Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Earth Book

For Teachers 1st
After viewing a teacher-led demonstration on a variety of landforms of the Earth, 1st graders create an Earth book. This nicely-done hands-on lesson has students produce books that describe, in pictures and words, different aspects of...
Lesson Plan
Science Matters

Landforms from Volcanoes

For Teachers 6th Standards
Three major types of volcanoes exist: cinder cone, composite/strata, and shield. The 18th lesson in a 20-part series covers the various landforms created from volcanoes. Scholars work in pairs to correctly identify the three...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Landforms in a Tub

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders use common household items to build landforms and simulate weathering and erosion.
Lesson Plan
Space Awareness

Valleys Deep and Mountains High

For Teachers 8th - Higher Ed
Sometimes the best view is from the farthest distance. Satellite imaging makes it possible to create altitude maps from far above the earth. A three-part activity has your young scientists play the role of the satellite and then use...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

History of the Earth

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students work together in groups to research the characteristics of the Mesozoic Era. Using various sources, they must include information about climate, landforms, plants and animals found during this time period. They create a...
Lesson Plan
National Park Service

Glaciers and Water

For Teachers 4th - 8th Standards
Explore the amazing power of glaciers with a hands-on earth science experiment! After first learning basic background information, learners go on to create their very own chunks of frozen water and gravel in order to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Earth's Crust

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students use clay to form models of the different landforms and then complete a data table using a map, atlas, or the Internet to locate famous landforms in the United States. Students complete various activities, writing down their...
PPT
Mr. E. Science

Erosion and Deposition

For Students 6th - 8th
Get an in-depth look into erosion and deposition with a 23-slide presentation that details how gravity, water, waves, wind, and glaciers cause changes to the Earth's surface. Each slide consists of detailed images equipped with labels,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Tic-Tac-Toe for Layers of the Earth

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders identify the different layers of the earth. In this earth science lesson, 8th graders choose a project to do from a given list according to their learning style. They present their finished project in class.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Tall as a Mountain, Flat as a Plain

For Teachers K
Students examine a variety of landforms that are found on the Earth and compare and contrast the distinguishing qualities of these forms. A topographical model of the landforms is made.
Worksheet
Curated OER

Planets

For Students 6th - 10th
In this planets learning exercise, students read about Mercury, Venus, and Earth and then complete 21 multiple choice, 2 true or false, and 1 short answer question.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Wet Water, Dry Land

For Teachers K - 3rd
Students observe and examine relationship between landforms and bodies of water, recognizing differences between them. Students then define island, peninsula, isthmus, archipelago, lake, bay, straight, system of lakes, and identify land...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Erosion

For Students 7th - 9th
In this earth science activity, students describe the course of the river from its source to the mouth, including shapes of the valleys and erosion processes in each course. Then they identify possible types of erosion that would have...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rock Cycle

For Teachers 3rd
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...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Playground Changes

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students develop both writing and artistic skills as they document changes in their school environment. They observe how the environment of their school playground changes throughout the year by drawing and describing plants, animals,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water Speed and Erosion

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders investigate the process of water erosion. They observe the roots of a plant and discuss the concept of erosion. Next, in small groups they conduct an experiment to observe how water erodes soil on a stream table, and...
Lesson Planet Article
Curated OER

Investigating the Hydrosphere

For Teachers 4th - 8th
No matter the scientific discipline, your students can benefit from a study of water.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Carving Mountains

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students explore geography by participating in an illustration activity. In this land-form lesson, students define vocabulary terms associated with glaciers and forests. Students utilize pens, cardboard and pottery clay to draw and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How the Environment Effects our Feelings

For Teachers 1st
First graders compare images and discuss their feelings created by an artist's work. They explore the correlation between experiencing feelings in art and literature and feelings caused by changes in weather.
Handout
Australian Museum

Australian Museum: Structure of Volcanoes

For Students 9th - 10th
A comprehensive site covering everything from volcanic structures to pyroclastic materials. View pictures of major volcanic landforms, and volcanic rocks.
Handout
Other

Southern Kings Consolidated School: Loess

For Students 9th - 10th
This site describes loess in pretty good detail, also adding visual with two pictures. Great source for understanding how loess occurs and where it is found.
Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Investigating the Geologic History of Southeast Minnesota

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This activity is an inquiry-based, earth science field investigation of the geology of southeast Minnesota. Students will make observations of rock outcrops and landforms in the region using maps, pictures, and field sampling, then use...