Students explore how scientists examine the past and use rock layers with fossils to understand the past.  In this excavation lesson students divide into groups and complete an activity. 

Eighth graders describe the steps in the water cycle. They discuss factors that affect runoff and explain the differences between stalactites and stalagmites. They discover the importance of ground water.

Students explore the sources for recharge and discharge of groundwater. They research the connection between surface water and groundwater. Students construct a model of an aquifer and explore recharge and discharge of the aquifer.

Pupils classify photographs into a two-way classification system. They practice with pictures of people who are young and old, male and female, then they use pictures of animals to create their own two-way classification system.

Students analyze lunar material using actual moon rocks that were brought back by Apollo astronauts. The teacher and student activity sheets are well-designed.

In this absolute time worksheet, students answer eleven questions about ways to measure the age of fossils. They define half-life, answer questions about radioactive dating, tree rings and varves.

Fourth graders explore landscapes. In this landscape lesson, 4th graders investigate different elements of landscapes. Students design a visual presentation using photographs taken during a nature walk.

Students explore ocean biology by participating in a plant growing activity. In this seaweed activity, students identify the importance and uses of seaweed in the ocean and examine different seaweed samples. Students utilize an aquarium,...

Young scholars gather data about the 1906 and 1989 earthquakes, make comparisons between the two, and determine the factors that influence the amount of shaking that occurs in an area due to an earthquake. They identify that the...

Students examine the mineral pyrite and discover the differences between it and gold.  In this mineral activity students identify minerals using their common properties.

Learners visit the Caldecott Tunnel. They examine dark brown basalt and the gray-green sedimentary rocks and draw picture of the rock layers in the cliff face. In addition, they write a short paragraph describing what you observe about...

Students study the components of a bedrock geology map through a hands-on activity involving a cookie and graph paper.

Students are introduced to the various types of sedimentation. In groups, they define the term and research what causes it to happen. They compare and contrast the different types of sedimentation and research how it occurs off of Cape...

Middle schoolers explore what is present below the surface in order to drill into the ground and record the type of material that the drill brings to the surface. They discuss the benefits and drawbacks of distance communications. ...

Students study various types of glaciers and the landforms they create. Working in pairs, they research a type of glacial landform and construct a calendar page illustrating and describing it. The pages be compiled to create a class...

Learners explore process of live collection of insects and spiders using sweep nets, aerial nets, and beating sheets. they collect, examine and release several different types of insects or spiders then compare their journal drawing of...

Students analyze cross-sections of geologic events. In this geology instructional activity, students identify the type of environment where the cross-section come from. They take a quiz at the end of the instructional activity.

Students study the different soil types and describe the different soils in various environments.  In this soil lesson students walk to a reserve and discuss what they saw. 

Learners minerals and how they form. They investigate the classification of minerals according to physical properties. Students watch a video about mineral characteristics. In groups, learners participate in hands-on activities and...

Students create a book about the process of a dinosaur becoming a fossil.  For this earth science lesson, students are taught about fossils and create a book that tells what happened to a dinosaur's bones after they die.

Students explore mechanical and chemical weathering at stations. They articulate some mechanisms of chemical and mechanical weathering through exploration in a lab. Students stations describe how chemical weathering differs from...

Students engage in a lesson in which volcanoes be explored and examined. After watching a video, students create volcanoes out of clay.

Students explain how moon phases occur. They describe and explain at least two common misconceptions that people have about the moon. Students explain what a star is. They explain 3 ways that the night sky has been used throughout history.

Fourth graders learn how to classify animals. In this invertebrates lesson, 4th graders discuss how we classify thinks into groups and move into a discussion about classifying animals. Students learn about the differences between...