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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Trading in Gems

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Young scholars receive a bag of common gemstones. Without knowing gem names or value, students trade with each other as they desire. They choose one gem from their bags to keep. They discuss the name, value and characteristics of each gem.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Project Geode

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students predict the appearance of a geode's internal structure based on its mass and density. They form a hypothesis based on the data they collect. They also identify common minerals found in Illinois.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Igneous Rocks

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students perform experiments in which they grow crystals. They draw pictures of where each type of rock originates from. They also identify igneous rocks by using a chart.
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Lesson Plan
Virginia Department of Education

Molecular Model Building

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
During this hands-on activity, young chemists build molecular models based on the Lewis dot structure before studying valence shell electron pair repulsion theory. 
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Sand Hunt

For Students 6th - 8th
In this earth science worksheet, students identify and locate various rocks and minerals listed on the sheet. Then they describe each one in the boxes given.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ocean Market

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students research how: The ocean is the source of many materials, from ores mined from its depths to relaxing mineral salts for a bath. Exquisite mother-of-pearl inlay, decorative shells, and pearl jewelry are found in gift shops...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Tessellations

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students identify and construct figures that tessellate. They investigate which regular polygons tessellate and how to modify them to make other tessellating figures. Students explore how naturally occurring tessellations have been...
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PPT
Curated OER

Allotropes

For Teachers 9th - 11th
Brilliant graphics depict a variety of allotropes, especially the allotropes of carbon. Some notes are available to help make these useful for teaching your young chemists, but not for every slide. With some additional preparation on...
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PPT
Curated OER

The Industrial Revolution

For Teachers 7th - 11th
Contrasting between the "Haves" and the "Have-Nots" of 18th-19th century Europe, this presentation explores the social and technological implications of the Industrial Revolution. Inventions, social trends, and scientific breakthroughs...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Nature of Salt

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students record information from the periodic table for sodium and chloride. They determine whether salts are molecular or ionic compounds, along with sodium chloride's molecular weight, and relative weights
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Lesson Plan
SF Environment

Pre-School Composting and Recycling!

For Teachers Pre-K
You can never be too young to get involved in composting or recycling. Here is a lesson that has been made for the very littlest learners and it's all about the importance of conservation. They'll sort compostable and recyclable objects,...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water Conservation

For Teachers 5th - 8th Standards
Open learners' eyes to the challenge of finding safe drinking water – something we often take for granted in our country. The PowerPoint presentation includes images, graphs, diagrams, and even a video to stimulate discussion on how we...
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Activity
Royal Society of Chemistry

Weathering and Erosion: Simulating Rock Attack in the Lab

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Into each life some rain must fall, but how can that change rocks? Young geologists' understanding of weathering and erosion increases throughout the activities. The lesson includes five short activities to be completed over two class days.
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Worksheet
K5 Learning

Rocks

For Students 4th Standards
Five short answer questions follow an informational reading passage that details the three different types of rocks—sedimentary, igneous, metamorphic—and their rock cycle.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rock of Ages

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students are given a classification table and samples from their location. They locate their samples on the classification table using the characteristics used in rock identification.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Little Oyster: Ceramic Lesson

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Children will love researching and then creating a bottom dwelling mollusk of their own. They watch clips describing the ocean ecosystem and how oysters fit into their environment. Next, they research what oysters eat and how they look....
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PPT
Curated OER

Rocking Rock Review

For Teachers 4th
The three types of rocks are the focus of this earth science PowerPoint. Young scientists can review the composition of these types of rocks and see the ways they are formed. For example, sedimentary rocks are formed when tiny grains of...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sedimentary Rocks

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders discuss the basic properties of rocks, the processes involved in the formation of soils, and the needs of plants provided by soil. They write descriptions in their Science journal and identify and discuss each type of...
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Organizer
Curated OER

Identifying Metamorphic Rocks

For Students 7th
In this earth science instructional activity, 7th graders classify rock samples according to chart provided and physical properties of the rocks. They answer 2 analysis questions and formulate a conclusion.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Changes Inside Planets

For Teachers 6th - 11th
Students relate meteorites to the mantle and crust of asteroids.  In this planetary lesson students complete experiments to model the separation of light.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lesson 1 - What Are Fossils?

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students define and research fossils. In this fossil lesson, students access teacher assigned Internet sites to examine images of fossils. They determine the definition of a fossil and find out how fossils are formed. They also define a...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sedimentary Rocks

For Teachers 9th - 10th
In this sedimentary rock worksheet, students answer 9 fill-in-the-blank questions and 8 matching questions regarding sedimentary rocks and their formation.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Metamorphic Rock Lab

For Teachers 7th - 10th
In this metamorphic rock worksheet, students observe 9 metamorphic rock samples and indicate the grain size, if there are bands, if there are layers , if it is foliated and they identify the name of the rock. They complete 5 sentences...
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Lesson Planet Article
Curated OER

Exploring the Rock Cycle

For Teachers 4th - 8th
An understanding of the rock cycle is essential in geology and earth science classes.