Curated OER
Water Creates a Cave
Students study the role of water in limestone cave formation and create a cave on karst-like grid on paper.
Curated OER
Nonmetals
Students research about the chemical processes involved in cave formation. In this chemistry lesson, students draw or find a cave picture with stalagmites and stalactites online. They write a brief caption and share them with the class.
Curated OER
Cave Formation Age Estimation
Students investigate growth rates of flowstone formations. They view a virtual field trip and discuss how flowstones form. They observe the cave fieldtrip and predict the growth rate for a cave formation. They graph growth rates and...
Curated OER
CREATE A CAVE
Young scholars investigate the concept of caves by conducting an experiment. The lesson contains background information for the teacher. They collect data while making observations and write a review of the concept once the experiment is...
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Cave Formation: Biogeochemical Cycles
This video segment adapted from NOVA chronicles the discoveries that led to a radical new theory in which living organisms, not just geological processes, play an active role in cave formation. [5:42]
PBS
Pbs Nova: The Mysterious Life of Caves
Companion to a PBS program in the Nova series. There are wonderful photos of the Lechuguilla cave system in New Mexico, and some new information on how caves are formed.
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: How Caves Form
This interactive activity from NOVA Online shows four different ways in which caves are formed: by rainwater, waves, lava, and bacteria.
Other
National Caves Association
The National Caves Association provides a directory of caves in the United States. This directory is in alphabetical order by state. It also answers frequently asked questions and provides helpful links.
Other
Adventure Caves: The Beauty of Cave Formations
Take a look at the inside of caves. Recognize stalactites, stalagmites and other features of caves.
ClassFlow
Class Flow: Cave Formation
[Free Registration/Login Required] This flipchart asks students to label diagrams showing the stages of cave formation.