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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Environment: Erosion Boxes

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders discover how the processes of erosion and weathering alter the physical characteristics of the environment. In a student log,they record the various types of erosion and list ways to prevent it. Using clear, plastic...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

The Oil Spill Quiz

For Students 4th - 8th
In this oil spill quiz instructional activity, learners respond to 10 multiple choice questions in order to examine their knowledge of oil spills and their effects.
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Lake Word Search

For Students 5th - 12th
In this lake worksheet, students search for 13 vocabulary words associated with a lake such as river, watershed, groundwater, erosion, and shoreline.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ice Breakers

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers understand the effects of global warming on icecaps. They investigate the worldwide consequences that may result.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Erosion

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers model rain erosion. For this erosion lesson, students construct a landscape out of sand and dirt in a metal pan. They make it rain on the landscape and observe the erosion that occurs.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Geology Rocks

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students discuss information relating to Illinois geology. They examine top mineral resources in Illinois to find detailed information about geodes and where they can be found. Students complete geode lab to explore external structure of...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rock of Ages

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students are given a classification table and samples from their location. They locate their samples on the classification table using the characteristics used in rock identification.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

March of the Polar Bears: Global Change, Sea Ice, and Wildlife Migration

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students study global change and how these changes impact wildlife.  In this polar bears  lesson students analyze maps and data to understand climate change. 
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rivers for the Common Good

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students explore what effects improper waste disposal and water pollution have on the water cycle. They explore how philanthropic acts can help protect the water cycle and keep our water and planet clean.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Roaming Biomes

For Teachers 7th - 11th
Students use the Internet to research the capabilities of earth-observation satellites. Using the information, they write a report on how remote-sensing technology is used to measure the impact of climate change. They identify the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mineral Magic

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students classify rocks and minerals according to their characteristics, after finding the similarities and differences of school supplies and pasta.
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Density Laboratory Gizmo

For Students 4th - 6th
In this mass worksheet, students fill in a chart with different items and their volume, whether they float or sink, and their density. Students complete this for 10 items and answer 6 multiple choice mass questions.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Biomes: Extreme Climate

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students create a web connecting global warming, the Arctic, and wold climate. They write a paragraph explaining the role of the Arctic in world climate.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What's Under There?

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students determine ways to make "observations" about unknowns, such as the land beneath an ice sheet or the interior of the Earth, using tools other than sight. They build "mystery boxes" and exchange them with other groups to "map"...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Landforms in a Tub

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders use common household items to build landforms and simulate weathering and erosion.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Geological Features: How Weathering & Erosion Help Create Landforms

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students explore how the Earth's surface changes resulting in geological features and landforms. They perform a read-a-loud on Thomas Locker's Mountain Dance, complete a KWL chart, and create a landform using plaster of paris.
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Lesson Plan
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Regolith Formation

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students study what regolith is and how it contrasts with weathering on Earth.  In this weathering lesson students divide into groups, hypothesize and confirm their guesses. 
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Lesson Plan
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When Land Ice Melts

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students investigate what happens when land ice melts. They discuss how the melting of land ice is different than the melting of icebergs. Students observe what happens as the ice melts.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Pressure Versus Force: Landing On Ice!

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students experiment with the relationship between pressure, force, and area. They determine the force and pressure exerted by a LC-130, which is commonly used for cargo and personnel transport in Antarctica.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Disappearing Rocks

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Young scholars explore the causes of erosion and observe how different surfaces erode differently. They recognize erosion and predict what type of erosion caused it. In addition, they predict the outcomes of erosion on different materials.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Understanding Tsunamis

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students discover the causes of tsunamis in oceans and fjords. They perform an experiment to discover how calving icebergs can create different wave patterns in the ocean and in a fjord. In addition, they draw a diagram to illustrate the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduction to Restoration Lesson

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore how pollution and invasive plants disrupt the ecosystem.  In this restoration instructional activity students list materials that pollute wetlands, how people can keep them clean and ways in which invasive plants...
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Lesson Plan
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River System

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders explore the parts of a river system and understand the importance of each part.  In this river system lesson, 5th graders diagram a river system and write a paragraph explaining its parts.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What's Eating Titanic?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners, in groups, research the bio deterioration of the Titanic. They write a report focusing on the rusting of the Titanic and estimate the amount of time it will take for the Titanic's bow section to completely dissolve.