Curated OER
Landscape Picture Map
Young scholars explore pollution of water sources. In this ecology lesson, students define and identify natural resources. Young scholars use map skills to locate local rivers and lakes used for recreation. Students brainstorm ways in...
Curated OER
Where In the World Are the Resources?
Students use the internet to research the amount of natural resources in a specific area on Earth. In groups, they locate the supply of each natural resource on a map in that area and what can be done to reduce their usage. They also...
Curated OER
Great Monuments of the World
High schoolers explore the wonders of the world through inquiry. In this world monuments lesson, students investigate famous landmarks around the world as they conduct and apply research. High schoolers create products that feature their...
Curated OER
Running Water
Sixth graders create products that feature the importance of water conservation. In this environmental stewardship lesson, 6th graders explore the water cycle and conduct on water usage. Students also research water pollution and...
Curated OER
Candy Quakes
Eighth graders, using a candy bar, gum, and Twizzlers, demonstrate the effects of deformational forces on the earth's crust. They examine the processes of rock and fossil formation.
Curated OER
My Summer Vacation
Students study the United States geography using Google Earth. In this U.S. geography instructional activity, students create travel journals about five U.S. geographical locations. Students research the human and physical...
Curated OER
Your Own Backyard
Students study Earth's features and their local environments. In this Earth's features lesson, students take a field trip to observe a natural environment and students sketch their observations of the nature. Students watch videos about...
Curated OER
Our Poetic Planet : Writing Poems about the Earth
Students share their thoughts regarding nature. In this poetry lesson, students compose poems in different formats that feature weather and clouds.
Curated OER
Feeling Hot, Hot, Hot!
Students study the different types of volcanoes and how they erupt. In this volcano lesson students identify where volcanoes are most prevalent and options for predicting eruptions.
Curated OER
Chain Reaction
Students study animal behavior and how it changes to its environment. In this animal lesson plan students design and conduct experiments.
Curated OER
Air and Water in the Environment
Learners explore the traits of water condensation and evaporation. In this water cycle lesson plan, students develop an awareness of the importance of water for sustaining life. Learners participate in a hands-on activity in which water...
Curated OER
Glaciers As Indicators of Global Climate Change
Students research about glacial ice melting on the four major spheres of the Earth. In this earth science instructional activity, students explain how this process relates to global warming. They create a presentation and share their...
Centers for Ocean Sciences
Ocean and Great Lakes Literacy: Principle 1
Is your current lesson plan for salt and freshwater literacy leaving you high and dry? If so, dive into part one of a seven-part series that explores the physical features of Earth's salt and freshwater sources. Junior hydrologists...
Curated OER
Fossil Fuels (Part III), The Geology of Coal
Do not overlook this set of lessons just because your school does not have a data analysis system. There is plenty of material here to administer a complete mini unit on the formation, distribution, and properties of coal. Since it...
Curated OER
Watershed Works: Unit 2
The second of a three-unit lesson plan, this focuses on how human-made structures affect watersheds. Using watershed models that were built during the first unit, junior geologists now place buildings, dams, or levees into the models and...
Curated OER
Cruising the Mantle
Students explore the plate boundaries of the earth. Through the use of video, internet and hands-on activities, students examine the types of plate boundaries. They create a model to illustrate the movement and interaction of the...
Curated OER
Oceanography
Fifth graders use scientific skills and processes to recognize how living things depend on one another and on the environment for survival and that the human use of natural resources impacts the environment. They research how Earth's...
Curated OER
Introduction to Biomes
Fifth graders use scientific skills and processes to recognize how living things depend on one another and on the environment for survival and the human use of natural resources impacts the environment. Explain how Earth's surface...
Curated OER
What is the Rock Cycle and Its Processes?
Geology beginners examine three different rock samples and determine their origin by their characteristics. By making and recording observations, they become familiar with features of igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rock types....
Curated OER
Graham Cracker Plate Tectonics
In this plate tectonics worksheet, students use Graham crackers, frosting, water and a paper plate to simulate tectonic processes such as convergent, divergent and transforming plate boundaries.
Curated OER
Ecology Integration Using IMovie
Amazing! Any 5th grader would be more than willing to participate in this project. Students are broken into groups, each group reads one book from a list of five. They use their book as the basis for choosing an animal and environment to...
University of Colorado
Strange New Planet
The first remote sensors were people in hot air balloons taking photographs of Earth to make maps. Expose middle school learners to space exploration with the use of remote sensing. Groups explore and make observations of a new planet by...
Curated OER
Crowley's Ridge: An Upland in the Lowlands
This clever lesson combines elements of geography, art, literature, and storytelling. Pupils take a close look at the six geographical regions of Arkansas, and pay close attention to Crowley's Ridge - which is one of the six. In groups,...
National Geographic
Mapping the Shape of Everest
With Mount Everest as the motivator, your earth science class learns about topographic maps. Begin by showing a film clip from The Wildest Dream: Conquest of Everest, featuring fearsome virtual imagery of a path up world's tallest peak....