Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Two Rivers Ran Through It

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders discover the problems that early Mesototamian farmers faced while developing agriculture in the land between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. They design a working model that solves those unique challenges.
Lesson Plan
BBC

Sound and Hearing

For Teachers 1st - 2nd
First and second graders recognize that sound is generated in a variety of ways, and that it comes from many different sources. They explore tone and volume, realizing that there are different ways to describe sound. Some musical...
Lesson Plan
BBC

Light and Shadows

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Light is such an amazing thing! Elementary schoolers explore the wonderful world of light and shadow. The lesson is meant to be carried out on a whiteboard. Objects are placed in front of a light source, and learners must predict what...
Lesson Plan
Agriculture in the Classroom

Wad-a-Watershed

For Teachers 3rd - 5th Standards
What kind of impact do humans have on watersheds? Find out in a lesson that defines, explores, and promotes ways to protect our watersheds. The ultimate goal of the lesson is for learners to discover how a watershed is impacted by...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Get the Dirt

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students investigate a variety of soil samples placed in cold water jars. Layers of soil are examined for the difference between organic matter and rock fragments.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Do You See What I See?

For Teachers 2nd - 7th
Students hypothesize the role of rocks, soil, and water by observing a terrarium and create a model to explore the water cycle. This is part of a five station set up.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ride the Wild Leaf Cycle

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders explore plant life by completing an Internet activity. For this botany lesson, 4th graders identify the types of plants that grow locally and the different soils they utilize to survive. Students read assigned text about...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sediment Tubes

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students observe how different density soils and rocks behave in wind and in water. They make predictions and careful observations as they explore sediment transport and sediment rates in streams and rivers.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Digging in the Dirt

For Teachers 1st
First graders awareness is raised that not all dirt is the same. They compare and observe particle sizes in three different kinds of soils. They keep a record book of what the discover and talk about how some soils are alike and some...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mud in the Water

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students build a soil erosion model to study the importance of soil conservation. They investigate how land forms from both constructive and destructive forces.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Special Relationship: Connecticut and Its Settlers

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students study both geological and geographical features of Connecticut and the New Haven area. They focus on map works and rock formation.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Erosion

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Young scholars discover the meaning of the word erosion and discuss effects of rocks and sticks upon the soil. They then work in small groups to construct a model of erosion to make observations and then write them in their science...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Playground Pounding

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students view photographs depicting soil compression. They use soil and sponges to observe how soil can be compacted, and its implications.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What Is Mining

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Student develop a vocabulary of "mining words" and study about exploring and mining for minerals. They break into groups and are assigned an area at the "mine" to do their "exploration" for the valuable "coal". The coal is represented...
Worksheet
Curated OER

The Dirt We Depend On- Characteristics of Dirt Reading Comprehension Worksheet

For Students 4th - 5th
In this reading comprehension worksheet, students read a selection about dirt and soil characteristics. They answer 10 matching questions and 5 multiple choice questions based on the information given in the non-fiction article.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Vermicomposting

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders explore insect life by viewing a soil presentation in class. In this composting lesson, 4th graders read assigned text about the process of composting soil and the necessity of soil in plant life. Students view video clips...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Data Sampling

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students discover data sampling. In this science lesson plan, students explore data sampling and turn the data collected into useful information by making graphs and using them to solve problems.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Different Environments

For Teachers K - 3rd
Students read literature selection, discuss habitat, divide habitats into different categories such as water, soil, and land, list animals that live in each habitat, and describe habitats using descriptive words in vocabulary list.
Worksheet
Curated OER

Land of No Trees

For Students 4th - 8th
In this Land of No Trees worksheet, students read a passage titled "Land of No Trees" about the Arctic Tundra and complete an experiment and short answer questions about it. Students complete an experiment with a plastic container, soil,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Activity #4 Ground Water Model In a Jar

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students devlop a model, which they illustrate a water table and allow for the discussion of common terms and illustrate what those terms mean. They comprehend that a flow rates, removal of contaminants, and the amount of water stored...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Plop! Plop! Fizz! Fizz!

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders study physical and chemical weathering. They explain how the processes of weathering and erosion change and move materials that become soil. They create a K-W-L chart to show what they know and list what else they would...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Groundwater as Part of the Water Cycle

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders study the effects of soil and rocks on filtering groundwater.  In this groundwater lesson students complete a lab activity that includes sources of contamination. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

LOSING GROUND

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Students will observe wind erosion and how crop residue prevents erosion.Point out the three kinds of fields to the students. Do as much or as little instruction as needed to explain the pan with crop residue. Conservation tillage...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water Table

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students predict from a rock sample whether a water well could be drilled in that type of rock. They predict what conditons would be necessary for the well to produce water.