Curated OER
Vocabulary Words of the Southwest
A simple vocabulary definition worksheet has young geographers of the Southwest putting term meanings into their own words. The fifteen words include (but are not limited to) adobe, butte, canyon, economy, erode, fossil, and landform....
American Museum of Natural History
Ask a Scientist About Dinosaurs
Who doesn't want to know more about the mysterious dinosaurs? Learners read about dinosaurs and the process scientists use to continue learning more about the animals in an interview-type format. A paleontologist responds to submitted...
Curated OER
The Third Location and Millennium Wall Exercise
In this third location and millennium wall exercise worksheet, students sketch the fossil in a given diagram. Students use their imagination to sketch what the animal may have looked when it was alive.
California Academy of Science
What Kind of Geologist Am I?
Transform your class into young geologists as they learn about six different branches of geology. Using the included geology career descriptions and picture cards, learners work in small groups deciding which tools and locations fit...
Re Energy
Build Your Own Biogas Generator
What is biogas and how is it made? After examining background information about the sources of biogas and biogas generators, class members follow the provided information and build a biogas generator that can be used in the...
Curated OER
Eyewitness Dinosaur Video Quiz
In this science activity, students use their notes from the Eyewitness video on dinosaurs to help them select the correct answer for each question. They identify various types of dinosaur fossils found and their specific names.
Curated OER
Impressions in Clay
Students examine how fossils are created. They make impressions of different objects in clay and compare them to examples of fossils.
Curated OER
Identifying Dinosaurs
Students investigate basic information about dinosaurs. They listen to the book, "My Visit To the Dinosaurs," explore various websites, take an online quiz, and play an online dinosaur game.
Curated OER
Archaeology and Prehistoric Native Americans
Students study the terms paleontology and archaeology and examine how they can help us learn about prehistoric Native Iowans. In this archaeology lesson students discuss these terms and view a video on Native Americans.
Curated OER
Fossil Impressions of Ancient Life
Students make a mold using Plaster of Paris and then make a cast using that same mold. They pick a fossil and describe how it looks. They write a fictionalized story about its life, or burial. (
Curated OER
Water and Ice
Students explore water as it changes states of matter. In this physical property activity, students use observation, measurement, and communication skills to describe changes in water as it goes from a solid to a liquid and back again.
Curated OER
Parts of a Crinoid
Students study the parts of a crinoid. In this parts of a crinoid lesson, students look at pictures of a crinoid fossil or examine an actual fossil if one is available. They match names to pictures of the parts in the second part of the...
Curated OER
CyberHunt: Digging for Dinosaurs
Students discover dinosaur facts using internet research. In this 2nd - 3rd grade lesson plan, students identify various dinosaur facts. Students use internet research to answer questions regarding dinosaurs.
Curated OER
How Big is a Dinosaur?
Fourth graders create enlarged replica of a stegosaurus drawing, using a grid to practice coordinates.
California Academy of Science
Composting: A Scientific Investigation: California Academy of Sciences
Garbage, recycle, compost: Does it really matter where we put our trash once we are done? By making detailed observations over seven weeks, kids will see which materials break down naturally to become a healthy part of the soil, and...
Curated OER
How Sedimentary Rocks are Formed
Learners investigate the stripes in sedimentary rocks, using a structure at Petra, Jordan, as an example, and then do a hands-on activity using mixed nuts to illustrate the layering of sedimentary rocks.
California Academy of Science
Natural Resources Bingo
Bingo isn't just a silly game, it's a great way to practice all types of skills. After reviewing that the earth is composed of natural resources, what those natural resources are, and sustainability, the class plays a game of bingo. The...
Curated OER
Dino Dung!
Students examine how there is more to poop than they think! After reading through material, they answer a series of questions on coprolite, and explore the diet and physical attributes of dinosaurs, as well as their environment.
Curated OER
Dinosaurs
In this earth science worksheet, students match each vocabulary term, that names something specific related to earth science, with its correct description found in the right column. They identify different types of scientists and various...
Curated OER
In the Wild
Third graders examine the concept of ecology and how animals are suited to their habitats. In this animal adaptation lesson, 3rd graders identify a variety of plants and animal species that live in a Beech forest.Students create a food...
Curated OER
Using Natural Resources In Chinese And Japanese Art
Students discuss the uses and availability of natural resources in China and Japan and how those resources effected visual art from each country. This lesson includes two possible enrichment activities.
Curated OER
Pollen Tracks
Students participate in an artificial dig investigating imitiation rock samples that contain "pollen" from ancient plants. Students determine which plants the pollen samples came from.
Green Learning
Build Your Own Biogas Generator
Where this is not exactly a lesson plan, it is a terrific outline of how to generate biogas from an animal manure sample. If you are up for the challenge, the generator can be built by your class as a concluding project at the end of an...
Curated OER
Environmental Studies: The Power of Wind
Investigate the prospect of wind as a renewable resource. Second and third graders make a pinwheel, answer critical thinking questions, and then attempt to use wind power to wind string. I would be more apt to use this activity in a 1st...