Curated OER
Deadly Shadow of Vesuvius
Students view a video clip about volcanoes.  They collect data and create maps to see the relationship between volcanoes, earthquakes and plates.  They share their maps with the class.
Curated OER
Feeling Hot, Hot, Hot!
Young scholars study the different types of volcanoes and how they erupt.  In this volcano lesson plan students identify where volcanoes are most prevalent and options for predicting eruptions. 
Curated OER
Earthquakes: Fifth Grade Lesson Plans and Activities
After learning about P waves and S waves, fifth graders view the intensity of earthquakes by examining seismographs and images of earthquake damage. Young scientists then forecasting future quakes by analyzing data about...
American Museum of Natural History
What Do You Know About Earth?
Time to rock and roll! Young scientists test their knowledge about rocks found on Earth and what they tell scientists. A 10-question quiz focuses on the different types of rocks, how they are formed, and what they are made of.
Curated OER
What's for Dinner?
View a video presentation comparing chemosynthesis to photosynthesis. Review the findings of the 2004 Ring of Fire Expedition that studied biological communities around the hydrothermal vents of the Mariana Arc. In...
Curated OER
Earthquakes: Fourth Grade Lesson Plans and Activities
Examine earthquake intensities and ways to measure an earthquake through the comparison of the Mercalli and Richter scales. After completing the pre-lab worksheet, fourth graders compare high and low intensity quakes by testing...
Curated OER
The Changing Earth
Students explore the Earth's crust. In this earth science lesson, students participate in 2 activities that demonstrate physical and chemical weathering. Students also play Jeopardy with topics including volcanoes, earthquakes,...
Curated OER
The 50 States and its Holidays
Though the format of this ELL activity is confusing (the standards listed are for plate tectonics, yet the objectives are for American geography and holidays), a teacher could glean some ideas from the main idea. Here, pupils complete a...
Curated OER
What's the Difference?
Students discover how volcanic processes differ at convergent and divergent tectonic plate boundaries. They identify three geologic features that are associated with most volcanoes on Earth.
Curated OER
Explosive Ideas!
Students explore the layers of the Earth and the dynamic changes that they cause on Earth's surface. Volcanoes and earthquakes become the focus of the lesson as the Oregon State quarter and its Crater Lake images are linked to the topic.
Curated OER
Plate Patterns
Students review the patterns they discovered from a previous activity.  In this investigative lesson students plot data as a class and color a map. 
Ocean Explorer
The Volcano Factory
The tectonic processes that have resulted in the formation of the Marianas Arc, and the Marianas Trench are explored. Groups of pupils access websites that give them a wealth of information about these formations. Each group must prepare...
College Board
2014 AP® Environmental Science Free-Response Questions
Less than half of AP Environmental Science test takers pass each year. The College Board releases previous test questions covering topics from greenhouse gases to ecological succession to help scholars prepare for future assessments. Use...
Curated OER
Formation of Volcanoes
Ninth graders explore the process of different volcanoes and how plate tectonics plays a role. In this volcanic instructional activity students complete several assignments on plate tectonics.
Curated OER
Mastering the Keyboard
Sixth graders view an animated program showing how the continents fit together millions of years ago.  In groups, they compare and contrast the distribution of rocks and fossils based on how the continents fit together.  After reading a...
Curated OER
Structure of the Earth
Sixth graders investigate earthquakes and volcanoes.  They demonstrate fault lines with a folded piece of paper, conduct an erosion experiment, and construct a volcano using clay, baking soda and vinegar.
Curated OER
Earth Movers
Students read an online article about an earthquake and follow up with a series of discussion questions about earthquakes.  They answer questions in their science journals about continental drift, plate tetonics, and their influence on...
Curated OER
How Volcanoes Grow
Pupils study volcanoes including rock fragments, ash, aerosols and gases.  For this volcano lesson students divide into groups and build models of the three major types of volcanoes. 
Curated OER
Volcanoes
Learners explore the formation of volcanoes. In this earth science lesson, students build their own volcanoes in the lab using different materials. They identify the different types of volcanoes.
Curated OER
Frogs Frogs Frogs
Students view a disk on the continental movement and analyze the given data on fossils, rock types and climate zones. In this geology lesson students draw a diagram of the earths layers, take a quiz complete a PowerPoint presentation.
Curated OER
Pass the Plate
Learners define constructive forces. They describe how landforms are created as a result of constructive forces. Students recognize active volcano areas in the United States. They demonstrate an understanding of Panagea.
Curated OER
Volcanic Panic!
Students begin with an overview of the Earth's interior and how volcanoes form. They learn how engineers predict eruptions. In a class demonstration, students watch and measure a mock volcanic eruption and observe the phases of an...
Curated OER
Natural Disasters: An Adventure in Non-Fiction
Students study different natural disasters.  In this natural disaster lesson students read a nonfiction book followed by a discussion, an experiment,  then collect illustrations from their experience.