Students explore Earth science by participating in a compost activity in class. In this worm lesson, students discuss the importance of worms in the creation of plants. Students cut out pieces from a print out to assemble a paper worm in...

Students define soil, dirt, clay, silt, and sand. They conduct an online scavenger hunt, answer pre-written online questions on a piece of paper, and play the Earth Materials Game after completing the scavenger hunt.

Students investigate botany by creating a soil separating device.  In this plant life activity, students identify the needs of plants and how important the right soil is in the growing process.  Students define different soil...

Students examine soil. In this science lesson, students examine the layers of soil. Students collect soil from various locations and separate the layers. Students record and chart their findings.

Fourth graders investigate the impacts of erosion. In this Science instructional activity, 4th graders determine connections between plants and soil erosion. Students examine the historical implications of erosion.

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.

Students identify the differences in local soil types and the relationship between soil size and water retention. They are introduced to microenvironmental conditions in ecosystem sustainability.

Students complete several plant life activities. In this botany lesson, students practice painting images that resemble plants they are familiar with as well as planting seeds outside of class. Students participate in a dramatic...

Students experiment to show rain drop splash and splash erosion. In this erosion instructional activity, students complete 3 experiments showing splash erosion and methods for controlling soil erosion. They complete a number of...

Students investigate the different materials in their environment.  In this geology lesson, students collaborate in groups to examine the differences in sand, soil and gravel.  Students utilize a magnifying glass or microscope...

Students conduct experiments demonstrating soil erosion and the benefits of conservation practices. Working in groups, they use topsoil and sand in shallow boxes as models to examine the effects of water on soil and sand with and without...

First graders grow radishes. In this Science lesson, 1st graders observe the growth of radishes in both the light and dark. Students discuss what plants need to live.

Middle schoolers examine the importance of details in evidence gathering, as well as the relationship between chemistry, physics and biology.  For this forensics lesson students divide into groups and look at fingerprints and fill...

Students build mine-earthworm habitats to discover their niche in them. They make predictions about what the niche looks like in a week and draw a picture of it. Students notice the tunnels in the soil and how the sand and dirt are now...

First graders listen to the book The Story of Sand and make predictions about an investigation based on soil, sand, and silt. In this sand lesson, 1st graders work in groups to discuss their observations about sand and answer higher...

Sixth graders experiment with different ways to test an apple for ripeness. In this apple harvesting lesson plan, 6th graders conduct three different experiments to test apples for ripeness and carry-out four additional activities...

Groups create splashboards and use them to perform a series of experiments to determine the effect of rain on erosion.

Students review the concept of respect and that they should respect, not only themselves, but those around them. They comment on some example pictures in which the environment is NOT being respected and decide what should have been done...

Students describe and compare the layers of the atmosphere. They explain how to measure the temperature of the atmosphere. They also explain what causes the atmosphere to heat up in some places more than in others.

Students create their own landfill where they observe materials that will and won't biodegrade. In this biodegrading instructional activity, students discuss the concept of a landfill and what materials biodegrade into soil and which...

Students inspect soil erosion. In this soil erosion lesson, students examine the causes of soil erosion and discover ways to conserve the landscape.

Plants need food to survive, just like any other living organism. Young biologists analyze an experiment performed in 1610 by Jan van Helmont to determine if plant nutrition is obtained through the soil. First, lab groups work together...

Young scholars demonstrate how to plant seeds. In this gardening lesson, students read the book The Tiny Seed and identify the steps to planting a seed. Young scholars plant their own lima bean seeds in plastic cups and watch it grow.