Curated OER
Name that Natural Resource
Learners discuss natural resources. In this science lesson, students understand that physical properties can be used to identify minerals and complete the chart each day working alone or in a small group.
Curated OER
Erosion
Young scientists identify erosion, explain the causes of erosion, and name some techniques that can slow the process of erosion. Learners are divided up into groups of four and perform a simulation of soil erosion in class. The...
Curated OER
Natural Resources
In this natural resources worksheet, students will brainstorm natural resources, how people change the Earth, and how people can save the natural resources. This worksheet is a graphic organizer.
Berkshire Museum
Meet a Naturalist: Researching, Writing, Interviewing
Young scholars reach out into the community and learn about different environmental science careers in this inquiry-based instructional activity. Beginning with a short research assignment, children gain background knowledge about...
PBS
Breaking it Down
After challenging themselves to correctly choose the form of erosion and length of time required for a given landform to develop, earth science class members model mechanical and chemical weathering with various lab demonstrations over...
Dick Blick Art Materials
Natural Twig Journals
Connect science, art, and language arts with a nature-themed bookmaking project. Kids craft book covers, cut paper for pages, and learn how to bind their creations.
Project WET Foundation
Use Water Wisely
What's the point in saving water? Surprisingly water isn't a forever resource because it is a natural resource. Here, young water conservationists hunt for 23 wise water users and water wasters by clicking on the people in the...
Curated OER
Natural Gas: An American Treasure
Do your fourth graders need extra practice with evaluating fact and opinion? An informative resource provides two reading passages in which learners distinguish sentences as fact or as opinion. Additionally,...
Curated OER
Chocolate Chip Cookie Mining
To understand the impact coal mining has on the environment, pupils will extract chocolate chips from a cookie. Imagine the cookie is the environment and the chips are the coal. Instruct them to mine as many chips as they can, then have...
Genesis Energy
Harnessing Solar Energy
How does additional daylight hours affect people and nature? With the help from the legend Maui and the Sun and a grand conversation, scholars complete a graphic organizer to distinguish between the positive and...
NASA
Exploring the Moon
Can plants grow on the moon? The second lesson in a five-part series has pupils explore the resources available on the moon to determine if plant life is possible. They use lava rocks as their soil and draw conclusions about the...
Curated OER
Medieval Natural Resources
Young scholars discuss and view examples of the illuminated manuscripts that were created during medieval times and into the Renaissance. In small groups, they research the resources that were used to create the manuscripts and classify...
Pennsylvania Department of Education
Wind and Water Wheels
Young scholars identify wind and water as natural resources that create energy. In this natural resources and energy use instructional activity, students work in groups to construct a pinwheel, then explore the effects of wind and water...
Channel Islands Film
Lone Woman of San Nicolas Island: Lesson Plan 4
Imagine being stranded all alone on an island for 18 years. How would you survive? Class members are challenged to makes necessities out of natural materials that would likely be found on an island.
Curated OER
Flutterings and Flowers
Fourth graders investigate the significance of natural resources and the habitats of butterflies. They create a list of their own favorite foods, then watch a video about habitats. Students identify things in the video that animals and...
NASA
Freshwater Availability Classroom Activity
This science assignment produced by NASA teaches inquiring minds the distribution of Earth's water. Learners will appreciate and understand the importance of fresh water and how weather and climate affects everything.
Curated OER
How Coal Was Formed
Learners consider four diagrams of the Earth's crust, and decide which diagram best fits with the four descriptions on the worksheet. A simple, yet effective teaching tool.
STEM for Teachers
Tsunami!
How does the depth of an ocean affect the speed of a tsunami's waves? Use Jell-o, graham crackers, and marshmallows to model the effects of an underwater earthquake and its resulting tsunami. The lesson includes hands-on activities,...
Curated OER
A Day in the Life of Bottled Water
Students research natural resources. In this environmental lesson, students define what a natural resource is and explore the life of a single-use water bottle. Students create a waste-reduction plan.
Curated OER
Clothing Matters
For this natural resources worksheet, students discuss what their clothes are made from after reading the labels found on their clothes. Students fill in a chart with the data they collect.
Curated OER
Case Study - Paradise Island
Young scholars make a plan for the future of Paradise Island. Their recommendations should help government leaders manage the impacts of expanding tourism, while preserving the unique natural resources of this island.
Curated OER
Recycling
Pupils investigate how to reduce, recycle, and reuse items in order to conserve natural resources. They complete a trash graphing activity after discussing different types of trash. Finally, the examine ways to buy recycled products to...
Curated OER
Tree Lesson
Students compare and contrast characteristics of conifer and hardwood trees. After collecting samples of branches around the school, they classify the branch as hardwood or conifer. Groups of students identify given twigs. They go...
Curated OER
We Can Recycle
Students analyze the symbol for recycling. In this recycling lesson plan, students define and identify various symbols and draw the symbol for recycling. Students investigate ways to keep natural resources in the recycling loop.