Lesson Plan
National Center for Case Study Teaching in Science

Life on Mars

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Through reading and discussion, aspiring astronomers consider the question of whether or not there was ever life on the planet Mars. Throughout the process, they review how scientific investigations are carried out, examine the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Cave Stories - Tales of Adventure

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Students list three things about caves that interest them and list reasons why writers choose caves as settings for stories.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Cave Diagram

For Teachers K - 3rd
Students examine limestone cave geology and hydology. They study cave vocabulary.
Interactive
Curated OER

Layers of the Earth

For Students 4th - 6th
In this earth science worksheet, students read about the characteristics of the Earth's layers such as the mantle, core, and crust. They answer 10 mixed type questions using the online application.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Earthquakes: Learn From the Past, Prepare for the Future

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine the destruction caused by earthquakes. In this community safety lesson, students examine the risk involved in living in an earthquake zone and how to prepare for future earthquakes.
Worksheet
Curated OER

Rocks and Rock Formation

For Students 4th - 5th
In this rock formation worksheet, students read a 2 page detailed text about rocks and their formation. Students then answer 15 essay, matching and multiple choice questions about the information.
Worksheet
Curated OER

Sedimentation in the Grand Canyon

For Students 9th - 10th
In this sedimentation worksheet, learners use the current rate of sediment deposit by the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon to answer questions about the changes taking place in the canyon. They graph the amount of deposit over 75 years...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Decibel Measurements

For Students 9th - 12th
In this decibel worksheet, students answer 19 questions about amplifiers, circuits and the power gains or losses in these electrical systems.
Worksheet
Curated OER

The Rock and Fossil Record-Science Puzzlers, Twisters & Teasers

For Students 5th - 8th
In this earth science worksheet, students complete 12 questions about rocks and fossils in the form of anagrams, riddles, sequences, and brain teasers.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Dinosaur Traces

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students identify and interpret the type of evidence found at a typical dinosaur dig and mimic a paleontologist by taking crayon rubbings of simulated bone impressions. After the rubbings are taken, the students reconstruct the complete...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Minerals and the Products of Mining

For Teachers 6th - 8th
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.
Lesson Plan
Alabama Learning Exchange

The Earth Has Many Layers

For Teachers 4th - 5th Standards
Students conduct an experiment. In this Earth's layers lesson, students learn about soil, sand and rock. They complete their own Jell-O Mountain and investigate the Earth's layers on-line.
Worksheet
Curated OER

Influential Scientists Vocabulary Multiple Choice Worksheet

For Students 4th - 6th
In this science vocabulary worksheet, learners read the names of science professionals. From three choices, students choose the correct definition for each word.
Worksheet
Curated OER

Influential Scientists Vocabulary Quiz

For Students 5th - 6th
In this science vocabulary worksheet, students match the names of 19 science professionals with the definition. Example: Ichthyologist (studies fish).
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rocks

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers examine how sedimentary rocks are formed.  For this rock lesson students research different rock formations and different types of rock. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Cookie Topography

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students construct a cross section diagram showing elevation changes on a "cookie island." Using a chocolate chip cookie for an island, they locate the highest point in centimeters on the cookie and create a scale in feet. After tracing...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Geography: Water, Water Everywhere

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Young scholars discuss flooding and its causes. They view a Powerpoint presentation about floods and prevention methods. After creating a model with clay and pans, they investigate river behavior in various terrains with different...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Planet Earth in Cross Section

For Teachers 8th - 10th
Students will examine the layers of the Earth. In this geology lesson, students create a scale model of the Earth's interior using cash register tape. They will determine the percentage of error in the scale compared to the actual size...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sequencing Time

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners place events in sequence and assign relative times to each event. They gain an understanding of relative and numerical time and become familiar with the methods used by scientists to develop the Geologic Time Scale.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Trash Bashing

For Teachers 1st - 12th
Students define trash, garbage, or solid waste, discuss ways of disposing of trash, list examples of biodegradable materials, and have trash relay race in order to sort trash into appropriate containers labeled biodegradable, reusable,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Watered-Down Topographic Map

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders explore the ocean floor. In this topography activity, 8th graders compare topographical maps to bathymetric charts. They will create a topographic map and note landmarks and other land features.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Renewable and Non-Renewable Resources: Mining in B.C.

For Teachers 3rd - 7th
Students explore energy by categorizing rocks. In this British Columbia geology lesson, students define many different vocabulary terms associated with mining such as sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic. Students utilize sample rock...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Titanic Disaster

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders explore the titanic disaster.  In this geography lesson, 7th graders research basic facts about the Titanic.  Students create Titanic scrapbooks. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Glacial Striation Investigation

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students operate a GPS unit to investigate the direction of glacier movement. They describe the motion of glacier movement by interpreting a graph. Students explain how scientists use glacier striations to determine glacier movement.