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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Structure of the Earth

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders investigate earthquakes and volcanoes. They demonstrate fault lines with a folded piece of paper, conduct an erosion experiment, and construct a volcano using clay, baking soda and vinegar.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Faulty Movement

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students discover the faults throughout the Earth. They describe the different types of faults and how they are related to earthquakes. They build models of the faults.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Whole Lotta Shakin Going On

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars study how tectonic plates can produce earthquakes.  For this earthquake lesson students use a model earthquake machine to explore hypotheses about earthquakes. 
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Structure of the Earth

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders examine the forces that are constantly acting on the Earth. They describe the theory of tectonic plates and demonstrate the two kinds of earthquake waves. They also examine the role of volcanoes in the structure of the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Plate Tectonic Cycle

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students explore the Earth's movements by completing worksheets. In this plate tectonics lesson, students define such natural disasters as volcanoes, earthquakes, tsunamis and mudslides and discuss their connections to plate tectonics....
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What's Crackin' Under New Zealand

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students construct a model of the Earth using clay and oranges. For this earth science lesson, students explain the causes of earthquakes and volcanic activity. They write their findings in their science journal.
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Unit Plan
Curated OER

Shaky New Zealand

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students explore Earth science by building a model in class. In this tectonic plate lesson, students identify the impact tectonic shifts have on humans and animals and where the plates and faults lie under New Zealand. Students examine...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rocks and Minerals

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students are able to describe earth processes (e.g., rusting, weathering, erosion) that have affected selected physical features in students, neighborhoods. They are able to identify various earth structures (e.g., mountains, faults,...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Volcano Factory

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students examine the process of tectonic plates and why the Mariana Arc is active with volcanoes. They create a model of the Mariana Arc out of clay.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Friendly Volcanoes

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students discuss the benefits of volcanic activity on marine life. They explain the process of tectonic plates.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Natural Disasters

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers work together in groups to travel throughout the room to different stations. They practice making different natural disasters at each station. They also examine fault lines and the supercontinent Pangaea.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rock My World

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students conduct a hands-on experiment designed to demonstrate how continents and oceans formed and why the manner of formation is relevant to a study of volcanoes.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

PLATE TECTONICS WITH AN ORANGE

For Teachers K - 8th
Students explore the concept of plate tectonics. They experiment to prove and explain plate tectonics.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

It's a Gas! Or is it?

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Young scholars describe the effects of temperature and pressure on solubility of gases and other materials.  In this investigative lesson students read an article and answer questions about it. 
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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

Weathering Agent 007

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students are introduced to the concept of weathering. In groups, they use the internet to research the various types of weathering agents and their effect on different materials. Using photographs, they discuss the role humans play in...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

It's a Gas! Or is it?

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Learners discover the principles of solubility and phase state and their influence on chemical phenomena observed around deep-sea volcanoes. They describe the effect of temperature and pressure on solubility of gasses and solid materials.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

It's Going to Blow Up!

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students discover the major characteristics of volcanoes on the Pacific Ring of Fire. They describe the processes that produce the "Submarine Ring of Fire." students explain the factors that contribute to explosive volcanic eruptions.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Hydrothermal Vent Challenge

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students discover common features of hydrothermal vent fluids. They use this knowledge to locate possible undiscovered hydrothermal vents on the ocean floor.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Life is Weird

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students describe features of cold seep communities and investigate five organisms that live there.  In this biological organisms lesson students research a given species and give an oral presentation on their results. 
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Modeling Plate Tectonics

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Learners investigate the four different ways tectonic plates interact at their boundaries. Using simple available materials, they create models to simulate these interactions present at plate boundaries.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Weathering Landforms

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Stduents create and color plaster landforms, and describe how weathering and erosion change the Earth's surface.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What's the Difference?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners discover how volcanic processes differ at convergent and divergent tectonic plate boundaries. They identify three geologic features that are associated with most volcanoes on Earth.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Pass the Plate

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students define constructive forces. They describe how landforms are created as a result of constructive forces. Students recognize active volcano areas in the United States. They demonstrate an understanding of Panagea.