Curated OER
Earth Science: The Sun-Earth Relationship
Students examine the sun's impact on the Earth. They read online articles, explore various websites, and answer questions using information found on the Internet.
Curated OER
The Earth's Surface
Learners identify the characteristics of places. In this communities lesson, students discuss what they observe when they travel and construct a list of places in their neighborhood. Learners use a Landscape Picture Map to circle...
Curated OER
Layers of the Earth (Crust, Mantle, Inner and Outer Cores)
Students study the layers of the Earth. In this Earth's crust instructional activity students complete an activity, divide into groups and diagram and define given terms.
Curated OER
"Mother Earth" -- Past
Young scholars examine our connection to the Earth. They identify how Native Americans believed in a "Mother Earth". They discover how the earth and life are connected.
Curated OER
What Part of the Earth's Surface is Covered by Oceans?
Third graders investigate oceans. In this Earth science lesson, 3rd graders predict how much of the Earth's surface is covered by oceans. Students determine if their predictions are accurate by throwing a globe to...
Curated OER
The Earth is Tilted, What Does that Mean?
Students examine the tilt in the Earth's revolution around the sun. Using that information, they draw a picture and label the indirect and direct rays of the sun. In groups, they answer discussion questions and complete an assessment...
Curated OER
Description of Materials for Parts of a Fossil Lesson Plan
Pupils study fossils. In this fossils lesson plan, students discuss and study real fossils. Pupils color in pictures of fossils and their sections. Students then identify fossil picture parts and names. Pupils write definitions for...
Curated OER
Making the World A More Beautiful Place: Earth Day
Students study ways to take care of the environment as part of an Earth Day activity. In this environment lesson plan, student listen to a read aloud of Barbara Cooney's, Miss Rumphius, before discussing how she works alone but is part...
Curated OER
Talking Trees: Earth Day
Students complete a tree poster activity to learn about Earth Day, stewardship, and the environment. In this environmental stewardship instructional activity, students read The Story of the Tree and discuss stewardship with trees....
Teachers' Curriculum Instituted
The Roman Record
Using Google Earth, Google Docs, and other Google Tools, collaborative groups of seventh graders research and then create and share online newspapers reporting on the early development, geographical features, political issues, and...
Curated OER
The Geology of a Snicker’s Bar: Tectonic Plates
Students explore the layers of the Earth using a Snicker's bar. In this science instructional activity, students identify the parts of the Snicker's bar and identify which layer of the Earth the parts of the candy bar would represent....
Curated OER
Composting "The Right Mix"
Young scholars investigate the correct mix of material types for compost. In this composting lesson, students explore the correct amounts of different types of materials to create a compost heap. Young scholars then create a compost heap.
Curated OER
Investigating the Climate System - Clouds
Here is a fabulous lesson on the Earth's radiant energy system. This amazing, 31-page document is chock-full of great activities, worksheets, lab sheets, quizzes, rubrics, and assessments. Learners model and explain cloud formation,...
Curated OER
Connect the Spheres: Earth Systems Interactions
Is everything really connected? Take your class on a walk outside, where they will make observations and write them down on a worksheet. Once they are back in the classroom, learners will work to determine if and how things like birds,...
Association of American Geographers
Project GeoSTART
Investigate the fascinating, yet terrifying phenomenon of hurricanes from the safety of your classroom using this earth science unit. Focusing on developing young scientists' spacial thinking skills, these lessons engage...
Curated OER
Erosion in Different Soils
Fourth graders observe and identify the effects of weathering and geological activities. They take part in an excellent hands-on group activity called "Erosion Race," in which each group tries to simulate erosion of soil in the quickest...
PBS
Blow the Roof Off!
Blow the minds of young scientists with this collection of inquiry-based investigations. Based on a series of eight videos, these "hands-on, minds-on" science lessons engage young learners in exploring a wide range of topics...
Curated OER
Erosion
Students design and conduct an open-ended investigation using a variety of earth materials to answer a questions posed by the teacher: How does the erosion of sand compare with the erosion of gravel? After producing evidence that...
Curated OER
Sun and Earth
Students explore the sun, its structure, how big it is and how far away it is. In this solar system lesson students complete a lab activity on dew point and weather.
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Pollution Solutions: Earth Day
Eighth graders explore water pollution. In this stewardship lesson, 8th graders draw comparisons between potable and impaired waters. Students use the Learning Link website to examine ways people are fighting pollution and then design an...
Curated OER
Earth's Interior Minerals
Learners identify the layers of the Earth. They discover the properties and minerals in each layer. They answer questions about the minerals found to end the lesson.
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Living On Earth
Students discover the many different animals within various habitats and discover how each individual species interacts with its particular environment. Through charting different animals and their distinct habitat and matching animals...
Curated OER
Matter And Materials
Students investigate the concept of identifying different objects in nature and classifying them into different categories. The students will describe and explain a group of the objects orally and in writing form that is appropriate to...
Virginia Department of Education
Three Types of Rocks
Rock out with the second installment of a five-part series on earth materials and processes. Your budding geologists make observations of given rock samples and posit classification systems for rocks. They then learn about the...