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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rock Stories

For Teachers K - 2nd
Youngsters pretend they are rocks sitting on a hill. They listen to the provided guided imagery script to conceptualize the process of how rocks change over time. They draw a diagram of what happened to them as rocks during the story. An...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Surface Water and Groundwater

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students examine distribution of water and minerals. In this surface and groundwater instructional activity, students conduct an experiment with fresh and salt water making hypothesis and drawing conclusions about minerals. 
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rocks on Parade!

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders describe and classify rock samples. In this rock lesson, 3rd graders make inferences about rock samples by observing and measuring them. This lesson contains 5 different stations for the students to go to. 
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Down To Earth

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders study the physical properties of minerals in order to identify them. They examine how minerals are used before taking part in a activity in which they market toothpaste made from specific minerals.
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Minerals and Rocks

For Students 9th - 11th
In this geology worksheet, students locate 55 rock and mineral terms in a word search. Answers to the word search are available in various formats.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Birthstone Project With a Multimedia Twist

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students research and discover their birthstones, studying the stones within the context of earth science. They examine the mineral industry, their own birthstones, and create multimedia presentations.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Our Earth: Storehouse of Natural Resources

For Teachers 7th - 10th
Students listen to an explanation of the science of the mining industry and create a geological map of Africa. They discuss the uses of minerals and resources and research a natural mineral resource in their part of the world.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mining for Mmm-minerals

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners explore minerals and examine environmental impact of mining through simulation.
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Worksheet
Curated OER

A Few Minerals

For Students All
In this geology worksheet, students locate thirty-two mineral terms in a word search puzzle. Answers to the puzzle are available in various formats.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rock Sorting Activity

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students organize rock samples according to their properties. In this earth science activity, students predict whether they are igneous, metamorphic or sedimentary. They compare their prediction with the actual type.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Potential Consequences of Climate Variability and Change

For Teachers 1st - 12th
Students analyze the impact of climate variability and change utilizing a broad span of topics over a wide range of grade levels. This three lesson unit is easily adapted for the various instructional levels listed.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

4.2: Exploring Rocks

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Young scholars collect and look at rocks and write down information about them in science notebooks. They make comparisons and sort the rocks according to their properties, and then discuss their findings with their classmates and put...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

"Investigating Soil Color and Texture"

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders will identify/understand the differences between soil and dirt. They will classify soil color accurately and use Munsell notation to describe it (Munsell books provided).Students will classify soil texture using the feel...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Geology Rocks

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers discuss information relating to Illinois geology. They examine top mineral resources in Illinois to find detailed information about geodes and where they can be found. Students complete geode lab to explore external...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Crystal Growing

For Teachers 1st - 9th
Students grow crystals and document their observations by recording timeing and growth. Additional characteristics of crystals are observed under a black light, by growing under different conditions and mineral content is determined.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

This Mine of Mine

For Teachers K - 4th
Students explore natural resources by conducting a geology experiment in class. In this mineral mining lesson, students discuss the types of geological material that can be found when mining and the uses for these resources such as coal....
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Geologic Age

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students investigate radioactivity as a tool for measuring geologic time and how geologists use this information to determine the absolute age of rocks or minerals.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Performing Well Under Pressure

For Teachers 9th - 11th
Students examine the properties of minerals and show examples of the functions.  In this minerals instructional activity students create models of different minerals.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Geology- Gemstones, Fossils and Rocks Quiz

For Teachers 4th - 5th
In this earth science quiz worksheet, students answer 10 fill-in-the-blank questions about gemstones, fossils, and rocks. They see pictures of rocks, minerals, and a dinosaur fossil on the page. They check their answers with the word...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

The Metamorphic Rocks Worksheet

For Students 5th - 7th
In this earth science worksheet, learners read about the evolution of metamorphic rock, the most common types, and the make-up of metamorphic rock. They look at diagrams of the intensity of metamorphism before answering 7 short answer...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

NASA's Mars Gamble Pays Off Part 2

For Teachers 10th
Tenth graders explore the planet of Mars. In this Earth Science lesson, 10th graders read articles on the make up of Mars. Students complete a worksheet on their reading.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Geology Quiz- Common Rocks

For Teachers 4th - 5th
For this earth science quiz worksheet, students attempt to guess the name of the rocks based on the descriptions that are given on the page. They determine the names of 10 rocks that are igneous or sedimentary, and check their work with...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rock Identification Lab

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders compare and contrast the three different types of rock. In this earth science lesson, 8th graders classify rock samples according to their correct rock type. They design their own data collection table.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Formation of Soil

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students identify the different components that make up soil. In this earth science lesson, students create a pamphlet for next year's class. They analyze how erosion and weathering shape the Earth.