Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Continental Drift

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students simulate convection waves using a model. In this earth science instructional activity, students explain the effect of plate movements to Earth's geography. They use the internet to find answers to graphic organizer questions.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Earth Movers

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers read an online article about an earthquake and follow up with a series of discussion questions about earthquakes. They answer questions in their science journals about continental drift, plate tetonics, and their...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ecology And the Conservation of Natural Resources

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students study Alfred Wegener's theory of continental drift and how the continents were connected in one large land mass called Pangaea. They examine plate tectonics and the theory that the earth's surface is composed of large moving...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Moving Continents from Pangaea to the Future

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders examine how the movements of the Earth contribute to fossil distribution.  In this fossils lesson students make maps of the placement of the continents. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Frogs Frogs Frogs

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students view a disk on the continental movement and analyze the given data on fossils, rock types and climate zones. In this geology lesson students draw a diagram of the earths layers, take a quiz complete a PowerPoint presentation.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Earthquakes And Volcanoes

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students investigate the concept of plate tectonics through focusing a research study upon the occurrence of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. They find information that is used for class discussion. Students complete a mapping of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Journey Through Earth

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students study plate tectonics.  In this plate tectonics lesson students build a cutaway scale model of the Earth. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Hydrothermal Adventure

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Learners analyze hydrothermal vents. In this hydrothermal vents lesson, students discover the effects of hydrothermal vents on tectonic plates. Learners make model hydrothermal vents to understand how they form and operate.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Creepy!

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Pupils observe and measure a model of slow down slope movement.  In this graphing lesson students collect, record, and organize data that apply to models.   
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Astronomy: Earth/Moon

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Students investigate the Earth and the Moon. They select activities from a menu of options including viewing videos, drawing magnetic fields and plate tectonics, creating vocabulary flashcards, observing the phases of the moon over a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Earthquakes- An Introduction

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders investigate the concepts related to creating an understanding of how earthquakes occur. They participate in a variety of activities that are tied to each other and focus upon the principle of plate tectonics. Then students...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Our Ever Changing Earth

For Teachers 1st
First graders study ways in which the earth changes due to erosion and weathering in this series of lessons.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Cruising the Mantle

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Learners explore the plate boundaries of the earth. Through the use of video, internet and hands-on activities, students examine the types of plate boundaries. They create a model to illustrate the movement and interaction of the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Making Waves: A Study of Earthquakes and Tsunami

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students examine plate tectonics and the causative effect of earthquakes.  In this tectonics lesson students differentiate between the types of energy waves that cause earthquakes and tsunamis and how waves travel at different...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Molecular Movement in Water Part 1- Diffusion

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students obseve and compare molecular movement within water at various temperatures and of varying salinity. They discuss the movement of water on a larger scale which can affect the movement and concentrations of microbial populations...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Living or Non-Living

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students examine living and non-living things. In this life science lesson, students are given a group of objects and discuss if they are living or non-living. Students identify and list characteristics of living things.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Molecular Forces at Work: Creating Soap Bubbles

For Teachers 7th - 10th
Students investigate adhesion, cohesion and surface tension. For this molecular forces lesson plan, students observe multiple demonstrations that show surface tension, the attraction of water molecules to each other and the ability of...
Lesson Plan
California Academy of Science

Measuring Earthquakes

For Teachers 4th - 8th
After a brief discussion on earthquakes, make a makeshift seismograph to record the shaking of the table that it sits upon. While the background information will be useful to you as a teacher, the seismograph does not seem like it would...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Faulty Movement

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students discover the faults throughout the Earth. They describe the different types of faults and how they are related to earthquakes. They build models of the faults.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Pass the Plate

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Young scholars define constructive forces. They describe how landforms are created as a result of constructive forces. Students recognize active volcano areas in the United States. They demonstrate an understanding of Panagea.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Earth System Science

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students explore the Earth and its ability to support life. They discuss the geosphere and the water cycle and complete the Water Wonders activity. After completing the activity, they respond in their journals and reflect upon the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Earth Science: The Structure of the Earth

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Students identify and complete activities about the structure of the Earth. For this Earth structure lesson, students view a Powerpoint about the Earth's layers and complete a diagram. students compare temperatures in the Earth's layers...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Model of the Sea-floor

For Teachers 5th - 9th
Students create a paper model to illustrate sea-floor spreading.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Drifting Continents, Dynamic Results

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Pupils plot earthquake and volcano data using a Compass Rose Plotting. They explain the relationship between plate movement and connection. They draw conclusions that earthquakes and volcanoes occur in predictable locations.