Worksheet
Curated OER

How do Volcanoes Fit in the Picture?

For Students 5th - 8th
In this volcanoes worksheet, students look at maps and answer short answer questions about volcanoes, plate boundaries, and earthquakes. Students complete 4 questions.
Worksheet
Curated OER

Drifting Continents

For Students 6th - 9th
In this plate tectonics activity, students study the continents map and complete 8 short answer questions related to them. They predict what the Earth will look like millions from now.
Worksheet
Curated OER

When a Map Isn't A Map...

For Students 4th - 6th
In this maps activity, students read about the Earth, sky, rivers and lakes, and more, and then answer short answer questions about it. Students complete 3 questions.
Worksheet
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Curated OER

Exploring Plate Tectonics

For Students 6th - 10th
In this plate tectonics worksheet, students complete 8 fill in the blank questions on plate boundaries, 9 short answer questions on the Earth's crust and 5 fill in the blank on continental drift. There are 3 follow questions at the end.
Lesson Plan
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My Science Box: Seafloor Spreading

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students examine the movement of plate tectonics. In this lesson on the spreading of the seafloor, students use maps and models to observe how the sea floor spreads.
Lesson Plan
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Law of Superposition

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Learners identify the law of superposition and it states that beds of rock in a series are laid down with the oldest at the bottom and younger layers on the top. They construct a legen for a block diagram and construct a block diagram...
Unit Plan
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Curated OER

Earthquakes: Third Grade Lesson Plans and Activities

For Teachers 3rd Standards
Introduce third graders to energy waves with a hands-on geology activity, in which they answer questions and compare seismograms in the San Francisco Bay area. After a demonstration that shows how bigger waves indicate a...
Unit Plan
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Curated OER

Hazards: Second Grade Lesson Plans and Activities

For Teachers 2nd Standards
Equip learners with safety knowledge in the case of an earthquake. After coloring the places to go to get help after a quake, and label places that wouldn't be safe to go after a quake, young geologists simulate three levels of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Great Continental Drift Mystery

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students stud the concept of Pangaea by using Wegener's clues to construct a map of the continents joined together. They determine how fossil distribution can be used to enhance the study of continental drift. They locate the...
Lesson Plan
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Earthquakes

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders explain that earthquakes are sudden motions along breaks in the crust called faults. They list the major geologic events including earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and mountain building, which are the result of crustal plate...
Lesson Plan
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American Journeys: Right Place, Right Time

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders measure distances on a map using string and a ruler. They complete mathematical word problems about measurement.
Lesson Plan
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Continental Drift

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students simulate convection waves using a model. For this earth science lesson, students explain the effect of plate movements to Earth's geography. They use the internet to find answers to graphic organizer questions.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The BIG One

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students observe an earthquake demonstration. They research an earthquake and use color dots to plot the location of each of their earthquakes on the large map.
Unit Plan
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Curated OER

Hazards: First Grade Lesson Plans and Activities

For Teachers 1st Standards
Examine the environmental hazards associated with volcanoes with a three-part science lesson. In the pre-lab, first graders learn that gas, landslides, ash, and lava are all hazards that come from volcanoes. They then explore...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Plotting Plates

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students investigate plate tectonics and their correlation with natural phenomena like earthquakes and volcanoes. They use the internet to see real-time data about earthquakes and volcanoes. Students plot latitude and longitude points on...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Geology of Yosemite

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Students are shown slides of Yosemite and explore how the valley was formed by performing an experiment. Instructions on how to set up the lab are included. They can be assessed orally or by writing a report on the outcome of the lab.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Pangaea Puzzle

For Teachers 5th - 11th
Learners explore plate tectonics and the formations of the Earth's surface and why maps are distorted.  In this Earth's surface lesson students complete a lab and answer questions. 
Lesson Plan
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Plate Tectonics

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students simulate the three types of plate boundaries using robots. In this earth science instructional activity, students explain how earthquakes and volcanoes are formed. They collect real-world earthquake data and plot them on the map.
Organizer
Curated OER

Plotting Earthquakes

For Students 5th - 8th
In this earthquakes worksheet, students access a website to gather information about the magnitude and location of earthquakes for 5 days. Then students complete 7 short answer questions.
Lesson Plan
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Plotting Earthquakes

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students explore earthquakes. Using the National Earthquake Information Center website, students plot daily earthquakes on a map. They observe the magnitude of each earthquake. Students identify the pattern of earthquake locations and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Prehistoric Mesosaurus

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students draw conclusions why Mesosaurus has only been found in Africa and Brazil and how its fossil remains serve as important evidence that shows where two continents were once joined together.
Lesson Plan
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Marine Animals: Stranded on the Coast

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Students identify marine animals that could become stranded due to coastal features and currents. They plot data on worksheets for locations of sea turtles actually beached or stranded. After plotting their points, they hypothesize...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Geology Rocks

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students discuss information relating to Illinois geology. They examine top mineral resources in Illinois to find detailed information about geodes and where they can be found. Students complete geode lab to explore external structure of...
Lesson Plan
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Northwest Hawaiian Islands

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students compare and contrast places around the world. Students analyze the effects of human activity on the physical environment and devise plans to address the consequences. Students also focus on geographical topics such as formation...