Dirt is worthless, isn't it? Find out the true value of dirt, and by dirt I mean soil. The class explores what makes soil, the types of soil, and what happens when soil becomes void of its nutrients. There are several great activities,...

Dirt babies are an excellent way to show young botanists the plant life cycle. They explore the functions and industry behind grasses before growing some of their own. Use the informational text here and consider implementing some...

What are the pros and cons to having either permeable or impermeable materials for building? How do they affect the environment? Use this role-play and the extension activities to get your environmental scientists thinking about the...

Students plant a seed in a decorated left over yogurt cup. In this planting lesson plan, students reuse a yogurt cup that they would have thrown away, decorate it with wrapping paper, put dirt in it, and plant a seed.

Students make a dirt box. In this art lesson, students play in the dirt using their imaginations.

Young geographers collect samples of different kinds of soil to match to the soil terms in Barry Rudner's rhyming book Filet of Soil: dirt, mud, dust, soot, etc. They start a glossary for the project on index cards or large sheets...

Young scholars explore the environment and effects of pollution. They participate in a "Dirt Alert" scavenger game to study vocabulary words. Students construct a soil simulator to visually illustrate the negative effects on the...

Students examine the components of soil. They work together to use different materials to create their own soil. They make their own dirt cake as well.

Students investigate spiders. In this spiders lesson, students create a habitat for a spider with a jar, twigs, and dirt. Students observe the behavior of the spider and record how they spend their days.

Fifth graders dig for fossils. In this fossil instructional activity, 5th graders read about the oldest found fossils and discuss the process of fossilization. They dig for their own fossils in a fossil box made of several dirt...

Students generate, share and display ideas as a group. They break into small groups to work on hand-drawn maps made up of concentric circles. they come before the group and make a similar diagram by charting each other's characteristics.

Pupils invent mud mixtures to paint with. In this mud painting lesson, students experiment with different mixtures to develop the perfect mud paint. Pupils paint a picture.

Third graders listen to a read-aloud of Leo Lionni's, Inch by Inch before measuring a variety of items using both standard and metric units. They record the measurement data and follow a recipe for dirt pie.

Students classify different soil types. In this earth science lesson, students explain the factors that affect groundwater quality. They design and build a water treatment plant.

Students plant a lollipop stick and bean seeds. In this plant lesson, students water the seeds everyday until they start to sprout, after which they tie lollipops to the tree.

Students make a comet out of corn syrup, ammonia, dirt, ice cream sticks, and more. In this comet lesson plan, students view how these ingredients turn from a solid to a gas.

First graders "excavate" a story. In this creative earth science lesson, 1st graders become archaeologists and dig through a box of dirt or other material to find pictures from a picture book. It is their job to then put them in order.

Students examine the importance of soil in the production of what we eat and wear, and analyze the percentages of the earth used for food production. They create their own Pyramids of Life, and construct Dirt Babies out of hosiery, dirt...

Fourth and fifth graders explore soil by taking a simulated field trip under the earth. They go to an Internet site that runs a simulation which charges them with finding a source of pollution that could destroy all of Earth's soil, and...

Study heat transfer with activities that focus on how heat energy works. Using a solar cooker, ice cubes, and heat transfer bracelets, kids experiment and record what they find by keeping ice cubes cold and vegetables hot.

How do dams support bodies of water? Scholars engage in a hands-on STEM activity where they design, build, and test dams to learn about bodies of water and how humans use natural resources. They learn how criteria and constraints affect...

High schoolers create artwork by airbrushing on silk. This is a simple beginners project using five colors of paint and two types of stencils: positive and negative. As with all of the art lessons that come from this source, the products...

Students study about our dependence on the earth's resources for materials. They practice their knowledge of geometric shapes by recognizing them in the context of the story.

Are your teaching in a cold and snowy environment? If so, then try out this fun activity with your class. You mix a variety of colors in large jars to show learners the difference between primary and secondary colors, then let them mix...