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Sediment Sleuths
Are you looking for a good, solid lesson on sedimentary rocks? This one, produced by the Illinois State Museum, is just such a lesson. Middle schoolers identify common rocks and minerals by analyzing sediments from local water sources....
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Forecasting the Path of Mudflows
Students watch a demonstration to introduce them to the consistency of mudflows and how they move. In groups, they compare and contrast volcanic avalanches and mudflows. They create their own model of a volcano, simulate how it erupts...
Columbus City Schools
Constructive and Destructive Geologic Processes
Show the class the world as they've never seen it before—from way above! Learners try to unravel the mysteries presented by rich satellite imagery, learn to interpret topographic maps, and study erosion by constructing their very...
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Rocks and Minerals
Review the difference between rocks and minerals using this resource. Learners identify and investigate the physical properties of these objects. They create a Venn diagram to compare and contrast types of rocks. This is a motivating way...
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Lesson 4: Fire, Rock, and Water
You can demonstrate the destructive force of volcanic mudflows to your early earth scientists using this lesson plan. Messy, but memorable, the two demonstrations require some preparation. Use one or both! Included is a link to activity...
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Two Rivers Ran Through It
Sixth graders discover the problems that early Mesototamian farmers faced while developing agriculture in the land between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. They design a working model that solves those unique challenges.
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Volcanoes!: Forecasting the Path of Mudflows
Students construct a mockup of a volcano by crumbling up newspapers and piling them into the shape of a volcano. They place a tarp over the newspapers making sure the tarp is large enough to simulate a flat area at the volcano's base....
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Gliding Glaciers
Learners are introduced to the concept of glaciers. They discover how glaciers move and what types of landforms are formed by glaciers.
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"What If The Earth Were Made Of Sand
High schoolers examine the most common characteristics of clay and sand, and to understand how the properties of these materials affect the erosion of the landscape and the formation of the many landforms. They explore clay and sand...
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Determination of Water Hardness
Students investigate water hardness. In this water hardness lesson plan, students determine the water hardness in 4 samples of water after buffering each. By using titration and an indicator, students can determine the amount of calcium...
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Soil Runoff Challenge
Learners find ways to decrease soil runoff for an African Village as a part of a Peace Corps project. In this soil runoff lesson plan, students play a soil runoff challenge online. Learners complete online activities and view a slide...
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Air, Air Everywhere! Lesson 2: Acid Rain
Middle school environmentalists record the pH of four different liquids, including two aerosol cleaning products. They liken the products to acid rain and speculate in writing which might affect the human respiratory system. Although...
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The Ocean Floor and Shore Zones
Make textbook reading more engaging using this reading activities worksheet, through which scholars review major features found on the ocean floor and the processes that formed these features. They complete 11 terms in a crossword...
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Geologic Age
Students investigate radioactivity as a tool for measuring geologic time and how geologists use this information to determine the absolute age of rocks or minerals.
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Animal Signs
Young scholars discuss the many different types of animal signs that can be used to identify and track animals. They participate in an hands-on activity in which they examine tracks, trails, homes, territory markings, and even "scat"...
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River System
Fifth graders explore the parts of a river system and understand the importance of each part. In this river system activity, 5th graders diagram a river system and write a paragraph explaining its parts.
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Mosquito Life Cycles
Students gather mosquito eggs to record the mosquito life cycle using drawings, descriptions, and any other appropriate means. In small groups, they analyze and describe the process of complete metamorphosis. They classify mosquitoes...
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Geologic History of Long Island Sound
In this geologic history of Long Island Sound worksheet, students read about how the Long Island sound was formed through rivers and glaciers advancing and retreating. Students answer 5 questions about the reading and the formation of...
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Mud Fossils
Young scholars observe real fossils. In this science instructional activity, students make their own mud fossils by pressing material into the mud and letting it dry in the sun for 3-4 days. Young scholars then get the fossils...
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How Banks Create Money
Students participate in a simulation game to discover the role of banks in creating checkbook money through lending practices. They play a lending and borrowing game and use a money multipiler equation to solve problems associated with...
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Days of '49: "I've Been Toiling Hard for the Last Two And a Half Years"
Young scholars trace the stages of gold mining in California. They discuss the life of a gold miner and how the discovery of gold influenced towns and cities in California during the 1949 Gold Rush.
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Sediment Sleuths
Students classify sediments based on their physical characteristics, such as size, shape and color. They identify and describe rocks and minerals that are common to their region of the state.
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Dark and Beautiful Caves
Students research how caves form. They describe the major stone formations in caves by taking notes. They construct a clay model of a cave and mark each formation making it easy to identify in the legend.
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Erosion: On the Move...Defending the Coast Against Wave Attack
Students study how people have tried to save beaches from wave erosion. They examine what has occurred to Cape Hatteras as a result of beach erosion and the efforts to reduce the erosion.