Lesson Plan
Space Awareness

The Thermal Layers of Oceans

For Teachers 7th - 11th Standards
How much does the sun heat up a lake or ocean? Scholars use a cup and a strong lamp to investigate the heat transfer and thermal layers in the ocean to come up with the answer. They collect data and graph it in order to better understand...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

LAYERS OF THE EARTH

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students use construction paper to model the layers of the earth.
Worksheet
Curated OER

Earth's Layers Foldable Questions Sheet

For Students 7th - 10th
In this earth's layers activity, learners answer questions about the main layers of the earth using the model they built in the activity. They write details about each layer and answer questions.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Agents of Erosion

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders observe and identify the effects of geological activities and weathering on Earth's surface. They also take a look at reports of events such as storms, earthquakes, floods, and volcanoes. There is a hefty hands-on activity...
Unit Plan
1
1
Curated OER

Volcanoes: Third Grade Lessons Plans and Activities

For Teachers 3rd Standards
Discover how rocks are formed from volcanoes during a geology pre-lab activity. Third graders describe the volcanic rock samples and creating a model of Mt. Lassen, located in California. The lesson culminates in...
Lesson Plan
Alabama Learning Exchange

Learning the Three Layers

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students examine the Earth's crust or lithosphere, mantle and core. They complete research using assigned web sites before designing a model of the Earth using items such as Play-Doh, peaches and apples.
Lesson Plan
1
1
Baylor College

Fossil Fuels and the Carbon Cycle

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Humans are quickly depleting Earth's fossil fuels and locating them is becoming increasingly difficult! Layered muffins are used for models as young geologists take core samples in order to determine the presence of oil. Consider first...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Structure of the Earth

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders describe and identify the three layers of the Earth. They work together to construct their own earth model. They share their creation with the class.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Earth's Layers

For Teachers Pre-K - 6th
Students identify the interior layers of the Earth and analyze a diagram.  In this Earth's layers instructional activity students create a model of the Earth's interior. 
Unit Plan
Columbus City Schools

What is Up Th-air? — Atmosphere

For Teachers 7th Standards
Air, air, everywhere, but what's in it, and what makes Earth's air so unique and special? Journey through the layers above us to uncover our atmosphere's composition and how it works to make life possible below. Pupils conduct...
Activity
Curated OER

Plate Tectonics

For Teachers 4th - 10th Standards
Help young scientists piece together the theory of plate tectonics with this comprehensive collection of materials. Whether your are looking for worksheets, hands-on activities, or assessments, this resource has everything...
Activity
Colorado State University

How Far Away Is Space?

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Outer space may be a lot closer than you think! Science scholars model the layers of the atmosphere using transparencies to gain insight into the scale of space. The resource includes ideas to tailor the activity to the skill level of...
PPT
Curated OER

The Building Blocks

For Teachers 7th - 12th
This PowerPoint is a comprehensive review of all the facts related to an atom's basic structure and function. What makes this unique is that it is geared toward an audience of junior geologists. After introducing the periodic table of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Earth Changes

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students explore the make-up of the earth and the changes it undergoes in an earthquake. In this earth science lesson, students have two activities as part of a unit. First, to use a Styrofoam ball to model the earth's structure, and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Scale Model of the Earth

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students work together to create a model of the Earth. They label and identify each layer and describing its properties. They discover how engineers use models to test different concepts.
Activity
K-State Research and Extensions

The Crusty Earth

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
Geology rocks — literally! A geology chapter offers eleven activities at four different levels. Scholars enjoy completing hands-on experiments before applying critical thinking skills following a share, process, generalize, apply,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Folds in the Earth

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders demonstrate the forces that cause folds in the earths crust by use of clay modeling. They demonstrate there knowledge of terminology and concepts related to Earths folding processes by a written or oral report on data...
Unit Plan
1
1
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...
Worksheet
K12 Reader

The Grand Canyon

For Students 6th - 8th Standards
After reading s short description of the Grand Canyon, readers demonstrate their ability to use context to determine the meaning of words in the passage.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Scale of the Earth

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students create a scale model of the different eras, periods, and epochs of Earth's 4.6 billion year history. In addition to different time periods, other major events will also be added to the model from fabricated radioactive decay...
Unit Plan
1
1
Curated OER

Plate Tectonics: Fifth Grade Lesson Plans and Activities

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders continue their investigation of the plate tectonics cycle with an exploration of the movement of Earth's crust. During the lab, young geologists conduct an experiment to discover the result of different types of...
Activity
NOAA

Wooly Magma

For Students 3rd - 5th Standards
Model the earth's core with a neat activity that uses science as an inquiry and step-by-step procedures. The activity acquires a lot of assistance from the teacher or volunteer helpers. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Edible Four-Layer Earth

For Teachers 1st - 6th
This activity is designed to come after students have studied about the four main layers of the earth. They may relate the size of the sections to known objects such as the mantle to the size of a grapefruit and the outer core to the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Cruising the Mantle

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Learners 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...