Curated OER
The Formation of Coal
In this coal formation worksheet, students read and informational sheet about coal formation. Students are given 5 short-answer questions regarding what they've read.
Curated OER
Fossil Adventure
Students create a book about the process of a dinosaur becoming a fossil. In this earth science lesson plan, students are taught about fossils and create a book that tells what happened to a dinosaur's bones after they die.
Curated OER
Minerals and the Products of Mining
Learners plot where minerals come from and have an awareness of how mineral use makes the world interdependent. They examine how to identify some sort of mineral products they use each day.
Curated OER
Fossils and our Past (part 1 of 3)
Third graders investigate how some extinct organisms resemble organisms that are still alive today. They watch and discuss the Magic School Bus video about fossils, then create clay fossil imprints, matching the imprints to plaster of...
Curated OER
Be a "Fossil Detective" an Effective Tool in Earth Science Education
Students examine the geological time scale: the Earth is ancient; time can be divided into periods based on its fossil content.
Curated OER
Jargon
Eighth graders investigate the concept of jargon and how it is used in different contexts in relation to the study of vocabulary. They practice interpreting jargon by concentrating on the comprehension strategy of using context clues.
Curated OER
Creating Journals
Students take a virtual tour of Yosemite and selects photographs to use in their journal.
Curated OER
Nebraska's Geology, Soils, Groundwater Regions, and Topographic Regions
Students examine the distribution of geology, soils, groundwater, topography, and geography in Nebraska. They identify various regions and characteristics on a map, and develop a plan to manage the soil and groundwater resources of the...
Curated OER
Investigation 4 - Dinosaurs Tracks
Fourth graders make inferences and interpretations from sets of dinosaur tracks. They describe Utah fossils and how they were formed. Partners trade their sketches of tracks and try to guess which dinosaur it belonged to.
Curated OER
"Making a Good Impression"
Students are shown how fossils are formed and to learn how extinct organisms lived based on their remains and surroundings. They are shown TAKS review problems on the overhead related to evolution and fossil evidence. Students discuss...
Curated OER
Shake, Rattle & Roll
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.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Investigating Rocks: Seeing Your School's Area
In this earth science lab, students will find, identify, and create a visual presentation of the rocks that are found around their school. They will determine the mass, volume, density, color, texture, and hypothesize what each rock is....
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Rock Types Lab
A well-designed lesson on rocks where students first learn about how the three categories of rocks form (sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic), then must examine the features of different rock samples, and determine which category each...
Other
My Science Box: Crayon Rock Cycle
A great lesson plan that uses crayon shavings, aluminum foil, and hot water to introduce the three main types of rocks and the processes needed to form them. Included are the lesson objectives, vocabulary, and step-by-step procedures to...
Utah Education Network
Uen: How to Make a Rock
Activity introduces students to the concepts of igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic.
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Making & Breaking: The Rock Cycle
Students learn the components of the rock cycle and how rocks can change over time under the influence of weathering, erosion, pressure and heat. They learn about geotechnical engineering and the role these engineers play in the...
Utah Education Network
Uen: Classifying Rocks and Minerals
Fourth graders identify rock types by observing key characteristics.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Earth History: Crayon Rock Cycle
Introduce to the students the three main types of rocks and the processes that form them. Wax crayons are eroded into sediment, compacted into sedimentary rock, partially melted and pressed into metamorphic rock, and finally melted and...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Rock Solid
Rocks cover the earth's surface, including what is below or near human-made structures. With rocks everywhere, breaking rocks can be hazardous and potentially disastrous to people. Students are introduced to three types of material...
Alabama Learning Exchange
Alex: Rock Steady
Students use their knowledge of the rock cycle to write a story about a pet rock. The story must include the rock changing from magma, to each type of rock igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic. The story should end with the pet rock...
American Geosciences Institute
American Geosciences Institute: Earth Science Week: The Human Rock Cycle
Pupils act out a type of rock, igneous, sedimentary, or metamorphic, for others to guess.
Utah Education Network
Uen: Mineral Magic
Classify rocks and minerals according to their characteristics.
Other
Caterpillar: Ground Rules: Mining Right for a Sustainable Future [Pdf]
This set of lesson plans was developed to accompany Ground Rules: Mining Right for a Sustainable Future, a documentary film created by Caterpillar and Science North. They introduce students to the various phases involved in mining,...
ArtsNow
Arts Now Learning: Rocky Movement [Pdf]
In this lesson, 3rd graders will investigate the three types of rocks and personify the formation of each type with movement.