Curated OER
African Savanna
First graders are introduced to the ecosystems of savannas throughout the world. Using new vocabulary, they identify and describe the characteristics of a savanna and the animals that live there. They also describe the Earth's physical...
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Rivers, Maps, and Math
Students use maps to locate and label the major rivers of North and South America. Using the internet, they identify forests, grasslands, mountain ranges and other landforms on the continents as well. They compare and contrast the...
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Rock Cycle
Third graders identify various types of landforms of the United States. They discuss earth movements that produce geologic structures and landforms and define cycle as it relates to rocks and soil. They demonstrate the processes forming...
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The Ocean Floor
Fifth graders discuss the process of sedimentation and the continental drift theory. They locate major structures on the ocean floor and they identify life forms at each level of the ocean.
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Living in a Watershed
Fourth graders examine watersheds. For this ecosystem lesson, 4th graders discover what a watershed is and identify the local watershed they live in. Students investigate the attributes of a watershed as well.
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Water, Water Everywhere
Students recognize that all of the water on earth cannot be used for drinking and that the percentage of ground and surface water is a small percentage. In this water instructional activity students identify ways to conserve...
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Landscape Picture Map
Students discuss differences between man made and natural features on the Earth's surface. For this natural and man made features lesson, learners brainstorm a list of features and categorize them on the board. Students study a landscape...
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What's Happening to the Ozone?
Students identify causes of ozone depletion, generalize how that information affects everyday life, and discuss ways individuals can help slow down depletion of ozone.
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Disposable vs. Reusable, Biodegradable vs. Non-biodegradable
Students examine and identify biodegradable and non-biodegradable materials. They discover ways in which biodegradable materials can help minimize pollution.
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Classification of Clouds
Students view progressive slides of cloud formations and identify which type of cloud is shown as it forms. They estimate the cloud's height while viewing each image.
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Do You Have the Key?
Students practice using a dichotomous key. In this classification lesson plan, students read an article about scientific exploration and identification of new species. They use a dichotomous key to identify objects and create their own key.
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Igneous Rocks
In this igneous rocks worksheet, students identify the lave that cools quickly and entraps air and other gases. Then they describe the molten material found below the Earth's surface. Students also give another name for the mineral...
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Science: Daily and Seasonal Cycles
First graders use their observations to describe daily and seasonal cycles. through a demonstration using a suspended ball and flashlight, they determine the time of day in various locations. Next, 1st graders participate in a...
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What's Down There?
Students analyze data on coral reefs and use this to help characterize reefs. In this mapping coral reefs lesson students identify and explain the major threats to coral reefs.
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Get Smart
Learners study sustainability and smart growth. In this geography lesson students identify the benefits that are expected from smart growth.
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The Water Cycle
Seventh graders discover how water circulates through the earth and its atmosphere while determine how much of the Earth's water is suitable for drinking. They discover the meaning of evaporation, transpiration, and precipitation and...
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What is in Soil?
Fourth graders identify and examine the components that make up soil. Individually, they use a magnifying glass to identify the organic and inorganic material in their soil sample. To end the lesson, they record the differences in the...
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World Map and Globe - Lesson 1 Introduction to the Globe
Students explore the earth with maps and globes. In this map instructional activity, students use maps and globes to locate oceans and continents.
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Rocks and Minerals
Learners identify how weathering and erosion effect the Earth's surface. In this weathering and rocks lesson plan, students study various types of rocks in water and brainstorm ways the Earth's surface changes. Learners view an...
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Classifying Stars and Constellations
Students examine stars and constellations. In this space science lesson, students visit selected websites to discover information about the classification of stars. Students also practice identifying constellations.
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As the Sun Burns
Pupils examine the types of light the sun gives the Earth. They describe the electro-magnetic spectrum and how to protect themselves from different types of light. They identify the layers of the atmosphere as well.
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World Projections
Young scholars identify map projections and examine polar maps. In this map skills lesson, students use a flat world map to identify various projections and calculate the distances between locations by using a map scale.
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Water, Water Everywhere
Students explore water. For this water cycle lesson, students conduct a scientific investigation that requires build a terrarium models of the earth. Students record their observations of the changes regarding water in the terrarium.
Pennsylvania Department of Education
Wind and Water Wheels
Learners identify wind and water as natural resources that create energy. In this natural resources and energy use activity, students work in groups to construct a pinwheel, then explore the effects of wind and water on the pinwheel....