Lesson Plan
Science Matters

Seismic Activity and California Landforms

For Teachers 6th Standards
By the 19th lesson in the 20-part series, scholars realize volcanoes and earthquakes are related to plate boundaries. The lesson extends and applies the knowledge by having individuals create a bumper sticker for one specific area of...
Lesson Plan
Science Matters

Earth Shaking Events

For Teachers 6th Standards
The world's largest measured earthquake happened in 1960 in Chile, reaching a terrifying 9.5 magnitude on the Richter Scale. The second lesson in the 20-part series introduces earthquakes and fault lines. Scholars map where previous...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Deadly Shadow of Vesuvius

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Students view a video clip about volcanoes. They collect data and create maps to see the relationship between volcanoes, earthquakes and plates. They share their maps with the class.
Interactive
Curated OER

Anatomy of an Earthquake

For Students 6th - 8th
In this earthquake worksheet, students read and study earthquake maps and statistics. They complete 8 short answer questions that follow.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Structure of the Earth

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders investigate earthquakes and volcanoes. They demonstrate fault lines with a folded piece of paper, conduct an erosion experiment, and construct a volcano using clay, baking soda and vinegar.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Physical Geography of Australia, Oceania, and Antarctica

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students access information from the United States Geological Survey's Web site This Dynamic Earth to research the Ring of Fire. They answer four questions and then apply what they have learned to create a bulletin board display.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

ESRI Live Earthquake Site

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers examine a World map and find earthquakes near plate boundaries. They locate and describe earthquakes in the United States and California.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Get the Drift?

For Teachers 6th - 9th
The anticipatory set is clever: give groups five minutes to work on the puzzle and then discuss what strategies they used to match the few that connected. This introduces middle schoolers to the concept of continental drift. A portion of...
Unit Plan
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Curated OER

Earthquakes: Second Grade Lesson Plans and Activities

For Teachers 2nd Standards
What causes earthquakes? Second graders learn about stresses from plate movement with a set of hands-on activities. After tracing fault lines on a map with yarn, class members create a paper plate model of Earth to show its layers...
PPT
Curated OER

Science Jeopardy - The Earth Sciences

For Teachers 6th - 8th
The earth sciences are the focus for this Jeopardy-style review game. Categories include geology, space, scientific investigation, meteorology, and oceanography. Diagrams and pictures are involved with most of the questions, making this...
Lesson Plan
Ocean Explorer

The Volcano Factory

For Teachers 5th - 6th
The tectonic processes that have resulted in the formation of the Marianas Arc, and the Marianas Trench are explored. Groups of pupils access websites that give them a wealth of information about these formations. Each group must prepare...
Interactive
PBS

Earthquakes and Volcanoes

For Students 6th - 8th
Earth's surface constantly changes thanks to a variety of geological forces; in fact, Australia currently moves faster than GPS technology. Scholars connect the idea of continental drift to earthquakes and volcanoes with the help of an...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Converging Earthquake!

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students identify the fault lines and tectonic plates on the map. In this earth science lesson, students simulate landscape formation using robots. They take a quiz at the end of the lesson to demonstrate mastery.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Journey Through Earth

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students study plate tectonics.  In this plate tectonics lesson students build a cutaway scale model of the Earth. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Moving Continents from Pangaea to the Future

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders examine how the movements of the Earth contribute to fossil distribution.  In this fossils lesson students make maps of the placement of the continents. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Plate Patterns

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students review the patterns they discovered from a previous activity.  In this investigative lesson students plot data as a class and color a map. 
Worksheet
Curated OER

Japan's Geography Worksheet

For Students 7th - 12th
In this geography skills worksheet, students label a map of Japan and then respond to 8 short answer questions about the country.
Lesson Planet Article
Curated OER

The Dynamics of Plate Tectonics

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Simple lab and modeling activities can help your students understand the movements of the Earth's crust.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Plate Patterns

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students read about a volcano and use the latitude and longitude information to plot and describe the volcano on the map. They discuss patterns seen on the map. In addition, they color code a map according to zones, plates, etc.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mapping Seamounts in the Gulf of Alaska

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Learners describe major topographic features on the Patton Seamount, and interpret two-dimensional topographic data. They create three-dimensional models of landforms from two-dimensional topographic data.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Earthquakes And Volcanoes

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Pupils investigate the concept of plate tectonics through focusing a research study upon the occurrence of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. They find information that is used for class discussion. Students complete a mapping of plates...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Explosive Ideas!

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students explore the layers of the Earth and the dynamic changes that they cause on Earth's surface. Volcanoes and earthquakes become the focus of the lesson as the Oregon State quarter and its Crater Lake images are linked to the topic.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Peru's Earthquake

For Teachers 7th - 10th
Students identify the patterns of earthquakes by mapping USGS data and comparing it to mapped tectonic plates. They discover the relationship between earthquakes and the moving plates of the Earth's crust.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Earth Forces

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners use geological techniques such as plate tectonics, mountain building, earthquakes, and volcanoes, in order to explain the earth.