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Geology Resources for K-12 Teachers
Looking for geology, rock, and mineral lesson plans, study units, and support materials? Below are links geology and earth science related units covering grades K through 12.
Multiple Resource Instruction Links
- Teaching Earth Science
A compilation of teacher resources that can easily be modified and incorporated into the earth science classroom
http://geology.com/teacher/ - Resources for Earth Science and Geology Instruction
Links organized alphabetically around the sequence of topics typically taught in an introductory earth science or physical geography class. Links are also available for environmental science, earth science/geography education, career opportunities, and more. The sites selected are based on image quality, ease with which lesson plans can be developed, organization, authenticity, scope, and format.
http://webs.cmich.edu/resgi/ - Earth Science Lessons for grades K through High School
Over a hundred lesson plans covering all areas of earth sciences.
http://www.reachoutmichigan.org/funexperiments/agesubject/earthsciences.html - Earth Science Week Activities and Worksheets
Celebrate Earth Science Week and try one of the K-12 activities. New theme and support materials every year.
http://www.earthsciweek.org/ - Resources for K - 12 Earth Science Teachers from Geological
Society of America
Downloadable lesson plans and web site links to lesson plans. Additional Resources Icon Free Additional Resources: Educational information links, computer software, videos, books and other teaching media. Broken down by topic.
http://www.geosociety.org/educate/resources.htm - Teacher Friendly Guides to Geology
Divided by US region, based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation
http://geology.teacherfriendlyguide.org/
Elementary School Level Geology Lesson Plans (Grades K-4)
- Geology of North America as Illustrated by Native American
Stories (Grades K-4)
This teacher's manual and classroom project workbook deftly uses Native American stories to explain and illustrate the physical geography and geology of North America to a wide range of audiences and age levels.
http://www.units.muohio.edu/cryolab/publications/documents/McWilliams Geology NA Illus NA Stories.pdf - Rocks Can Be Different Sizes (Grades K, 1, 2)
This activity presents the concept, rocks can be different sizes.
http://atozteacherstuff.com/pages/400.shtml - Rocks Can Be Different Colors (Grades K, 1, 2)
This activity examines different rocks, students find the many different colors in each and then compare these rocks with other rocks.
http://atozteacherstuff.com/pages/401.shtml - Some Rocks are Heavier than Others (Grades K, 1, 2)
Explores relationship between size and heaviness using a constructed balance scale.
http://atozteacherstuff.com/pages/403.shtml - Metamorphic Rocks (Grades K-3)
Students will observe and gain a better understanding of the metamorphosing power of heat.
http://www.canteach.ca/elementary/earthspace14.html - Making Fossils (Grades K-4+)
Students will better understand how fossils are created by making their own.
http://www.canteach.ca/elementary/life19.html - Everything is Made of Something (Grades K-4+)
Collection of 10 lessons and activities from the Mineral Information Institute available as free PDF Download
http://www.mii.org/pdfs/study/studyoftheearth.pdf
Middle School Level Geology Lesson Plans (Grades 5-8)
- Everyday Uses for Minerals (Grades 5-8)
Collection of 10 lessons and activities from the Mineral Information Institute available as free PDF Download
http://www.mii.org/pdfs/everyday.pdf - Geology of North America as Illustrated by Native
American Stories (Grades 5-8)
This teacher's manual and classroom project workbook deftly uses Native American stories to explain and illustrate the physical geography and geology of North America to a wide range of audiences and age levels.
http://www.units.muohio.edu/cryolab/publications/documents/McWilliams Geology NA Illus NA Stories.pdf - Rock Cycle (Grades 6 - 8)
Gain an understanding of the rock cycle including how sedimentary, metamorphic, and igneous rocks form. - http://www.fi.edu/fellows/fellow1/oct98/lesson.htm
- Determining the Age of Rocks and Fossils (Grades 8,
9)
Understanding of the basic principles used to determine the age of rocks and fossils. This activity consists of several parts.
http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/fosrec/McKinney.html - If You Bit a Rock (Grades 5-8+)
To observe and describe physical characteristics of a familiar model (candy bars) and apply to the unfamiliar (rocks). This is also an excellent activity to introduce geological terminology used in describing rocks. Complete plans and supporting materials as free PDF.
http://www.geosociety.org/educate/LessonPlans/IF_YOU_BIT_A_ROCK.pdf - Earthquake Slip Classroom Exercise (Grades 7-8+)
Opportunity for students to work cooperatively together reviewing many basic physics concepts, such as sliding and static friction, forms of energy and conversion from one form to another, and the elastic properties of materials.
http://jclahr.com/science/earth_science/tabletop/earthshaking/index.html - Volcano World Earth Science Lessons (Grade 5-8)
Multiple choices of lesson plans covering all aspects of volcanoes.
http://volcano.oregonstate.edu/education/index.html - USGS Educational Resources For Middle School (Grade
7-8+)
Selected USGS educational resources that can be used directly in the classroom or will be useful in classroom lessons or demonstration activities preparation, or as resourc es for teacher education and curriculum development.
http://education.usgs.gov/common/secondary.htm - Seamount Mapping and Models (Grades 6-8)
A collection of teaching and learning resources to create multiple lessons about seamounts for middle school students. Activities include: learning how seamounts form, mapping seamounts and building a seamount model from a topographic map.
http://seagrant.uaf.edu/marine-ed/curriculum/grade-6/investigation-3.html?task=view
High School Level Geology Lesson Plans (Grades 9 - 12)
- Alaska Volcanoes Guidebook for Teachers (grades 6
- 12)
provide locally relevant and useful resources and activities for the exploration of numerous and truly unique volcanic landscapes in Alaska.
http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/99/ - How Do Gemstones Get Their Color?
See how different chemical compounds produce different-shaped crystals when you cook up your own "gems."
http://www.reachoutmichigan.org/funexperiments/agesubject/lessons/newton/gems11.html - Tracking Earthquakes Around the World
Discuss, track, and analyze the connections between plate tectonic boundaries and the locations of past and current earthquakes.
http://www.discoveryeducation.com/teachers/free-lesson-plans/tracking-earthquakes-around-the-world.cfm - “The Murder on the Beach lab"
By Howard Schindler and Jacqueline Gnant is relatively easy to prepare, uses tests and data beyond microscope work, and includes a mystery for students to solve.
http://geology.com/forensic-geology/sands.shtml - EarthComm Resources from American Geological
Institute
Earth science curriculum designed for use by all students in U.S. high schools. This website contains resources for teachers, students, and parents, as well as information on the goals and learning approaches EarthComm uses. Resources listed by state
http://www.agiweb.org/earthcomm/ - USGS Educational Resources For High School
Selected USGS educational resources that can be used directly in the classroom or will be useful in classroom lessons or demonstration activities preparation, or as resourc es for teacher education and curriculum development.
http://education.usgs.gov/common/secondary.htm - The Nature of Salt
Help students learn about the mysteries of salt with NASA’s “Nature of Salt” investigation.
http://aquarius.nasa.gov/nature_of_salt.html
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