Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Put It to the Test

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Young scholars identify different types of rock and sediments and how they react to acid through experimentation. Students use knowledge gained in thr experiment to identify types of rocks. Young scholars create data tables for accuracy...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Making a Soil Separator

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

Investigation 3 - Weathering

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders study 4 types of weather processes: wind, running water, plant growth, and freezing water. They explain how the processes of weathering and erosion change and move materials that become soil. They draw diagrams...
Lesson Plan
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Fieldwork: Horizons Under Ground: Digging Through Wetland Soil

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students study the different soil types and describe the different soils in various environments.  In this soil lesson students walk to a reserve and discuss what they saw. 
Lesson Plan
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Homes for Hermit Crabs

For Teachers K - 4th
Young scholars discover the differences between hermit crabs and mollusks and identify their parts. After reading a story about hermit crabs, they complete an anatomy worksheet. For another activity, students fold and cut a diagram of a...
Lesson Plan
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Regolith Formation

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Learners study what regolith is and how it contrasts with weathering on Earth.  In this weathering lesson students divide into groups, hypothesize and confirm their guesses. 
Lesson Plan
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Not Just For A Baby's Bottom

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders investigate the presence of talc in the geologic record. The different characteristics of talc is covered. The lesson includes background information for the teacher.
Lesson Plan
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Exploring Meteorite Mysteries: Building Blocks of Planets

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students simulate the formation of chondrites and asteroids. In this astronomy lesson, students demonstrate accretion using balloons and static electricity. They compare and contrast their models to the actual process of chondrites and...
Lesson Plan
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Changes Inside Planets

For Teachers 6th - 11th
Students relate meteorites to the mantle and crust of asteroids.  In this planetary lesson students complete experiments to model the separation of light.
Lesson Plan
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Soil pH Effect on Germination of Specific Weeds

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students collect weed seeds from three varieties of weeds (knapweed, thistle, or toadflax, for example they may choose others in addition to the spotted knapweed.) They sterilize soil for thirty containers, plant seeds in sterile soil,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Patterns in Nature

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Students examine places in nature where patterns can be observed by looking through a number of books after watching a teacher PowerPoint presentation. They illustrate a pattern in nature.
Lesson Plan
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How Old Is Mike?

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students examine the absolute dating of fossils, they use a list of names and ages to determine the difference between relative age and absolute age. They explore the relative age and absolute age of people and of fossils.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Volcanic Activity in the U.S.

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students locate and map ten volcanoes in United States, create chart comparing volcanoes by last eruption, type of volcano, location, and interesting fact, and create Powerpoint slide show describing basic information about volcanoes and...
Lesson Plan
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Acid Rain

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students understand the dynamics of acid rain and its impact on the living and non-living environment. They hypothesize how acid rain affects water pH levels in two lake systems with differing watershed features.
Lesson Plan
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Soil in My Food Web

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders understand the importance of soil to the food web.  In this food web lesson, 4th graders create various food webs beginning with soil using yarn and name cards.  Students write about the importance of soil to one...
Lesson Plan
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Glacial Striation Investigation

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students operate a GPS unit to investigate the direction of glacier movement. They describe the motion of glacier movement by interpreting a graph. Students explain how scientists use glacier striations to determine glacier movement.
Lesson Plan
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Adaptations

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders identify plant adaptations. In this adaptations instructional activity, 6th graders use digital cameras to photograph plants found on their campus. Students describe the adaptations for each plant.
Lesson Plan
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Layers Of The Earth

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students examine the layers of the earth and the basic composition and thickness of each. Using construction paper, each student models the layers of the earth.
Lesson Plan
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Mineral Munch

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders investigate sodium content in the foods that they eat.
Lesson Plan
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What is in Soil?

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders identify and examine the components that make up soil. Individually, they use a magnifying glass to identify the organic and inorganic material in their soil sample. To end the lesson, they record the differences in the...
Lesson Plan
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Gold Mine

For Teachers 4th - 12th
Students investigate gold. In this gold panning lesson, students demonstrate the process of mining through an experiment using two boxes of sand. Students design a safe way to mine gold.
Lesson Plan
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Soil Profile

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders research soil layers and create a soil profile in a jar.  In this soil profile lesson, 4th graders working in groups, research a given layer of soil, make a 3-5 minute presentation to the class, and complete a...
Lesson Plan
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Exploring Hawaii's Beaches

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders  search the shore and find objects on the beaches of Hawaii.  In this exploring Hawaii's beaches lesson, 4th graders play "I Spy" with objected collected at the beach.  Students compare biotic and abiotic...
Lesson Plan
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Skeletal System

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders explore the functions of the skeletal system. They collaborate in small groups to determine the function of the skeletal system, the types of joints and movement, bone strength and growth, and bone injuries including...