structures that can best withstand earthquakes. They create their structures from playdough, cornstarch, grape-nuts and popsicle sticks and place their structures on a "shake table."
PPT
Mr. E. Science

Earthquakes

For Students 6th - 8th Standards
Learn about the causes of earthquakes, as well as the value of seismographs, with an informative presentation. From the Richter Scale to the Mecalli Scale, learners discover elements that make an earthquake occur.
Organizer
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Earth

For Students 4th - 6th
In this Earth worksheet, students complete a graphic organizer by describing the Earth's layers and the types of rocks and landforms found on the Earth.
Organizer
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How is Earth's Surface Built Up?

For Students 5th - 8th
In this Earth's surface worksheet, students complete a graphic organizer by writing in 5 examples of how the Earth's surface is built up.
Lesson Plan
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Areology-The Study of Mars

For Teachers 4th - 12th
Students examine core samples from Mars and discover what they can use it to tell the history of Mars.  In this core sample instructional activity students create and analyze their own core samples then eat them at the end.