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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Making a Soil Separator

For Teachers 1st - 5th
Young scholars investigate botany by creating a soil separating device.  In this plant life lesson, students identify the needs of plants and how important the right soil is in the growing process.  Young scholars define different soil...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Soil Management

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders examine different opinions on soil management. In this soil management lesson, 4th graders use a variety of resources to research how agriculture and the environment are related. They investigate cause and effect...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mohs Hardness Test

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders listen as they are told about another way to classify rocks; by their hardness. They observe the Mohs Hardness Test overhead, discover how the test works, and then use materials such as pennies, butter knives, nails, and...
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Lesson Plan
Science Friday

How Boulders Are Born

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Want your class to rock? Then try this boulder activity. Pupils learn about a specific boulder field and use edible materials to demonstrate the geological processes that formed this unique feature. Weathering, erosion, and mass wasting...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rocks and Minerals

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students are able to describe earth processes (e.g., rusting, weathering, erosion) that have affected selected physical features in students, neighborhoods. They are able to identify various earth structures (e.g., mountains, faults,...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Computer Lab Lesson Plan - Science

For Teachers 7th - 10th
Learners examine rocks and minerals. Using the internet, students research rocks and how they are formed. They use word processing software to list minerals and materials that form specific rocks.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

When Disaster Strikes! Rocks, Minerals, Erosion and Weather

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students pretend the area they live in is subject to wind, waves and rain. In groups, they pretend they are a groups of meteorologists or geologists and are to report on the weather and damage that could occur there. Each group develops...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Erosion And the Cycling of Rocks And Minerals

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers investigate the concept of erosion by water in a problem solving activity. In small groups, they are assigned either sand, potting soil or rocks to construct a mountain that will hold up to a sprinkler can of water...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Soil Analysis

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students examine zip lock bags of clay, silt, and sand to determine its origin. They rotate through stations to compare different soils and perform oil separation and Tullgren funnel tests.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Formation of Soil

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Young scholars identify the different components that make up soil. In this earth science lesson, students create a pamphlet for next year's class. They analyze how erosion and weathering shape the Earth.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How to Recycle a Rock

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders explore the rock cycle and explore how rocks are made, changed, destroyed and recreated. They create representations of these processes with hands-on activities.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Take a Stab!

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Your geology class practices taking core samples of a potato to examine the stratigraphy. This is a terrific modeling lesson that helps youngsters visualize strata that cannot be seen from the surface of the ground. The directions...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

This Mine of Mine

For Teachers K - 4th
Young scholars explore natural resources by conducting a geology experiment in class. In this mineral mining lesson, students discuss the types of geological material that can be found when mining and the uses for these resources such as...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Rotten Truth

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders investigate compost. In this Science lesson, 4th graders take notes on the components of soil and its relation to plant growth. Students describe the steps in making compost.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Working Worms

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders examine earthworms. In this earthworm lesson, 4th graders investigate how earthworms help prepare soil for planting. Students examine other living and nonliving elements in a garden habitat.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Glacial Geocaching

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders measure strike and dip of given land features and explain the difference between them. They also look at rock and mineral samples for indentification, along with calculating the density. Finally, information is analyzed...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Shake, Rattle & Roll

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Students examine soil. In this science lesson, students examine the layers of soil. Students collect soil from various locations and separate the layers. Students record and chart their findings.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What Land Works Best?

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders explore different types of land. In this land activity, 4th graders investigate how water, climate, and soil type determine what types of crops may be grown. Students discover these elements while playing an interactive game.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

COMPARE SOILS BY GROWING PLANTS

For Teachers 6th - 8th
The student will identify the difference in the rate of plant growth in three soils that vary in organic matter.1. Obtain three to four flowerpots, different types of soil, a record chart, three to five beans for each pot, and water....
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Under Our Feet

For Teachers 1st - 2nd
Students investigate the forest ecosystem to learn of the living and non-living elements of the soil. In this ecosystem instructional activity, students examine soil for twigs, moss, fungi, leaves, roots and other matter.   Students...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Shake, Rattle and Roll

For Teachers K - 4th
Students compare the weathering of different-sized materials. Comparisons are made and data analyzed to reach conclusions about the process of weathering. Applications can be made for the higher grades.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ride the Wild Leaf Cycle

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders explore plant life by completing an Internet activity. For this botany lesson, 4th graders identify the types of plants that grow locally and the different soils they utilize to survive. Students read assigned text about...
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Lesson Plan
California Academy of Science

Discovering Rainforest Locations

For Teachers 4th - 8th Standards
How many rainforests are there, where are they, and do global factors effect their locations? These are great questions that have great answers. Children in grades four through eight use several different maps to determine why...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Museum Adventure WebQuest

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students discover the background and properties of minerals. They examine fluorite and record data after testing it. They use the internet to help them discover information about minerals.