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eBook
CK-12 Foundation

CK-12 Earth Science Concepts for Middle School

For Students 6th - 8th Standards
Explore a variety of science concepts in an interactive textbook created for middle school scholars. A lengthy table of contents takes readers to pages comprised of a subject overview, outline, and summary. Follow links further to find...
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Lesson Plan
Pace University

Grades 9-12 Earth Science

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
How has Earth changed over time? Pupils explore the topic in a differentiated instruction unit on the geological time scale. After a pre-assessment to gauge knowledge, class members divide into groups based on their ability levels and...
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Lesson Plan
PBS

Earth’s Ever-Changing Surface

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
The Grand Canyon formed between five and six million years ago, but is it still changing? Scholars explore 10 sites in the United States, including the Grand Canyon, to better understand the geoscience processes that formed these...
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Lesson Plan
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Channel Islands Film

Island Rotation: Lesson Plan 1

For Teachers 4th - 12th Standards
How do scientists provide evidence to support the theories they put forth? What clues do they put together to create these theories? After watching West of the West's documentary Island Rotation class members engage in a series of...
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Lesson Plan
1
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Channel Islands Film

Arlington Springs Man: Lesson Plan 2

For Teachers 7th - 8th Standards
West of the West's documentary Arlington Springs Man and a two-page scientific article about the same topic provide the text for a reading comprehension exercise that asks individuals to craft a one page summary of information gathered...
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Lesson Plan
1
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Channel Islands Film

Arlington Springs Man: Lesson Plan 4

For Teachers 5th - 12th Standards
West of the West's documentary Arlington Springs Man introduces viewers to the remarkable finds on Santa Rosa Island. Archaeologist have discovered on this small island that is part of the Channel island chain, human and pygmy mammoth...
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Lesson Plan
Scholastic

Final Project: The Earth, Inside Earth

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Follow in Jules Verne's footsteps and take a journey to the center of the earth! Middle schoolers work together to design a trip inside the earth using their knowledge from the previous lessons in the unit.
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Lesson Plan
Scholastic

Lesson Two: The Earth, Introductory Activities

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Determine what young pupils already know about earth science with a brainstorming activity. After class members work together to complete a KWL chart about the Earth, they craft an acrostic poem to demonstrate their understanding.
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Lesson Plan
Scholastic

Lesson Five: The Earth, Rocks and Minerals

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Apply the principles of geology to a series of collaborative, hands-on class activities. Young earth scientists learn more about igneous, metamorphic, and sedentary rocks before classifying and weathering rocks that they find....
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Lesson Plan
Teach Engineering

A Good Foundation

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
It takes a strong foundation to build a house and a stronger one for a bridge. This resource presents the effects of geology and soil on bridge foundations. Working in groups, the class investigates the interaction of shallow and deep...
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Activity
2
2
Teach Engineering

Earthquakes Living Lab: Geology and Earthquakes in Japan

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Sometimes it seems as if earthquakes hit the same places over and over again. Class members study Japan in order to determine why earthquakes keep happening there. Pairs work together to research and try to determine whether there are...
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Activity
2
2
Teach Engineering

Earthquakes Living Lab: Geology and the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake

For Teachers 5th - 8th Standards
We can learn from the past to protect the future. Pairs look at two historical earthquakes: San Francisco, Calif., and Kobe, Japan. Pupils compare the two earthquakes and their impacts, then determine how engineers may use the...
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Activity
It's About Time

Volcanic History of Your Community

For Teachers 7th - 12th Standards
Did you know there are 20 volcanoes erupting at any given time? Pupils look at various igneous rocks, read local geologic maps, and determine if their area has a history of volcanic activity. A reading passage and analysis questions...
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Activity
Curated OER

Relative Age Dating

For Students 6th - 8th
Modeling dough and paper cutouts in science class? Learn about how relative age dating concepts, like the Law of Superposition and cross-cutting relationships, can be used to describe the formation of sedimentary layers.
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Unit Plan
National Park Service

Caves, Canyons, Cactus, and Critters

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Mother Nature's Gravel Company is open for business! The unit includes four lessons covering weathering and erosion. Experiments are simple to complete and young geologists compare notes to see who makes the biggest ice wedge, moves...
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Unit Plan
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Curated OER

Volcanoes: Second Grade Lesson Plans and Activities

For Teachers 2nd Standards
Young geologists explore volcanoes with a series of engaging geology activities. First, they learn the difference between magma and lava before coloring and labeling the parts of a volcano. During the lab, individuals watch a...
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Unit Plan
1
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Curated OER

Plate Tectonics: Fifth Grade Lesson Plans and Activities

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders continue their investigation of the plate tectonics cycle with an exploration of the movement of Earth's crust. During the lab, young geologists conduct an experiment to discover the result of different types of stress...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Moon Mining

For Teachers 3rd - 6th Standards
Go on a moon mining expedition from the safety of your classroom with this space exploration simulation. Using simple models of the moon's surface prepared ahead of time by the teacher, young scientists are challenged with locating and...
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Lesson Plan
NSW Department Mineral Resources

Aboriginal Use of Raw Materials

For Teachers 9th - 12th
What's the difference between base metals and precious metals? Experimenting with natural metals is an interesting way for kids to learn about the world around them. Use a resource that contains over 30 pages of worksheets and...
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Unit Plan
2
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Brooklyn Children’s Museum

Volcanoes!

For Teachers 3rd - 8th Standards
Give young geologists an up close and personal look at volcanoes with a series of hands-on earth science lessons. Whether they are investigating the properties of igneous rocks, building their own volcanoes, or making fudge to model the...
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Lesson Plan
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Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi

Find the Most Spectacular Volcanoes in the World!

For Teachers 5th - 8th Standards
Heat things up in your earth science class with this collaborative lesson on volcanoes. After first being introduced to the different types of volcanoes and how they are formed, young geologists work in small groups to research the...
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Activity
BBC

Walking with Dinosaurs

For Teachers K - 8th Standards
Breath new life into your class's study of dinosaurs with this extensive collection of materials. Offering everything from a printable T-rex mask, word searches, and connect-the-dots activities to informational handouts, hands-on...
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Unit Plan
Core Knowledge Foundation

Rocks & Minerals

For Teachers 4th - 7th Standards
Take young geologists on an exploration of the rock cycle with this six-lesson earth science unit on rocks and minerals. Through a series of discussions, demonstrations, and hands-on investigations your class will learn about the...
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Unit Plan
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Brooklyn Children’s Museum

Rocks and Minerals in Our Lives

For Teachers K - 6th Standards
Young geologists discover the important role that rocks and minerals play in our everyday lives through this series of hands-on activities. Starting off with a lesson that defines the difference between plants, animals, and minerals,...