Lesson Plan
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Plate Tectonics

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Curious kids examine plate tectonics and give examples of their movement. They recognize how plates change the Earth through video, and web-based articles. In small groups, they receive complete a tectonics puzzle by silently switching...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Snack Tectonics

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Yum! Using graham crackers, dried fruit sheets, and frosting, tectonics technicians demonstrate the different types of plate boundaries. If you want to encourage youngsters with an activity that is both educational and edible, then this...
Lesson Plan
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Chocolate Chipping Away at the Rock Cycle

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders identify the different types of rocks. In this earth science lesson, 8th graders compare and contrast rocks and chocolate cookies. They explain how materials are recycled beneath the Earth.
Lesson Plan
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Gelatin Volcanoes

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students investigate magma flow using gelatin volcano models. For this earth science lesson, students sketch the magma bodies as observed from the top of their model. They explain why magma moves that way.
Lesson Plan
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Earth Forces

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers use geological techniques such as plate tectonics, mountain building, earthquakes, and volcanoes, in order to explain the earth.
Lesson Plan
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Plate Tectonics: Surface and Subsurface Processes

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders explore the geological process of plate tectonics. In this plate tectonic lesson, 8th graders design, construct and present a working model of a plate tectonics concept. This lesson includes a rubric, worksheets, and 2...
Lesson Plan
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Earthquakes and Plate Tectonics

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students research about earthquakes that took place within a certain distance from their place. In this geology lesson, students explain why earthquakes occur. They analyze patterns of different earthquakes using a computer program.
Lesson Plan
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Bang! You're Alive

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore the Big Bang Theory and the Theory of Plate Tectonics. In this history of life lesson, students explain two ways the Theory of Plate Tectonics and the Big Bang are of direct benefits to humans.
Lesson Plan
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Journey Through Earth

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students study plate tectonics.  In this plate tectonics lesson students build a cutaway scale model of the Earth. 
Lesson Plan
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Earth's Plate Tectonics

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students identify the different layers of the Earth. In this earth science lesson, students create a model of the crusts and continents. They explain how plates movement cause earthquakes and volcanoes.
Lesson Plan
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The Volcano Factory

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Collaborative groups work together to report on the volcanic activity leading to island formation and construct models to demonstrate the process. Consider having each group present their project to the rest of the class. There are many...
Lesson Plan
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Plate Tectonics: Recycling the Seafloor

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students classify earth's layers and plates using Ocean Seismicity data. In this plate tectonics lesson, students outline where the plate boundaries are on the world map. They then compare these predicted boundaries with USGS map of the...
Lesson Plan
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Tectonic Plates, Earthquakes, and Volcanoes

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Challenge geography classes to locate the major volcanoes and earthquake faults on a world map. In groups, they identify the pattern made and examine the relationship between the locations of the faults and volcanoes and tectonic...
Lesson Plan
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Forces of Nature: Ring of Fire

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders will research the Ring of Fire and be able to share their findings with their partner. They will also demonstrate volcanic eruptions using a baking soda and vinegar volcano model. Then they will discover how continental...
Lesson Plan
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Earth Clock- A Timeline, Past to Present

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Students create an earth clock.  In this earth clock lesson, students create a clock which serves as a timeline of the history of the earth from 4.567 billion years ago to present day.  
Lesson Plan
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Stressed to a Fault!

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders describe how stress builds up in the Earth's crust by the movement of tectonic plates. In groups, they relate the three types of stresses to the types of plate movements and explain how the stress causes faults to form. ...
Lesson Plan
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Sun and Weather

For Teachers 6th - 8th
How is the Earth's weather created? Middle schoolers will explain how the Sun's energy is transformed into different forms. They will perform mathematical calculations of volume, mass, and temperature. They they will explain the...
Lesson Plan
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Tic-Tac-Toe for Layers of the Earth

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders identify the different layers of the earth. In this earth science lesson, 8th graders choose a project to do from a given list according to their learning style. They present their finished project in class.
Lesson Plan
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Glaciers As Indicators of Global Climate Change

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Students research about glacial ice melting on the four major spheres of the Earth. In this earth science lesson plan, students explain how this process relates to global warming. They create a presentation and share their findings with...
Lesson Plan
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A Model of Earth's Tectonic Plates

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students build a model of the Earth showing tectonic plate boundaries. The pattern for the model is provided in the instructional activity. This is a very useful hands-on component for a instructional activity about geology or earthquakes.
Lesson Plan
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Name That Volcano

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students research volcanoes. In this volcanoes lesson, students visit websites with worksheets about the terms for volcanoes and volcanic eruptions in the world. Students complete the work online and play a game for volcano names.
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Hawaiian Hot Spots

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students describe how plate tectonics contribute to the development of volcanoes. In this earth science instructional activity, students examine the map of Hawaii and explore the physical and biological environment there. They write a...
Lesson Plan
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Earthquake Experiments

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students discuss the effects of earthquakes. In this earth science lesson, students create earthquake models and earthquake-proof buildings. They construct their own seismograph.
Lesson Plan
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Frogs Frogs Frogs

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students view a disk on the continental movement and analyze the given data on fossils, rock types and climate zones. In this geology lesson students draw a diagram of the earths layers, take a quiz complete a PowerPoint presentation.