Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Big Rocks, Little Rocks

For Teachers K - 1st
Students simulate the effects of erosion on rocks. Students smash cookies into smaller pieces to simulate how sandstone is created from larger rocks. Students hypothesize the types of things that could break up rocks and whether sand...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Watershed Components

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders examine the components of a watershed. They view overheads, discuss the hydrologic cycle, and observe a demonstration of a soil erosion box.
Lesson Plan
National Park Service

Glaciers and Water

For Teachers 4th - 8th Standards
Explore the amazing power of glaciers with a hands-on earth science experiment! After first learning basic background information, learners go on to create their very own chunks of frozen water and gravel in order to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Soils, Water and Erosion

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Young scholars participate in a hands-on experiment to compare how water and soil erosion affect soil and grass. They determine how slope affects erosion and how terracing affects erosion. They write a paragraph summarizing their data.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Soil Management

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

To Protect Your Streams, Protect Your Mountains

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Young scholars build and experiment with a watershed to understand the effects of pollution. In this movement of water lesson, students work in groups creating rock formations and change the viscosity of the liquids falling down the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water Cycle

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders investigate the water cycle. For this water cycle lesson, 2nd graders discover how the water cycle effects erosion and weathering. Students create their own terrariums to view the water cycle. Students illustrate their...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Erosion

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders study the effects of running water on erosion. They examine how the soil on the playground is affected by erosion and determine how the placement of trees and shrubs changes the path of erosion. In their science journals,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Erosion: Slip Sliding Away

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders investigate the causes of erosion. Through several demonstrations including one using sugar cubes and warm water, they observe the effects of erosion. In groups, 4th graders conduct similar experiments and record their...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Going...Going...

For Teachers 2nd - 9th
Students investigate equilibrium in erosion and deposition by predicting effects of moving water on soil; modeling an erosion simulation; observing results of a test; inferring causes and effects, and hypothesizing about erosion variables.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Erosion And the Cycling of Rocks And Minerals

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students 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 dripping on...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Erosion in Different Soils [Erosion Races]

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders review how erosion can happen by wind, water, and gravity which they studied in previous lesson plan. They attempt to discover if all soils erode at the same rate. In small groups, 4th graders experiment with three...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

LOSING GROUND

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Students will observe wind erosion and how crop residue prevents erosion.Point out the three kinds of fields to the students. Do as much or as little instruction as needed to explain the pan with crop residue. Conservation tillage...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Weathering and Erosion: Some Ways the Hydrosphere Affects the Geosphere

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Young scholars explain the causes of erosion, describe the effects of erosion, and devise a method of preventing erosion. They model the before-and-after-effects of erosion.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Playing in mud puddles

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners examine the effects of rainfall on different surfaces and discuss water pollution. They review the water cycle and the uses of water in daily lifestyles. Students discuss the effects of soil run off in streams and rivers.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Hold on Tight!

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students explore the close connection between plant roots and the soil in which they grow. They investigate the roots of plants, make models of plant roots using pipe cleaners, and examine photos and images to explore the connection...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Creating Sand Dunes

For Teachers 4th - 9th
Students explain how sand dunes are formed, the different circumstances that effect the movement of or formation of sand dunes, and relate the information gathered to soil conservation. In this sand dunes lesson, students use pans of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Best Management Practices for Water Quality

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders examine best management practices for water quality.  In this water quality instructional activity, 4th graders explore unused land to identify areas of runoff, erosion, and effects of water flow.  Students...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Pebbles Sand and Silt

For Teachers 1st
First graders investigate soil, sand and silt. For this environment lesson, 1st graders discuss how changes occur in the environment and the effects of weather. Students perform their own investigation and record their predictions,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Making & Breaking : The Rock Cycle

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students examine the rock cycle and how rocks can change over time.  For this geotechnical engineering lesson students draw a diagram of the rock cycle.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Environment: Erosion Boxes

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders discover how the processes of erosion and weathering alter the physical characteristics of the environment. In a student log,they record the various types of erosion and list ways to prevent it. Using clear, plastic...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Effects Of Weathering

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders simulate weathering and erosion using sand and soil. They define weathering and the ways in which surfaces become weathered. Working as a class, 3rd graders complete various activities that demonstrate physical and...
PPT
Curated OER

The Dust Bowl: An Economic and Environmental American Tragedy

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Many of us focus on the causes and effects of the Dust Bowl as it relates to people. Why not shift the focus of cause and effects to how the Dust Bowl affected the environment. Here is a different take on the tried-and-true Dust Bowl...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ecological Impact of Wood Extraction

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students explore their local environment by conducting a class experiment. In this deforestation lesson, students discuss the effects of wood harvesting on forests around the world and research environment related vocabulary terms....