Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Weathering

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders explore weathering and how the water cycle plays a part in weathering. In this weathering lesson, 2nd graders put gravel and sugar cubes in a jar and shake, simulating weathering. Students use the scientific method to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Regents High School Examination: Physical Setting Earth Science 2006

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Test your class on earth science with this extensive resource. This test, created by The University of the State of New York Regents, is made up of 50 multiple choice questions and 32 short answer questions that cover the branches of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Layering the Soil

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students study and classify soil. For this soil science lesson, students classify soil by texture and size and study soil horizons. Students label the soil types with their specific soil horizon and learn about permafrost. Students...
Lesson Plan
PBS

Breaking it Down

For Teachers 4th - 12th
After challenging themselves to correctly choose the form of erosion and length of time required for a given landform to develop, earth science class members model mechanical and chemical weathering with various lab demonstrations over...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

2.2: Sedimentary Rocks

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders discuss the geologic rock cycle and work with their group to simulate creating a sedimentary rock. They conduct an experiment that demonstrates the sedimentary process and draw the steps of the rock cycle.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sampling Rocks

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students investigate rocks. In this earth science lesson plan, students collect rocks from the schoolyard and describe each of the rocks. Students measure and weigh each rock and record the results. Students create a rock guide for the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Let's Rock

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students investigate the property of rocks and how to distinguish among the different types. They explore the hardness of rocks and perform streak tests to determine mineral color. They classify rocks according to their properties.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Plate Tectonic Cycle

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Learners explore the Earth's movements by completing worksheets. In this plate tectonics lesson, students define such natural disasters as volcanoes, earthquakes, tsunamis and mudslides and discuss their connections to plate tectonics....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What Goes Around Comes Around

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students investigate how the ocean plays a part in the water cycle. In this earth science instructional activity, students locate a puddle outside and mark it with chalk. Students observe the changes in the water during the next two days.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water Supply

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders complete three activities. In this water supply lesson, 4th graders learn that water can exist in different forms and watch a demonstration of each form. Students explore the water cycle and make a water cycle using the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Processes of the Rock Cycle

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students explore, predict, and create each major rock form (sedimentary, metamorphic, and igneous) with colored modeling clay, discover cycle of rock formation, and examine important relationships of heat and pressure in rock development.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rock Cycle SIOP Unit

For Teachers 5th - 10th
Young scholars collect rocks, identify them, classify them, investigate their properties, and more. In this rocks lesson plan, students also experiment with soil and erosion and weather.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Earth System Science

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students explore the Earth and its ability to support life. They discuss the geosphere and the water cycle and complete the Water Wonders activity. After completing the activity, they respond in their journals and reflect upon the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Florida's Springs

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students illustrate how water is stored and the water cycle. They discover how underground water can become contaminated.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Erosion And the Cycling of Rocks And Minerals

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students investigate the concept of erosion by water in a problem solving activity. In small groups, they are assigned either sand, potting soil or rocks to construct a mountain that will hold up to a sprinkler can of water dripping on...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rocks and Soil

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers explore the physical properties of rocks. They explore the three different types of rocks and are able to compare and contrast their different properties. Students simulate the creation of sedimentary rock, they also...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Keying Rocks

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders observe several examples of types of rock and write about their similarities and differences in their science journals. They discuss their observations and discover that rocks are grouped according to the scientific...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Let's Take a Rock Apart!

For Teachers K - 12th
Students examine a crushed rock and sort the minerals they find in that rock by color and other properties.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

You've Got to Be Cool to Make Igneous Rocks

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students describe how igneous rocks are formed, design a classification system to group igneous rocks and develop a controlled experiment to prove that the rate of cooling affects the size of the crystals.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rock Solid

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students investigate the three types of material stress related to rocks. They watch a PowerPoint Presentation, view an online animation of the three types of rock stress, identify the various types of rocks, answer true or false...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rock On!

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders make models of igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks out of different types of candy and cookies.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Metamorphic Rock Pancakes

For Teachers 2nd - 8th
Students identify the properties of a metamorphic rock. They make delicious pancakes on a hot griddle at school to simulate how metamorphic rocks are made.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Igneous Rocks

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders examine igneous rocks in this lesson. They discuss the rock cycle and how rocks form. They also explore volcanic activities and build their own volcano.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rocks and Soil: What is the Land Made of?

For Teachers 8th - 11th
Learners identify rock classifications and rock cycles.  In this rocks and soils lesson students complete experiments on rocks and how they are symbols in the Bible.