By Janet Pinto, Chief Academic Officer & Chief Marketing Officer, Curriki
Earth Science courses are some of the most fascinating, hands-on and vital ones students will take in their academic career. You might not expect OER to provide the hands-on exploration experience you would want, but Curriki’s earth science curricula might just prove you wrong!
We have a wealth of fascinating units that will let students get their hands dirty and their minds engaged as they explore every facet of the physical world, from the earth’s core into space.
Top 10 Earth Science Resources
Curriki materials span grades 1-12, so there’s something for everyone. Dig in (pun intended) to Curriki’s Top 10 Earth Science lessons!
Source: Pixabay
- WISC Earth Science Activities – The collection of earth science learning objects from Wisconsin Technical College explores heat transfer and chemical and physical changes in our world.
- Dynamic Earth Pop-Up Book – In this 6-week unit, students discover and learn about plate tectonics, earthquakes, volcanoes, mountain building, and the relationships between all of them.
- The Magnitude of the Solar System – Help students visualize the enormity of the solar system, both in terms of distance and relative size of the planets, as they literally walk through an accurately scaled, human-sized the solar system.
- The Grand Canyon How It Formed – Today, in the deepest part of the Grand Canyon, the Colorado River flows past rocks that are 1.7 billion years old. This video from PBS Learning Media describes how the river cut vertically through layers of pre-existing rock as the plateau beneath it was uplifted by tectonic forces. (Screenshot)
- Earth Science, 4th grade – The curricula for 4th graders connects Technology, the Arts and Writing to Earth Science while students study patterns in rock formations and fossils in rock layers to support an explanation for changes in a landscape over time.
- Weather Science Kit – This unit from of Cattaraugus Allegany Board of Cooperative Educational Services (CA BOCES) gives students the opportunity to observe weather phenomena, using instruments to gather weather data on temperature, wind speed, wind direction, and precipitation. They will also explore the water cycle, the relationship between the earth’s rotation, revolution, time, and seasons.
- Sunshine and Shadows Science Kit – Students observe how shadows form, how light affects objects, and how shadows change throughout the day. Integrated hands-on math activities are also included.
- Rocks, Fossils, and Dinosaurs Science Kit – The learning experiences in the Rocks, Fossils, and Dinosaurs kit focus on understanding the living environment and physical setting. By observing, classifying, collecting data, interpreting data, and manipulating data, students will investigate the properties of rocks, fossils, and dinosaurs.
- Powders and Crystals Science Kit –Powders and Crystals introduces students to chemical and physical properties of familiar substances, as they perform experiments and learn rules for proper use of chemicals, as well as eye safety.
- Properties Science Kit – By observing, classifying, and communicating, students will investigate the properties of objects, including color, shape, texture, size, weight, and ability to sink or float.
We think these resources will satisfy the curiosity of even the most avid young scientists, and will spark a passion for learning about the natural world!
Please share this article and pass the word on to your fellow teachers about Curriki’s wealth of resources for teaching earth science!
Janet Pinto, Chief Academic Officer & Chief Marketing Officer, leads and manages all of Curriki’s content development, user experience, and academic direction. Learn more at Curriki.org.
Sign up for Curriki’s enewsletter!
Follow Curriki on YouTube — we have a number of fascinating, educational new videos!
