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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Toilet Paper Geologic Time Scale

For Teachers K - 6th
Students examine and demonstrate the extent of geologic time compared to recent time. They develop a demonstration of geologic time using an unrolled roll of toilet paper, with each sheet of toilet paper representing 20 million years.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Fossils and Geologic Time

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners explore the development of the geologic time scale. They examine the major time periods in earth's history. Students discuss the role fossils play in helping us understand history.
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Activity
Howard Hughes Medical Institute

Weighing the Evidence for a Mass Extinction Part 2: On Land

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
What can fossils tell us about periods of extinction? Young scholars interpret fossil layers to make conclusions about changes in life during different geological time periods. They analyze the fossils for abundance and diversity as well...
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Activity
Howard Hughes Medical Institute

Following the Trail of Evidence

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
One important skill in analyzing scientific evidence is identifying facts versus opinions. Scholars identify pieces of evidence from the film The Day the Mesozoic Died and then discuss this evidence in small groups at the end of each act...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Understanding the Geologic Timescale

For Teachers 7th - 10th
Young scholars identify and analyze how the geologic time scale was developed by investigating 11 periods of time and the vast expanse of time of the Earth's existence. They study their period, determine the important factors indicative...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Change Through Time

For Students 9th - 12th
In this evolution worksheet, students will complete a table by writing in the era and biological event based on 4 different time periods of Earth's history. Students will answer 8 fill in the blank questions based on the different origin...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Science NetLinks: Fossils and Geologic Time

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students investigate the development of the geologic time scale. Also, to introduce them to the major time periods in earth's history, as well as to the role fossils play in helping us understand this history.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Incorporating 3D Visualizations into Your Classroom

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers make observations through 3-D visualizations. They explore scientific and geologic processes through the use of 3-D pictures.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Fossils Footprints Across Time

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students examine fossils to understand how they are formed and how they give information about geological history. In this fossil activity, students research and write about fossils and make models of different fossil types.The PDF...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sculptors of the Earth

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students observe evidence of erosion and various rock formations that have formed as a result of erosion and weathering. Their task is to explain how the forces of weathering and erosion contributed to sculpturing these rocks into arches...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Weathering and Erosion

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders take a look at the effects of weathering and other geologic activities found in the environments in which they live. Along with a guided geologic walk outside of campus, there is also an effective in-class demonstration of...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Agents of Erosion

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders observe and identify the effects of geological activities and weathering on Earth's surface. They also take a look at reports of events such as storms, earthquakes, floods, and volcanoes. There is a hefty hands-on activity...
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Unit Plan
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Curated OER

Volcanoes: Second Grade Lesson Plans and Activities

For Teachers 2nd Standards
Young geologists explore volcanoes with a series of engaging geology activities. First, they learn the difference between magma and lava before coloring and labeling the parts of a volcano. During the lab, individuals watch a...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

VARVES: Dating Sedimentary Strata: Geology, Paleontological Patterns

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students count the number of varves (annual layers of sediment) in shale billets, taken from the Green River Formation in Wyoming. The count is then extended to reflect the entire 260 meters of sediments where the billets originated.
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Lesson Plan
PBS

Earth’s Ever-Changing Surface

For Teachers 6th - 8th
The Grand Canyon formed between five and six million years ago, but is it still changing? Scholars explore 10 sites in the United States, including the Grand Canyon, to better understand the geoscience processes that formed these...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Changes Over Time

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders identify and classify changes in their lives. During the second lesson students record observations of Blue Palo Verde seed pods and predict changes over time leading to further investigations.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lahar Travel Time

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders analyze published geologic hazard maps of California and comprehend how to use the map's information to identify evidence of geologic events of the past and present and predict geologic changes in the future. They select...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Who Was Here First? Relative Dating

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Learners read about and complete question activities for the topic of relative dating. In this relative dating lesson, students read information for the topic and then complete two activities to further their understanding of geologic...
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Lesson Plan
NASA

Mystery Planet

For Teachers 2nd - 8th
What can one learn about a planet based on a small surface sample? Learners will explore artifacts from a mystery planet and see what they can determine about the planet based on the evidence in front of them. 
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Activity
Discovery Education

The Time of Our Life

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Mammals are some of the newest organisms to appear on Earth. Young scholars complete an activity that results in a timeline showing the appearance of different types of living organisms. Provided with a list that spans from prokaryotes...
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Lesson Plan
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Channel Islands Film

Island Rotation: Lesson Plan 3

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
How far have California's Channel islands moved? What was the rate of this movement? Class members first examine data that shows the age of the Hawaiian island chain and the average speed of the Pacific Plate. They then watch West of the...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Coastal Geology and Geomorphology

For Students 9th - 12th
In this coastal geology worksheet, learners use Google Earth to locate and identify different types of landforms and phenomena that occur along a coast. This worksheet has 2 short answer questions.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Geology and the Battle of Gettysburg

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students create geologic maps of the Gettysburg battlefield. In this geologic skills instructional activity, students consider the variations of Earth's surfaces and explore strategies employed by the North and South in the Battle of...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Dinosaurs

For Students 5th - 6th
In this earth science worksheet, students match each vocabulary term, that names something specific related to earth science, with its correct description found in the right column. They identify different types of scientists and various...