Curated OER
Dark and Beautiful Caves
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.
Curated OER
Ecology: Why Are Rice Fields Suitable Habitats for Birds?
Fifth graders discover the uses for rice by reading about the habitats of certain birds. In this agriculture lesson, 5th graders research birds from the Gulf Coast and California and their reasons for living in rice fields....
Curated OER
Minimize the Effects of Fire
Students explore environmental safety by reading assigned text in class. For this fires lesson, students discuss the benefits and negative aspects of lighting a fire near a campground. Students list other ways to avoid leaving an impact...
Curated OER
WALK, DON'T RUN
1. Bring two quarts of moist soil, a cake pan, a sprinkling can of water and a quart of grass clippings to class.
2. Share background material, and introduce the word "erosion."
3. Prepare a small model hill by mounding the soil in the...
Curated OER
Crossword
In this crossword learning exercise that focuses on natural disasters, students find the vertical word in the colored squares by filling in the right words in ten lines in the horizontal boxes. Answers appear at the bottom of the...
Curated OER
Indiana Ice Investigations
Fourth graders create a model of the formation of Indiana by glaciers. Working in groups with appropriate materials, they create a model documenting how glaciers moved through the land and formed the geological structure and land masses...
Forest Foundation
The Sustainable Forest
As part of their examination of forest ecosystems, class members examine how foresters, biologists, botanists, geologists, and hydrologists work to together to develop a management plan for sustainable forests.
Curated OER
How I Use Water
Beginning with a brief anticipatory set on how water is commonly used, this presentation evolves into a well planned lesson on the water cycle. Students will discuss vocabulary, label the parts of the water cycle, locate where water is...
American Museum of Natural History
Finding Fossils
How does one go about finding fossils? Find out with an informative webpage that looks at the digging process, showcases rocks and common fossils, helpful tips, and a list of archeological do's and don'ts.
Curated OER
Earth's Land and Water
Students describe physical characteristics of bodies of water and landforms. In this land and water lesson plan, students model land and water with modeling clay and also discuss why people live near bodies of water.
Curated OER
Seas of Grass
High schoolers view a video clip about grasslands. They identify threats to grasslands and describe cultures which have adapted to grassland conditions. They discuss possible solutions to preserve grasslands as well.
Curated OER
Chalkboard Challenge: Science Vocabulary
Students play a Jeopary-style game in this engaging PowerPoint. The scientific categories are the solar system, planet, weather, cells, and rocks. These types of interactive games are an excellent way to reinforce the important...
Curated OER
Chalkboard Challenge: Science Vocabulary
Review science vocabulary with your students using this Jeopardy-style PowerPoint. Categories for this game include: Solar System, Plants, Weather, Cells, and Rocks. There are a total of 25 clues; five for each category.
Curated OER
Rocks: Mineral Mixtures
A 22-slide set provides pretty much everything you need to teach the rock cycle except the actual specimens. All of the slides contain graphics or photographs to help describe the process, and most even have links to educational videos....
Penguin Books
A Teacher’s Guide to the Penguin Edition of John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath
The dry Oklahoma landscape in America's Dust Bowl sent many farmers in search of the promised land. A teacher's guide to John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath discusses the characters' desire for a better home along with other themes...
Mr. E. Science
Weathering and Soil
From types of rocks to types of weathering, learners gain knowledge on minerals, composition of soil, and the effects of weathering on Earth.
American Museum of Natural History
Climate Change
It actually is possible to have too much of a good thing when it comes to climate change. A slide show lesson describes how burning fossil fuels contributes to climate change. Individuals read about the scientific process and the...
Curated OER
Three Main Rock Groups
Students are introduced to igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks. They use foods to demonstrate the basic formation of each type of rock, read books about rock formation and view related videos.
Curated OER
DON'T TREAD ON ME
Students explore how the habits and practices of people affect the soil and growth of plants. They are introduced to the phrase "soil compaction." Students play the Soil Particle Game in the related activities section. They go outside...
Curated OER
Biomes: Extreme Climate
Learners create a web connecting global warming, the Arctic, and wold climate. They write a paragraph explaining the role of the Arctic in world climate.
Curated OER
Extreme Climate
Middle schoolers discuss global warming, greenhouse effect, permafrost and other key words. In this climate lesson students create a web that connects global warming, the Arctic and world climate then write a paragraph explaining...
Curated OER
Bryce Canyon
In this reading comprehension activity, students read a one paragraph text about Bryce Canyon. Students answer one multiple choice question.
Curated OER
Tide Pool Discovery
First graders visit the Discovery Pool, where they use their senses to investigate the different tide pool species. They touch different species. Students describe how each one feels, and what they look like in words. They draw the...
Curated OER
Protecting Our Planet
Students examine the impact of pollution. In this pollution instructional activity, students watch Protecting Our Planet, then participate in a simulation of the effect of pollution on a variety of organisms.