American Museum of Natural History
What Do You Know About Earth?
Time to rock and roll! Young scientists test their knowledge about rocks found on Earth and what they tell scientists. A 10-question quiz focuses on the different types of rocks, how they are formed, and what they are made of.
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Earthquakes: First Grade Lesson Plans and Activities
First graders explore how earthquakes release energy in a set of hands-on activities. During the pre-lab, they discover how energy from an earthquake releases waves through the earth using a water-filled cup and pebbles. Youngsters...
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Volcanic Violence
Students complete activities to study volcanic activities. In this volcanic activities lesson, students read an article about violent volcanoes. Students complete discuss questions and volcano projects for the lesson. students also take...
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Life on a Fiery Planet
Learners study the effects on the evolution of human culture from volcanic events worldwide.
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I Got a Lava Livin' to Do in Pompeii
Scholars imagine themselves as citizens of Pompeii in 79 AD. First they are assigned a job (or place in society like a child or slave). Then they record their daily activities for the weeks leading up to the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in...
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Geological Pyrotechnics
Students will be amazed at the wonders of volcanoes and learn about their characteristics as they build these models.
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Plate Tectonic Cycle
Students 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....
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Mapping Plate Boundaries
Students discover plate boundaries based on the uneven geographic occurrence of geologic hazards. After discussing geologic hazards, students plot different sets of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions on maps.
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In the Rain Shadow
Young scholars charts the rainfall averages on either side of a mountain range. In this water cycle lesson, students discover that mountain ranges affect weather patterns. Young scholars pretend they are air traffic controllers and must...
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Constructive and Destructive forces
Young scholars explore constructive and destructive forces. In this constructive and destructive forces lesson, students complete a WebQuest. Young scholars explore the different types of forces and their effect on the surrounding...
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A Visit to Southern Africa - Volcano
Students examine a cookie that represents pumice and lava in order to realize that lava is a composite of many rock particles. They compare and contrast pumice to the cookie by estimating, weighing, measuring and dissecting the cookie...
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World's Most Powerful Explosions
In this explosions worksheet, students review some of the most powerful explosions that have taken place around the world throughout history. This worksheet has 17 short answer questions.
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Shake, Rattle and Erupt
Students study myths regarding four earthquakes myths. They receive a list of supplies each family should have at home to prepare for an earthquake and construct an "Earthquake Preparation" poster showing some of the most important items...
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Pass the Plate
Students define constructive forces. They describe how landforms are created as a result of constructive forces. Students recognize active volcano areas in the United States. They demonstrate an understanding of Panagea.
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May 18, 1980 - Mount St. Helens
In this writing prompt worksheet, students learn that on May 18, 1980, Mount St. Helens erupted. Students use resources in the classroom to learn five facts about Mount St. Helens and summarize them in their own words.
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A Place in Time
Students become familiar with an eruptive history and related world events and impart a sense of the immensity of geological time. They explore timelines by creating their own, then are introduced to major eruptive periods of Mount St....
ESL Flow
Natural Disasters
Students examine different natural disasters. For this natural disaster lesson plan students complete a worksheet that has the students label the pictures of natural disasters and answer questions.
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About to Explode
Young scholars explore Mount St. Helens' quiet eruption of 2004-2005. They examine different types of eruptions and then present creative first-hand accounts of different volcanic eruptions in history.
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Plotting Plates
Students investigate plate tectonics and their correlation with natural phenomena like earthquakes and volcanoes. They use the internet to see real-time data about earthquakes and volcanoes. Students plot latitude and longitude points on...
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Fallout!
Students plot the locations of fallout from two disasters that polluted much of the world's air. They plot the ash fallout from the 1980 Mt. St. Helen's eruption to see what the wind patterns in the United States look like overall. Next...
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Volcanic Wrath
Students observe volcanic action using an internet Web site of satellite photographs. Stuents create a portfolio of observable features.
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Using My Nasa Data To Determine Volcanic Activity
Students use NASA satellite data of optical depth as a tool to determine volcanic activity on Reunion Island during 2000-2001. They access the data and utilize Excel to create a graph that has optical depth as a function of time for the...
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Look at Those Leaves!
Students observe leaves. In this math and science cross-curriculum leaf lesson, students take a nature walk and collect leaves. Attributes are assigned and leaves are sorted in various ways. Students use non-standard or standard units of...
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Plate Tectonics: First Grade Lesson Plans and Activities
A set of first grade geology lessons focuses on plate tectonics and movement of plate boundaries. During the pre-lab, learners experience three types of plate movement through a kinesthetic demonstration. The lab demonstrates stresses...