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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Global Climate Change

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders investigate the effect of melting glaciers to sea level. In this earth science instructional activity, 2nd graders simulate the process in the lab by conducting an experiment using ice cubes and clay. They explain the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Normal (dip-slip) Earthquake!

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students label the fault lines and tectonic plate boundaries on the world map. In this earth science lesson, students simulate ocean floor formation using CEENboTs. They explain the causes of earthquakes.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Summer Sky Tour

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore space science by participating in a constellation identification activity. In this astronomy lesson, students view star charts based on the different seasons and define a list of astronomy related terms. Students...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Soil Composition: Then and Now

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Students identify the location of their school from a 1926 digitized Soil Sample map. Using remaining landforms, they determine the type of soil identified during that time, and compare it to the soil currently found near the school.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Currently Warm

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders investigate how ocean currents affect climate. In this earth science activity, 7th graders draw and label the current in their assigned ocean. They discuss how currents from the poles differ from the equator.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Where Are All the Fish?

For Teachers 1st - 5th
Students identify the problems that marine life is facing today. In this marine science lesson, students explain how Marine Protected Areas can help the ocean and the fish. They brainstorm ways to help in the conservation effort.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Exploring Ultraviolet (UV) Light From the Sun

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers identify the different energy given off by the sun. In this earth science lesson, students predict where the UV beads will turn the darkest color. They explain the importance of using UV protection.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Keeping Things Toasty in New Zealand

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Pupils identify the signs of a volcanic eruption. In this earth science lesson, students compose a letter to their neighbor convincing them of an impending eruption. They recognize the danger in living near a volcano.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

For Creative Minds

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students study pictures of plants, animals, and minerals. Students classify the pictures into the three groups. In this rock identification lesson, students complete a rock finding lab experiment by finding, cleaning, identifying, and...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Clouds

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students explore various cloud types. In this earth science lesson, students use pictures of the four types of clouds and identify them by name. Students construct pictures of clouds using chalk and blue paper.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Science: Studies of Earth

For Teachers All
Using a digital camera to document local landscapes as they are today, students will explore how changes in human land use are impacting local environments. Students will also explore some of the social impacts of various land uses in...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Global Change- Earth as Home

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students create their own environment. In this environmental protection lesson, students pretend they are the owners of a tropical island. They create jobs for the citizens and develop the island as a model environment.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Save the Earth, it's Everyone's Home!

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students examine trash for items to recycle and reuse.  In this trash lesson, students explore how people in the community can use recycled and reused items as they play a recycling game.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

4.5: Exploring Uses of Rocks & Minerals

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students, in pairs, use observation skills to identify objects from the past and present in our environment made of rocks and minerals of Illinois.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Earth From Space

For Teachers K - 8th
Students watch a series of programs from NASA titled "Earth From Space". After viewing the program, they identify ways NASA is researching the reasons why the Earth is changing. They discuss the various levels of the atmosphere and...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

All I Want for Christmas is a Nice, Clean Earth

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students observe properties of items, determine time it takes for organic/inorganic items to decompose, identify differences/similarities between decomposition, identify practical uses in litter/garbage control, & establish reasons...
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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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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

THE EARTH FROM ABOVE

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Young scholars comprehend the geographic themes of location, movement, and human-environment interaction. They identify ways in which individuals depend upon each other within their community. Students identify examples of linkages and...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Talking Earth: a Research Lesson

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders read the book, "The Talking Earth" and research an animal that is found in the Everglades.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Earth's Surfaces

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Young scholars identify and define geology and earth surface vocaulary and their meanings to classify rocks and explore caves and their properties. Students find rocks and test them according to Moh's scale. They create a color coded...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Powering a Green Earth

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students compare and contrast renewable and nonrenewable energy. In this environmental science lesson, students discuss the importance of going green. They identify the different components in a power grid system.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Geology/Earth Structure

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders examine the rock-soil cycle. They identify the steps and describe what happens. They also discover the three layers of soil.
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Sand Hunt

For Students 6th - 8th
In this earth science learning exercise, students identify and locate various rocks and minerals listed on the sheet. Then they describe each one in the boxes given.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Basin & Range Faulting

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students identify that the crust of the earth is constantly moving and that with the exception of faults accompanied by earthquakes, this rate of movement is far too slow to notice. Then they print a copy of cross-section map A and...