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Landforms Slideshow
Students identify twelve different types of landforms, and create a slideshow about each landform that includes a title, pictures, definitions, conclusions and a reference page.
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Rock Cycle
Third graders identify various types of landforms of the United States. They discuss earth movements that produce geologic structures and landforms and define cycle as it relates to rocks and soil. They demonstrate the processes forming...
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Mexico: Introduction to History and Literature
Young scholars study the geography of Mexico (i.e. major cities, surrounding countries and bodies of water, mountain ranges, rivers, volcanoes), They take turns reading aloud information provided (xerox copies) about Mexico. After each...
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Worksheet 3 Vocabulary Review: Words That Mean the Same
For this synonyms worksheet, students read 10 sentences and analyze the word in bold type. From two choices, students circle the letter of a word or phrase that means the same.
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Aerosol Science
In this aerosol activity, learners are given data for volcanic eruptions and the average temperatures of the Earth. They determine the change in temperature from the year of the eruption to the present year and use the means to determine...
Science Matters
Earthquake Waves: Wave Notes
A multi-part lesson opens with a review of p waves and s waves. Then scholars use a simple s wave simulator to view the way the wave travels. Next, pupils use cups and various fluids to simulate p waves moving through different...
Science Matters
Wattsville and Mercalli Booklet
There has been an earthquake! Can you listen to the description of damage given by callers in order to determine the epicenter? The 11th of 20 lessons has pupils read a script of one emergency caller. The class records the information on...
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Lights, Camera, Action!
Students add various types of multimedia to a website they have created about volcanoes. They review what would best enhance their website and determine what the value and cost be in adding that particular piece of multimedia.
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Rock Families
Students study the three types of rock characteristics; igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic. They are divided into three groups and each group takes one of the rock characteristics. They then act out the characteristics of their rock...
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Observing, Describing, And Identifying Contrails
Students compare the three types of contrails that are produced by aircraft exhaust. They examine pictures of contrails on the internet to classify each as short lived, persistent or persistent spreading. They then sketch examples in...
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Guatemala
Fifth graders explore what types of projects the Peace Corp is doing to help Guatemala.
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About to Explode
Students explore Mount St. Helens' quiet eruption of 2004-2005. They examine different types of eruptions and then present creative first-hand accounts of different volcanic eruptions in history.
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Water 1: Water and Ice
Students explore the states of water. In this science lesson plan, students use observation, measurement, and communication skills to describe water as it changes from a solid to a liquid.
Science Matters
Slip Sliding Along
The San Andreas Fault is the largest earthquake-producing fault in California. In the seventh lesson plan in the 20 part series, pupils create maps of California, focusing on the San Andreas Fault system. The comparison of where...
Science Matters
Fault Formations
The San Andreas Fault moves about two inches a year, approximately the same rate fingernails grow—crazy! The third lesson in the series allows for hands-on exploration of various fault formations. Through the use of a Popsicle stick,...
Science Matters
Spaghetti Fault Model
Does increasing the pressure between two moving plates provide a stabilizing force or create more destruction? The hands-on activity encourages exploration of strike-split fault models. The sixth activity in a 20-part series asks...
Science Matters
Finding the Epicenter
The epicenter is the point on the ground above the initial point of rupture. The 10th instructional activity in a series of 20 encourages scholars to learn to triangulate the epicenter of an earthquake based on the arrival times of...
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Social Studies: Exploring Japan
Fourth graders examine the culture and environment of Japan, beginning with a KWL chart. They use clay and cups of water to construct representations of the Japanese Islands. After designing flags representing farming and food, 4th...
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Mean Meadian and Mode
Young scholars apply central tendencies to given data. In this statistics lesson, students calculate the mean, median, and mode as it relates to their data. They collect data and graph it while identifying the way the numbers are ordered.
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Look at Those Leaves!
Students observe leaves. In this math and science cross-curriculum leaf lesson, students take a nature walk and collect leaves. Attributes are assigned and leaves are sorted in various ways. Students use non-standard or standard units of...
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School Site Ecosystem
Fourth graders are introduced to the concept of ecosystem; specifically, the interrelationships among plants and animals within an ecosystem, and their relationships to the environment in which they live and interact.
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A Model of the Sea-floor
Students create a paper model to illustrate sea-floor spreading.
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Iceland
Fourth graders discover the country of Iceland. They investigate Iceland's history, culture, and geography using hands-on materials. They engage in a multi-day lesson. Each day focuses on a different aspect of Iceland. A most-impressive...
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Earthquakes: Third Grade Lesson Plans and Activities
Introduce third graders to energy waves with a hands-on geology activity, in which they answer questions and compare seismograms in the San Francisco Bay area. After a demonstration that shows how bigger waves indicate a...