Curated OER
Sun and Weather
How is the Earth's weather created? Middle schoolers will explain how the Sun's energy is transformed into different forms. They will perform mathematical calculations of volume, mass, and temperature. They they will explain the...
Virginia Department of Education
Weathering of Limestone
We all know limestone weathers, but what affects the rate of weathering? Young scientists investigate the physical and chemical weathering of limestone (chalk) through experimentation. First, they conduct trials with different-size...
Curated OER
Earthquake
Students view a video and conduct a problem solving activity to explain the effect different waves have on the earth's structure and what effect they have on different structures.
American Museum of Natural History
What is Earth?
Humans have only inhabited Earth for a short part of its existence. An online resource explains how scientists use clues from rocks and fossils to piece together information about Earth prior to humans. The online instruction includes...
Curated OER
Earthquakes
Sixth graders explore reasons for earthquakes. They discuss and describe the types of faults. Using the internet, 6th graders research a specific location of a former earthquake. They describe the damage, magnitude, the epicenter,...
Curated OER
Geological Forces and Topography
Students discuss and research the Earth's geological processes. In this geology instructional activity, students study maps of Utah and the United States to learn about geological features. Students then complete the research cards for...
Curated OER
Earth: The Water Planet
Students elicit data on the water cycle, ocean topography, and island formation in this six lesson unit. The ocean floor and the properties of water are examined through a variety of discussions and hands-on experiments.
Curated OER
Mount St. Helens Shakes and Burps
Young scholars uncover the nature of volcanoes and locate some of the world's active, dormant, and extinct volcanoes. They also discover how scientists detect, measure, and predict volcanic activity.
Curated OER
American Journeys: Right Place, Right Time
Sixth graders measure distances on a map using string and a ruler. They complete mathematical word problems about measurement.
Curated OER
Exploring Climate Change with GIS
Students investigate climatological changes that are occurring to the Earth. In this climate change lesson, students access an assigned web site to view maps and lessons that show how climate change makes a difference to life on Earth.
Curated OER
Law of Superposition
Students identify the law of superposition and it states that beds of rock in a series are laid down with the oldest at the bottom and younger layers on the top. They construct a legen for a block diagram and construct a block diagram...
Curated OER
Making Craters
Students study craters and identify the different things that characterize craters. In this crater lesson students create a model of an impact crater.
US Geological Survey
Usgs: Plate Tectonics and Mid Oceanic Ridges
Excellent graphics and understandable text about all aspects of plate tectonics including mid-ocean ridges.
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Learner: Dynamic Earth Interactives: Plate Tectonics
The resource explores the Earth. There are tutorials on plate tectonics, plates and boundaries, and the Earth's structure. There is also an introduction and an interactive activity to test the students on skills taught.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Writing About Plate Tectonics
This instructional activity is a writing assignment focussed on the use of data to support the theory of plate tectonics. It includes a scoresheet that was created for a calibrated peer review assignment. The assignment directs students...
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Learner: Dynamic Earth Interactives
Interactive tutorials on plate tectonics, plates and boundaries, and the Earth's structure convey the dynamism of geologic processes, such as earthquakes and volcanoes. Takes a multidimensional approach to coverage of basic geologic...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Our Dynamic Planet
Learn about the theory of Plate Tectonics with this site that links to a site to order a CD-ROM that contains tools for learners to investigate the theory. On the CD-ROM is included virtual plate tectonics lecture, animations,...
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Learner: Dynamic Earth Interactives: Earth's Structure
The resource explores the Earth. There are tutorials on plate tectonics, plates and boundaries, and the Earth's structure. There is also an introduction and an interactive activity to test the students on skills taught.
American Geosciences Institute
American Geosciences Institute: Dynamic Planet
Seven hands-on lessons module where students learn about our dynamic planet. These inquiry-based explorations investigate scientific models, earthquakes and seismic waves, Earth's interior, Earth movements, the lithosphere, plate...
Smithsonian Institution
National Museum of Natural History: Global Volcanism Program: This Dynamic Planet
Interactive activity that allows the learner to make their own regional map using layers of their choice such as volcanoes, craters, plate tectonics, or earthquakes. This map of the Earth zooms in and out, highlights essential processes,...
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Learner: Interactives: Dynamic Earth: Slip, Slide, & Collide
Looking for more information about plate tectonics and what happens at plate boundaries? This site gives definitions of all plate boundaries as well as animations to help visualize what is happening.
US Geological Survey
Usgs: Understanding Plate Motions
The U.S. Geological Survey provides descriptions and illustrations for the plate boundaries of the Earth's surface.
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Learner: Dynamic Earth: Plates and Boundaries
Interactive website where students can learn about movement of earth's 15 major tectonoic plates and identify types of boundaries. Includes glossary and learning game.
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Learner: Dynamic Earth Interactive
Delve into the structure of the Earth to learn what causes earthquakes, volcanoes, and more.