You never know what you will find next in the deep sea ecosystem. So far, scientists have found items that work as anti-tumor agents, anti-inflammatory agents, agents that stop uncontrolled cell division, and much more. The lesson plan...

A pool of brine in the deep sea can be up to four times as salty as the surrounding sea water. The deep sea ecosystem relies on chemosynthesis and the organisms that live there are often strange to us. The lesson focuses on researching...

Many have debated which came first, the chicken or the egg, but this lesson plan debates which came first, the hydrocarbons or the carbonate reef. After a discussion on deep-sea corals, scholars receive a set of questions to research and...

When judging diversity of an ecosystem, both species evenness and species richness must contribute. After a discussion of diversity and a guided example using the Shannon-Weaver function, scholars use the same function on two other...

There is so much to learn about the different cycles, processes, and parts of the biosphere. Using a pretest as a formative assessment to see what your budding ecologists already know is a great way to figure out which important areas...

In this fossils worksheet, students will read 15 statements and determine if it is describing a fossil or not. If it does describe a fossil, students must identify what type of fossil it is. Then students will complete 3 short answer...

In this carbon cycle worksheet, learners will read about the carbon cycle and study a diagram showing what creates carbon dioxide and what uses carbon dioxide. Students will then complete 4 short answer questions.

High schoolers comprehend the interactions of pH, alkalinity, hardness, and carbon dioxide in aquaculture water. They read the SRAC fact sheet number 464 "Interactions of pH, Carbon Dioxide, Alkalintiy and Hardness in Fish Ponds." ...

In this mineral worksheet, students use an on line source to answer questions about minerals, about resources and their uses, about fireworks and about birthstones.

Students collect weed seeds from three varieties of weeds (knapweed, thistle, or toadflax, for example they may choose others in addition to the spotted knapweed.) They sterilize soil for thirty containers, plant seeds in sterile soil,...

Learners explore the different phases of a crystal.  For this mineral lesson students grow their own sugar crystals using a sugar recipe. 

In this chemical reactions learning exercise, students practice writing chemical formulas, word equations, and symbol equations. They also identify the types of reactions. This learning exercise has seven problems to solve.

In this water learning exercise, students read about how hard water is created and what can be done to soften it. Then, they complete six short answer questions.

Students research how caves form. They describe the major stone formations in caves by taking notes. They construct a clay model of a cave and mark each formation making it easy to identify in the legend.

In this mineral worksheet, students visit http://sciencespot.net and answer 90 questions about mineral uses, mineral groups, fireworks, and minerals found around the home.

High schoolers explore seafloor sediment. In this ocean environment lesson, students describe the characteristics of different types of seafloor sediment and oozes. They compare and discuss locations of sediments and oozes by plotting...

Students test samples of water to determine how a chemical water softener affects water's ability to form suds. After collecting their data and analyzing their results, students answer follow-up questions about their lab.

Students investigate hydrothermal vents by observing a simple model designed to show that hot water rises when it's heated. First, students listen as the teacher explains hydrothermal fluids and vents. Students watch as the teacher...

High schoolers discuss how hydrothermal fluid is different from seawater and what happens to it as it passes through the oceanic crust. They observe and manipulate calcuim chloride and baking soda to comprehend how precipates form.

Young scholars explore environmental awareness by participating in a role play activity. In this cultural analysis lesson, students discuss the importance of symbolism when referring to a tribe and create their own tribe based on a small...

Students investigate the process of rock being eaten away by acid, thus releasing carbon dioxide into the air.

In this activity, students work in groups to create their own toothpaste in order to learn about the rocks and minerals it contains. Includes discussion questions and extension activities.

Every segment of society uses minerals and mineral resources everyday. The roads we ride or drive on and the buildings we live learn and work in all contain minerals. Below is a selected list of commonly used metallic and nonmetallic...

An explanation of how Gypsum Caves form and where they are located. A picture of the Bararossahohle cave in Germany.