Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Landforms of Illinois

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Fifth and sixth graders are introduced to the primary landforms of Illinois and discover how they were created. Landform cards are made for each pupil. They use the twenty-questions format until they have identified each one. Then,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sculptors of the Earth

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students observe evidence of erosion and various rock formations that have formed as a result of erosion and weathering. Their task is to explain how the forces of weathering and erosion contributed to sculpturing these rocks into arches...
PPT
Curated OER

Changes Written in Stone

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Earth Rocks! Explore the many properties and types of rocks, where they come from and how they are formed. This resource presents a simplistic overview of the rock cycle. Tip: Bring in samples of sedimentary, metamorphic, and igneous...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Rocks and Rock Formation

For Students 4th - 5th
In this rock formation instructional activity, students read a 2 page detailed text about rocks and their formation. Students then answer 15 essay, matching and multiple choice questions about the information.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Salt Marsh in a Pan

For Teachers 4th - 12th
Students create a model of a salt marsh to discover the impact of pollution and human activities on water-based habitats including bays and the ocean. They recognize the relationship between natural and developed areas. Students impact...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Grand Canyon

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students investigate how dams help and hurt the ecology of an area. In this Grand Canyon lesson plan, students research the Glen Canyon Dam and why it flooded in 1996. Students create a pros and cons list about dams and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What on Earth is That and How Can I Get One?

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students examine how we use submersibles. In this technology based lesson, students examine various technologies used by submersibles in ocean exploration.
Worksheet
Curated OER

The Oil Spill Quiz

For Students 4th - 8th
In this oil spill quiz worksheet, students respond to 10 multiple choice questions in order to examine their knowledge of oil spills and their effects.
Worksheet
Curated OER

Landforms Word Search Puzzle

For Students 6th - 7th
In this types of landforms word search worksheet, students will find and circle the names of 15 different kinds of landforms such as volcano and mountain.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Pond Ecosystem Field Trip

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students investigate the environment by participating in a class trip. In this pond ecosystem lesson, students define a list of vocabulary terms associated with ponds such as invertebrate and metamorphosis. Students attend a field trip...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Who Dirtied the Water?

For Teachers 2nd - 12th
Students develop a greater understanding and concern for the plight of our coastal waterways. Students begin to recognize that we are all partially responsible for water pollution.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Landforms of Illinois

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Young scholars discover the primary landforms of Illinois. They examine how those landforms were formed as well. In groups, they research one of the landforms from their vocabulary list. They create their landform in a shoebox and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Oceans Socratic Questioning

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students participate in a whole class discussion of ocean-floor structures and plate tectonics. They respond to prompts in a structured sequence that lead them to conclusions about the role of plate tectonics in the creation of sea-floor...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Franklin Mountains

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners review the steps of the rock cycle. In groups, they identify the natural forces that cause weathering and erosion. They describe how sedimentary, metamorphic and igneous rocks might be formed in nature to end the lesson.
Worksheet
Curated OER

Rocks Word Search Puzzle

For Teachers 6th - 8th
In this literacy worksheet, students look for the words that are related to the concept that is reviewed in the sheet. They also acquire new vocabulary.
Interactive
PBS

Pbs Learning Media: Coastal Geological Materials

For Students 9th - 10th
This interactive resource adapted from the National Park Service describes the different kinds of sediments that make up coastlines, with a focus on the variety in color, size, and sorting.
Handout
Science Struck

Science Struck: Understanding Deposition in Geology

For Students 9th - 10th
Explains what is meant by the deposition of sediments by wind and water and provides examples of the resulting landforms.