Curated OER
Soapy Stress
Students investigate the three types of material stress related to rocks. They identify the three types of stress, conduct a simulation by breaking bars of soap using only their hands, and complete a worksheet.
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Probing Below the Surface of Mars
Students simulate the search for water in Mars using simple apparatus. In this space science lesson, students explain how soil temperature affects the cooling of probes. They graph the data collected from the simulation.
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Forces in Action
Students investigate questions centered around force and motion by going through the scientific process and creating fair tests and experimentation. In this lesson about forces-in-action, students diagram their findings and explore other...
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Plants and Ecosystems
The relationships within and between ecosystems can be explored. after examining an area for living and non-living things students complete the same examination in the forest ecosystem. Students identify abiotic and biotic elements in an...
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Unit Lesson Plan Template
First graders listen to the book The Story of Sand and make predictions about an investigation based on soil, sand, and silt. For this sand lesson, 1st graders work in groups to discuss their observations about sand and answer higher...
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Nebraska's Geology, Soils, Groundwater Regions, and Topographic Regions
Students examine the distribution of geology, soils, groundwater, topography, and geography in Nebraska. They identify various regions and characteristics on a map, and develop a plan to manage the soil and groundwater resources of the...
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Detecting Magnetic Materials in "Martian" Soil
Students simulate some of the Pathfinder experiments by devising methods of collecting and measuring magnetic substances in pseudo-Martian soil. The efficiency of each of the methods used to collect materials is evaluated in this...
K12 Reader
What Glaciers Leave Behind
Glaciers may seem distant and stationary, but they are huge deposits of moving ice that have made changes to the earth's surface. Your pupils can learn about the different types of impressions left by glaciers by reading the short...
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Is it Permeable?
The question is posed, is it permeable or impermeable, it's up to your critical thinkers to determine the answer. This presentation provides several scientific concepts related to permeability and the properties of matter alongside...
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What on Earth?
Second graders investigate the different living and nonliving things they can find on Earth. In this life science lesson, 2nd graders record their observations as they dig into the soil. They examine them under the magnifying glass and...
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Reflecting on Reflectivity
Students plan and construct a "mini-lab" to measure the reflectivity of different earth surfaces. They measure reflectivity of materials, including ice, soil, rocks, etc., and then extrapolate from what they have learned to consider the...
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What Makes Up Your Profile?
Second graders understand what a profile is and relate to the profile of soil. In this soil profile activity students use cereal to simulate soil profile. Students draw and label their profiles using accurate soil vocabulary.
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The Ogre Bully
Students listen to the book, The Ogre Bully, and discuss the problems the farmer and his family had during the story. In this garden themed lesson plan, students examine different fruit and vegetables and plant them in soil to...
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Wonder Underground
Students classify and record objects they find "underground." In this observation instructional activity, students dig into bins filled with soil and encounter various objects such as bark, twigs, etc. Students classify their findings.
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Building a Terrarium System
Young scholars create their own terrariums. In this ecological model instructional activity, students create terrariums using soil, seeds, pebbles, and two liter bottles. Young scholars compare the elements of a...
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To Protect Your Streams, Protect Your Mountains
Young scholars build and experiment with a watershed to understand the effects of pollution. In this movement of water lesson, students work in groups creating rock formations and change the viscosity of the liquids falling down the...
Alabama Learning Exchange
The Earth Has Many Layers
Students conduct an experiment. In this Earth's layers lesson, students learn about soil, sand and rock. They complete their own Jell-O Mountain and investigate the Earth's layers on-line.
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Earthquakes
Fifth graders explore the causes of earthquakes and the various types of fault lines through a variety of hands-on demonstrations using prepared cakes. They record their observations in their science journals.
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Living or Non-Living
Students examine living and non-living things. In this life science lesson, students are given a group of objects and discuss if they are living or non-living. Students identify and list characteristics of living things.
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Bringing Dinosaurs Back to Life
Students explain how the earth makes fossils and how dinosaur remains become fossils. In this Bringing Dinosaurs Back to Life lesson plan, students solve paleo-puzzles which ask students to solve problems as if they were paleontologists....
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Water, Water Everywhere, Even Underground
The "Engage" section of a wetlands lesson plan asks young ecologists to examine a wetlands poster. You can easily find one online and display it using a projector. Pupils immerse a piece of sandstone and a piece of granite in water to...
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Survival Under a Rock
Students investigate ways that animals adapt to their environments through hands-on activities using isopods and an interactive video.
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Earth System Science
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...
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Groundwater Basics
Groundwater is an essential natural resource, not to mention a fascinating topic to study. Here is a series of twelve amazing lessons on the water source and how we use it in our daily lives. Concepts require higher math and physics...