Curated OER
Rocks and Minerals
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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Groundwater Movement
Students study groundwater movement beneath the surface of the Earth. In this agriculture activity, students experiment with how water moves through rock materials such as sand, gravel, and clay.
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A Rocky Situation
Second graders conduct experiments with rocks to observe weathering. They read books, examine websites and watch a video to examine how rocks break down into soil.
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COMPARE SOILS BY GROWING PLANTS
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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Soil Management
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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The Rock Cycle
Third graders study the 3 main types of rocks: igneous, sedimentary, metamorphic. They examine samples of these types of rocks and discuss ways to tell what kind of rock each is. They take notes and draw pictures in their science...
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Making a Cave
Students discuss caves. In this science lesson, students experiment with how dissolution, a chemical weathering process, leads to the formation of caves. Once the cave is finsihed students draw a picture or describe in writing what it...
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Landforms of Illinois
Fifth and sixth graders are introduced to the primary landforms of Illinois and discover how they were created. Landform cards are made for each pupil. They use the twenty-questions format until they have identified each one. Then,...
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Using Soil properties and Vegetation Differences to Hypothesize the Land Use History and Topographic Differences between Two Locations
Ninth graders take soil samples and perform tests on these samples.
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The Formation of Soil
Students identify the different components that make up soil. In this earth science lesson plan, students create a pamphlet for next year's class. They analyze how erosion and weathering shape the Earth.
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Take a Stab!
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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The Rotten Truth
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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Working Worms
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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Perkin' Through the Pores
Fourth graders explore different levels of soil. In this soil activity, 4th graders investigate the amount water that can be absorbed by topsoil, subsoil, and bedrock.
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What Land Works Best?
Fourth graders explore different types of land. In this land lesson, 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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Formation of Rain
Students sequence the steps leading to the formation of rain, and design a model to represent these steps. This task assesses students' abilities to classify, generalize, infer, interpret and communicate data, and construct a pictorial...
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Nonmetals
Students research about the chemical processes involved in cave formation. In this chemistry lesson, students draw or find a cave picture with stalagmites and stalactites online. They write a brief caption and share them with the class.
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Sinkholes in a Cup
Young scholars create sinkholes and learn about the formation of sinkholes by using water, a foam cup, sugar, sand, and a sponge. In this sinkholes lesson plan, students also answer short answer questions.
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Making Regolith
You may not be able to take a field trip to the moon, but that doesn't mean your class can't study moon rocks. Using graham crackers as the moon's bedrock and powdered donuts as micrometeorites, young scientists simulate the creation of...
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I Can Find that Where? - A Study of Landforms
First graders make landform maps of the United States. In this landform lessons, 1st graders participate in a discussion of local landforms and make a landform map of the United States. They follow the teacher's directions to add plains,...
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Gliding Glaciers
Glaciers are the star of the show in this Earth science lesson. In it, learners gain an understanding of how glaciers are formed, how they move, and what types of landforms they create. This lesson plan is written in the classic format,...
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"What If The Earth Were Made Of Sand
High schoolers examine the most common characteristics of clay and sand, and to understand how the properties of these materials affect the erosion of the landscape and the formation of the many landforms. They explore clay and sand...
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Mud in the Water
Learners build a soil erosion model to study the importance of soil conservation. They investigate how land forms from both constructive and destructive forces.
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Ride the Wild Leaf Cycle
Fourth graders explore plant life by completing an Internet activity. In this botany instructional activity, 4th graders identify the types of plants that grow locally and the different soils they utilize to survive. Students read...