Curated OER
Three Main Rock Groups
Students are introduced to igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks. They use foods to demonstrate the basic formation of each type of rock, read books about rock formation and view related videos.
Curated OER
Bhutan, the Last Shangri-La: Sandwich Squash: How the Himalayas Were Formed
Students create and record a model of mountain formation. They identify major mountain building formations. Students understand how the Himalaya Mountains were formed, why they are located near Bhutan, and why they are becoming larger.
Curated OER
Biomes: Extreme Climate
Middle schoolers create a web connecting global warming, the Arctic, and wold climate. They write a paragraph explaining the role of the Arctic in world climate.
Curated OER
Extreme Climate
Students discuss global warming, greenhouse effect, permafrost and other key words. In this climate instructional activity students create a web that connects global warming, the Arctic and world climate then write a paragraph...
Curated OER
Minimize the Effects of Fire
Students explore environmental safety by reading assigned text in class. In this fires instructional activity, students discuss the benefits and negative aspects of lighting a fire near a campground. Students list other ways to avoid...
Curated OER
Let's Go! Virtual Yellowstone Tour
Students research the geologic wonders of Yellowstone National Park. They locate the main geologic features of Yellowstone on a map of the park. Students write a description of the geologic features to be included on the map for a...
Curated OER
A Recipe for Soil
Fourth graders use local materials such as leaves and other plant matter; sand and pebbles to make soil. They plant seeds in the manufactured soil and in natural soil and then observe and record the results.
Curated OER
Modeling the Rock Cycle
Students explore the differences in sedimentary, metamorphic, and igneous rocks. They discuss the rock cycle of the different formations. Students discuss how rock is formed into different shapes. They explore, predict, and create each...
Curated OER
Layers of Time in the Earth
Students are introduced to the concept of stratification as a historical and geological process. Students will read about the Richard Beene archaeological site, which lies near San Antonio, Texas on the Medina River, and watch a short...
Curated OER
The Effects of Volcanoes
Students use the internet to research the effects of volcanoes. They create a chart showing the negative and positive aspects that a volcanoe can bring to an area. Using PowerPoint, they create a presentation showing the negative and...
Curated OER
UMNH: Cultural Clutter - Tales In The Trash
Fourth graders list three or more types of evidence of prehistoric cultures that encouraged archaeologists to investigate the marshes around the Great Salt Lake. They also explain why it is important not to disturb archaeological remains.
Curated OER
Glaciers and How They Form lands
As a whole class, the students define glacier and perform an experiment involving glaciers. The students brainstorm ideas of what a glacier is, and narrow the ideas down to a definition. The students then participate in an activity that...
Curated OER
Indiana Ice Investigations
Fourth graders create a model of the formation of Indiana by glaciers. Working in groups with appropriate materials, they create a model documenting how glaciers moved through the land and formed the geological structure and land masses...
Curated OER
Relative Ages of Rocks
In this rocks worksheet, students review how sediments are layered over time and how the relative ages of rocks are determined. This worksheet has 1 matching and 11 multiple choice questions.
Other
University of North Texas: Stream Erosion
An introduction to the basic concepts of stream erosion, with illustrated examples from a creek called Denton Creek. Contains review questions at the bottom of the page.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Earth Science: Erosion by Streams
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Covers different kinds of erosion by surface water.
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Earth's Systems: Wind and Water Change Earth's Surface
Observe how wind and water reshape the face of Earth's surface with these slideshows. Students will use evidence from videos and images to observe and describe how wind and water contribute to natural events that are constantly reshaping...
Peace Corps
Peace Corps: Fighting Soil Erosion
Educate students about soil erosion with this thorough lesson which focuses on the geography of Guinea.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Erosion in Our World
Young scholars collect evidence to investigate erosion and deposition around the schoolyard.
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Glaciers, Water and Wind, Oh My!
This hands-on activity explores five different forms of erosion (chemical, water, wind, glacier and temperature). Students rotate through stations and model each type of erosion on rocks, soils and minerals. The students record their...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: The Earth Is a Changin'
This lesson introduces and describes the main types of erosion (i.e., chemical, water, wind, glacier and temperature). Young scholars learn examples of each type of erosion and discuss how erosion changes the surface of the Earth....
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Fourth Grade: Earth Science: Erosion and Deposition by Flowing Water
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Discusses how flowing water causes erosion; describes how runoff, streams, and rivers change Earth's surface; and identifies features caused by groundwater erosion.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Investigating Processes of Sedimentation in Gravel Pits
In this field investigation, students will investigate processes of deposition that have contributed to the current Minnesota sediments and landscape. After learning about weathering and erosion and having a short introduction to...
Indiana University
Indiana Univ. Bloomington: Geo Notes: Standing Rocks: Remnants of Erosion [Pdf]
Explains what standing rocks are, how they are formed by erosion, and gives the names of some well-known ones in Indiana.