Students gather and classify samples of a given item (rocks, fossils, seeds, etc.) They discuss various ways of classifying and that there are many different ways that are acceptable.

Learners explore how water is a limited resource, where it comes from, how it can become polluted and how it is used.  In this water quality instructional activity students search the web to answer given questions and prepare a...

Students investigate the physical and chemical characteristics of minerals. They make a list of the uses of minerals found in Illinois. They write a report individually based on their observations.

Sixth graders explore reasons for earthquakes. They discuss and describe the types of faults. Using the internet, 6th graders research a specific location of a former earthquake. They describe the damage, magnitude, the epicenter,...

In this inferences worksheet, students answer multiple choice questions about inferences after they read a passage. Students read 4 passages and answer 10 questions total.

Students use cardboard models of the North American and Pacific plates and sand to investigate what happens when there is an earthquake or movement along the boundaries of the plates.

Students use a video, the Internet and hands-on activities to explore how to determine the age of rocks and fossils based on radioactive decay data.

Students examine dinosaur footprints and compare them to the shape of elephant footprints and to the size of their own footprints.

Students use outline maps to become acquainted with Costa Rica. They see how it was formed and how its origin has created very diverse environments. Students then use atlases and compare their physical maps with maps of climate and the...

Learners explore the Cambrian explosion and Paleocene extinction events. In this climate change lesson, students read articles to link evidence they find to extinction and climate change.  Links to the articles are included in the...

Second graders examine igneous rocks in this lesson plan. They discuss the rock cycle and how rocks form. They also explore volcanic activities and build their own volcano.

High schoolers discover how sedimentary rocks form. They identify different examples of sedimentary rocks. They also discover what types of rocks are in Illinois soil.

Middle schoolers complete internet research in small groups to identify types of water pollution, spotlight water pollution hot-spots, and design a plan for water prevention.

Third graders study the 3 main types of rocks: igneous, sedimentary, metamorphic. They examine samples of these types of rocks and discuss ways to tell what kind of rock each is. They take notes and draw pictures in their science...

Students create a biosphere using the computer program SImEarth. They work in small groups to create "Daisyworld" in which they model aspects of the Gaia hypothesis. They form a question to answer and choose variables to investigate in...

Students investigate gold. In this gold panning lesson, students demonstrate the process of mining through an experiment using two boxes of sand. Students design a safe way to mine gold.

Eleventh graders analyze and interpret an animated model of Earth’s rifting processes.  In this Earth Science lesson, 11th graders connect Earth’s rifting processes with the Earth’s surface in the Gettysburg battlefield. ...

Students explore geography by participating in an illustration activity. For this land-form lesson, students define vocabulary terms associated with glaciers and forests. Students utilize pens, cardboard and pottery clay to draw and...

Students investigate the factors affecting the size of a crater. In this space science lesson, students collect data from the activity and graph them. They explain how velocity of impact relate to crater size.

Students explore how water and waves erode the earth. In this erosion lesson students determine the processes of wave erosion and building.

Students explore the concepts of rdioactive decay and dating. They generate a radioactive decay table, use their data to plot a decay graph, develop the concept of half-life, and then use the graph to find the age of a mummified seal in...

Learners experience an archaeological dig exploring off the shore of Black Hawk Island and Wisconsin River. They study in the same place where the infamous Dell House once stood. Dell House and its historical significance is reviewed...

Middle schoolers find the circumference of various round objects.  In this finding the circumference of various round objects lesson, students find the circumference of the Earth.  Middle schoolers find the circumference of...

Students describe the overall events that occurred during the Paleocene extinction event as well as the processes that are believed to result in global warming after group research. They infer how a global warming event could have...