NOAA
The Biggest Plates on Earth
The deepest part of the ocean is the Marianas trench where two tectonic plates meet. Scholars explore plate tectonics and their boundary types by completing hands-on activities throughout the lesson. Specific areas, such as the Galapagos...
Curated OER
Investigation 3 - Weathering
Fourth graders study 4 types of weather processes: wind, running water, plant growth, and freezing water. They explain how the processes of weathering and erosion change and move materials that become soil. They draw diagrams...
Carnegie Mellon University
How Power Plants Work 1
First of three lessons, this is a great start to a unit on energy. As you demonstrate, learners discover different types of energy and how it is converted from one form to another. They then focus in on the generation of electricity by...
Carnegie Mellon University
How Power Plants Work 2
For this second of three lessons on power plants, future engineers find out how we generate electricity and how coal-powered plants operate. They work in small groups to make electromagnet generators to light LED bulbs. A set of...
Curated OER
Bring A Rock
Students investigate rocks and minerals. They collect a rock, describe it in writing, and in small groups divide their group of rocks into subgroups based on their team's classification.
Curated OER
Rock Cycle
Students explain the processes involved in the rock cycle. In this earth science lesson, students identify the different kinds of rocks. They complete a worksheet during the activity.
Curated OER
Field Research Project: Comparing the Parent Rock Material of the San Francisco Terranes With Local Soil Types
Students investigate rocks and minerals and take a field trip to sample soils. They analyze rocks and soil, research the geological terrenes of the topology of San Francisco, and produce a lab research report.
Curated OER
How to Recycle a Rock
Third graders explore the rock cycle and explore how rocks are made, changed, destroyed and recreated. They create representations of these processes with hands-on activities.
Curated OER
Forces Inside the Earth
In this faults worksheet, students identify the three types of faults and the characteristics that define a normal fault, reverse fault, and a strike-slip fault. This worksheet has 3 fill in the blank and 3 short answer questions.
Curated OER
Science Italian Style: Eruption!
Young scholars explore ways scientists prepare for a volcanic eruption. They observe films of earthquakes, oil spills, volcanoes and hurricanes. Students perform activities to demonstrate the relationship of viscosity to lava flow. ...
Curated OER
Where Does Radon Come From?
Students discuss the differences between the three types of rocks and how radon can escape from the rocks themselves. They analyze other sources of radon in the environment. They work together to complete an activity and worksheet.
DiscoverE
Bridges, Buildings and Beyond Activity Packet: Grades 3-5
The road to a better understanding of engineering lies with bridges and tunnels. A set of four engaging activities teaches learners about engineering concepts related to construction projects. They perform an experiment to find the...
Curated OER
Everybody Needs a Rock
Students, after making quantitative and qualitative observations of their rocks, construct a Venn diagram or dichotomous key to classify their rocks.
Curated OER
Rockin' and Rollin'
Seventh graders, in groups, describe the three major types of rocks through either a song, skit, poem, etc. They present their work to the class during a "rock concert."
Curated OER
Rock My World
Students study about the different types of rocks and the rock cycle by visiting different websites and watching a Brain Pop video. They also complete junior geologist training which helped you to determine the meaning of each clue.
Kenan Fellows
Sustainability: Learning for a Lifetime – Soil
Do great gardeners really have green thumbs—or just really great soil? Environmental scholars discover what makes Earth's soil and soil quality so important through research and experimentation. Learners also develop an understanding of...
Curated OER
Science: What Happens to Create the Lode?
Students understand how mineral deposits are formed and why they are not evenly dispersed. They create and describe three different precipitates from four solutions simulating mineral ore deposit formation in sedimentary rock.
Curated OER
Digging in the Dirt
First graders awareness is raised that not all dirt is the same. They compare and observe particle sizes in three different kinds of soils. They keep a record book of what the discover and talk about how some soils are alike and some...
Curated OER
Groundwater Lab
In this groundwater worksheet, students simulate a pumping well and a pumping well near an injection well using plastic bottles and dirt. They use food coloring to act as a contaminate to see the movement of food color into the water....
Curated OER
Waves
In this waves worksheet, high schoolers read about harmonic and linear motion in waves as well as the two types of waves. They match 5 terms to their definitions about the structure of waves, they solve for the wavelength, frequency and...
Curated OER
Cell Study
Learners (females) are introduced to the cell. They discuss what a cell is, and students define what a cell is. Learners comprehend that all living things are made up of cells. They comprehend that life is defined as something that...
Curated OER
Heritage: Dwellings of the 5 Major Native American Tribes of Utah
Young scholars discuss and examine various types of dwellings of Native American Tribes of Utah, and create dioramas showing at least one type of Native American dwelling.
Curated OER
Building-Stone Geology
Students examine building stones in downtown St. Petersburg in order t study igneous and metamorphic rocks in central Florida ( a huge area consisting solely of sedimentary rock). Each student picks a particular rock type used in a...
Curated OER
Rockin' Minerals
Third graders view a clip of the video Backyard Safari, "Rocks and Minerals," and discuss properties of rocks and minerals. They view and discuss a clip on where rocks and minerals are found.