Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Secrets to Healthy Soil

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders explore needed mineral nutrients for healthy soil. In this soil lesson, 4th graders investigate how living and nonliving elements combine to contribute to fertile soil development.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Worming Your Way Through the Soil

For Teachers K - 5th
Students study soil, living and non-living particles in the soil, and learn about composting. In this soil study lesson, students study soil samples and discuss the living and non-living components of the soil. Students classify the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

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...
Organizer
Curated OER

Soil and Volcanoes

For Students 7th - 8th
In this soil and volcano worksheet, students read information about soil and volcanoes and answer questions provided. Students also build model of a volcano and participate in soil activities.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Soil Isn't a Dirty Word

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Students investigate the properties of rocks. In this geology lesson, students draw their profile and discuss what a soil profile would look like. Additionally, students demonstrate how to make soil by rubbing two pieces of sandstone...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Soil and Agriculture:Lesson 3 - Soil Erosion

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners reseach the different types of soil erosion and ways to control it in this series of activities.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Soil Formation

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders investigate how soil is formed. They analyze types of soil samples, examine soil using a magnifying glass or microscope, complete a chart, conduct a soil and plant experiment, and construct a soil profile.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Exploring Uses of Rocks and Minerals

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students explore the uses of rocks and minerals. They make observations to identify objects from the present and past are made out of rocks.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Vertebrate History in Rocks

For Teachers 4th - 6th
In this reading comprehension worksheet, students read the noted section in their science textbooks and respond to 4 short answer and 3 fill in the blank questions regarding fossils embedded in rock formations.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Making Sedimentary Rocks

For Teachers 5th - 9th
Students make models of sedimentary rock layers to explain how rocks form layers and represent ancient environments. Layers of sediment and fossils are added together to simulate the environment and connections to sedimentary rocks are...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sedimentary Rocks

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students discover how sedimentary rocks form. They identify different examples of sedimentary rocks. They also discover what types of rocks are in Illinois soil.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Curricular Correlations

For Teachers 3rd
An interesting lesson plan on different types of soils is here for you. In it, learners discuss what soil is, and consider three piles of soil - clay, sand, and loam. During the rest of the lesson plan, third graders discover all sorts...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Old Is Illinois?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students use fossils found in rocks to determine the age of rock in Illinois. They use a chart to identify the fossils and then identify the periods of rock.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Groundwater Movement

For Teachers 4th - 9th
Students study groundwater movement beneath the surface of the Earth. In this agriculture lesson, students experiment with how water moves through rock materials such as sand, gravel, and clay.
Lesson Plan
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Erosion

For Teachers 4th
Young scientists identify erosion, explain the causes of erosion, and name some techniques that can slow the process of erosion. Learners are divided up into groups of four and perform a simulation of soil erosion in class. The...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Making Regolith

For Teachers 3rd - 6th Standards
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...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water Pollution

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders study the impact of human activity on water quality and on the ecosystems of Earth. After a discussion on the various ways that water can be polluted, groups of youngsters get together to figure out the best way to clean a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Field Research Project: Comparing the Parent Rock Material of the San Francisco Terranes With Local Soil Types

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students investigate rocks and minerals and take a field trip to sample soils. They analyze rocks and soil, research the geological terrenes of the topology of San Francisco, and produce a lab research report.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Different Minerals

For Teachers 7th - 9th
In this minerals worksheet, students read about the relationship between elements, rocks and minerals. They experiment using 6 different colored gumdrops to represent 6 common elements. Students construct gumdrop and toothpick models of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Bedrock Learning

For Teachers 6th - Higher Ed
Students test and identify soil and rock samples. In this rock and soil lesson, students video themselves gathering samples. Students test the samples and create graphs showing the results.
Worksheet
Curated OER

Man Made or Natural Rocks?

For Students 3rd - 6th
In this man made and natural rocks worksheet, students answer short answer questions and categories man made and natural rocks. Students complete 4 activities total.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Erosion

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders engage in some activities that will help them to identify erosion and explain the causes of erosion. They also look into ways that humans can slow the process of erosion in some cases. After a teacher-led demonstration,...
Handout
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

New England's Ground Water Resources

For Students 4th - 6th Standards
Learn all about where ground water is stored, how it moves, and how it is accessed in a detailed and thorough 10-page reading. Whether supplementing reading for an existing environmental or earth science course or providing background...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Gliding Glaciers

For Teachers 5th - 6th
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,...