The Mining Act of 1872 allows mining companies to purchase land from the U.S. Government at 1872 prices - about $5.00 an acre! This video features the town of Crested Butte, Colorado, and a mountain just outside of town that was...

The Harold Keen Coal Company has produced an excellent video which shows the viewer all about the process of mining coal that shows some rarely-seen images of the intricacies of underground mining. Surface mining is also described in...

Learn a lot about copper and its uses from watching this excellent video. Mining techniques, facts about copper, and a very interesting section on the geology behind how copper ore has come to be present underground are all part of this...

The United States Steel Company has produced this interesting, fast-paced video which takes the viewer through entire process of making steel from ore that is mined. It is interesting to note that there are hundreds of varieties of steel...

Here is an in-depth, and incredibly thorough lesson plan on sustainable agricultural practices; specifically, regarding the growth of coffee. After completing and discussing a worksheet called "Thinking About Tomorrow," groups of...

NASA has crafted an imaginative and memorable series of lessons, "NASA and Jamestown Education Module." This lesson is one of the five components. In it, middle schoolers connect history and science by comparing the settlement of...

A very thorough lesson plan focuses on what plants need to grow and stay healthy. There are excellent reading activities and worksheets included in this fine plan. A terrific way to introduce a unit on plants and their needs.

Some really interesting worksheets on Amtrak's national routes, and the major river systems of the United States accompany this lesson on the transportation of coal throught the country. This is an exceptionally well-designed lesson that...

2-3rd graders listen to the story, Lemonade for Sale, by Stuart J. Murphy. In the story, children produce and sell lemonade to raise money for their clubhouse, create a product, classify the resources used in production as natural...

This natural resources worksheet includes discussion activities about natural resources, 2 word searches, and a list of related books and videos.

Define the term "urban forestry"; discuss several problems facing urban forests today and both government and public efforts centered on developing and maintaining sustainable urban forests. Develop a feasible action plan for alternative...

Students investigate the use of soil, an important natural resource in artwork. They experiment by crushing soil particles and adding the different color samples to artist acrylic to create true "earth colors". Using this paint, they...

Following an examination of the Arkansas state quarter, your class will discuss the state's nickname: "The Natural State." They will focus on its abundance of natural resources. Printables for the activities are included. 

With a series of fun hands-on simulations, young children can learn about conservation and natural resources. Your learners become land detectives, discussing and investigating the gifts that the land and water provide them. They then...

Introduce young scholars to the ways in which land and people have a relationship. They examine the types of food local tribes have traditionally consumed and ways in which the people and the land both benefited from the act of...

The land has always provided its inhabitants with resources that allow them to survive. However, sometimes resources run scarce and sharing becomes an important task. Help little ones understand why and how people have shared resources...

You can never be too young to get involved in composting or recycling. Here is a instructional activity that has been made for the very littlest learners and it's all about the importance of conservation. They'll sort compostable and...

Is it possible to have a waste-less lunch? Can your class become leaders in conservation? Discuss the importance of reducing waste during lunch time with a fun lesson that can be extended to everyday practices. First the class examines...

Water is one of the most precious resources on the earth. Explore water conservation, the importance of natural resources, and how water is used throughout the globe. Two complete activities along with discussion questions are used to...

Seven superb slides sharpen science students' scoop on soil. In viewing them and reading the accompanying captions, your class will uncover the importance, different types, horizons, and protection of soil. They can then assess their new...

Having fresh, clean drinking water is a privilege many people take for granted. Help raise awareness about the scarcity of water and the importance of conservation by discussing different ways water is used in everyday life. Brainstorm...

Water is essential to life on earth. How is it then, that people can survive in desert regions with very limited access to fresh water? Through ingenious architecture and engineering, communities in India's Golden Desert have been able...

An entertaining and informative video on offshore oil drilling is posted here. A young student is on an oil rig platform in the Gulf of Mexico and interviews the foreman of the rig. An excellent graphic on exactly how the oil rig drills...

Students explore natural resources of our planet. For this natural resources lesson, students use an apple to explore the land, water, and climate. Students also use the apples to explore the part of our planet that can grow food and...