Regional Center
 

IV. EARTH SCIENCE TOPICS

 

  1. Earth Systems
  2. Solid Earth
  3. Fluid Earth
  4. Earth in Space and Time

 

Additional Sites for Earth & Space Science

  1. Teaching Units / Lesson Plans
  2. Student Activities / Projects / Interactive Sites
  3. Information / Facts / Data / Reports
  4. Videos / Movies / Animations
  5. Photographs / Slides / Diagrams / Graphics
  6. Periodicals / Journals / Newspapers
  7. Searches / Explorations / Investigations
  8. Earth and Space Science Topics for Teachers

 

2. Solid Earth (SE)

Elementary

  1. E.SE.E.1 Earth Materials -"Earth materials that occur in nature include rocks, minerals, soils, water, and the gases of the atmosphere. Some Earth materials have properties which sustain plant and animal life."
    1. BBC Science: Rocks and Soil
      This is an interactive site that gives children the chance to test several samples of rock for permeability, wear, brittleness, and if it floats. An online quiz is included.
    2. Canadian Rockhound: Geological Magazine
      Provides articles and multiple photographs of rocks, minerals, and gems; as well as tutorials on rock classification, identification of minerals, and the rock cycle(available in the Junior Rockhound section). Rock samples and jewelry available with price lists. An extensive list of categorized web links is also available.
    3. Earth Topics New
      This site provides several links to elementary sites about the earth. There is a multitude of information provided, in addition to activities for teachers, students, and parents.
    4. Geo Mysteries
      This site investigates some rock questions, in which, students learn some interesting facts. The questions solve the mysteries of the floating rock, the broken necklece, and the golden cube.
    5. Geography4Kids
      This site provides information and explantions of earth. There are also quizes to test knowledge that students learn from this site. Appropriate for grades 3 & up.
    6. Kids (Volcano World)
      This section of Volcano World includes stories, art. quizzes, projects, student home pages, and more. Very user friendly. Children can contribute their ideas, and art work to this site via the U.S. mail.
    7. Kid Habitat SDNHM Mineral Matters
      This site has a link to some options about minerals, How to Identify, How to Build a collection, Mineral FAQ's, Grow your Own Crystals, and Mine Games. Teacher could assign reading material from Mineral FAQ's prior to having students go to Mine Games (which are quizzes and an interactive word search, also has a printable version).
    8. Rockhounds
      This site provides information on rocks found in the earth. There are also games that test the knowledge that students learn found on this site.
    9. Scholastic
      Elementary students can use this to experiment with what a plant needs in order to survive and flurish. The students can add air, water, or food for their plants to grow. They students can see how the plants would feel if they were denied any one of these needs. As well, the students can see how the plants grow with a sufficient amount of each.
    10. Scholastic
      Elementary students can use match up animals and their habitats. This can help students when they have to think about what an individual animal's needs are and which ecosystem will be able to meet those needs. This is a real quick matching exercise for elementary students.
    11. Shakin' It Up
      Explanations and examples of the earth's major land features are shown. Visuals of different types of  volcanoes and earthquakes are displayed. A student quiz on rock forms is included.
    12. State Minerals
      Initially provides mineral resource statistics and information for each state. "Ask Geologist" refers teacher and student to a wealth of material - from game page, trivia, topo bingo to art, lesson plans and minerals.
    13. This Planet Really Rocks!
      Outstanding - This web site provides colorful and animated descriptions of the rock cycle, types of rocks, and examples of minerals. The vocabulary is highlighted so students can get quick explanations. There are real pictures of rocks and minerals as well. This web site is both teacher and student friendly.
  2. E.SE.E.2 Surface Changes -"The surface of Earth changes. Some changes are due to slow processes, such as erosion and weathering, and some changes are due to rapid processes, such as landslides, volcanic eruptions, and earthquakes."
    1. Beauty and the Beast
      This site has many links to information and animations about natural disasters such as volcanoes and hurricanes, all centered around the Hawaiian Islands.
    2. Canadian Rockhound: Geological Magazine
      Provides articles and multiple photographs of rocks, minerals, and gems; as well as tutorials on rock classification, identification of minerals, and the rock cycle(available in the Junior Rockhound section). Rock samples and jewelry available with price lists. An extensive list of categorized web links is also available.
    3. Earth Topics New
      This site provides several links to elementary sites about the earth. There is a multitude of information provided, in addition to activities for teachers, students, and parents.
    4. Geography4Kids
      This site provides information and explantions of earth. There are also quizes to test knowledge that students learn from this site. Appropriate for grades 3 & up.
    5. Hawaiian Volcano Observatory
      USGS web site monitoring Hawaiian volcanoes. This site contains teachers lesson plans.
    6. How Volcanoes Work
      This website is an educational resource that describes the science behind volcanoes and volcanic processes. This site could be used by upper elementary students as a resource for pictures and diagrams showing volcanic activity. It also provides indepth information for those students who wish to explore the topic in more detail.
    7. Kids Door (Volcano World)
      This section of Volcano World includes stories, art. quizzes, projects, student home pages, and more. Very user friendly. Children can contribute their ideas, and art work to this site via the U.S. mail.
    8. Plate Tectonics
      This activity site lets the student manipulate tectonic plates to see what happens. There is information about the theory of continental drift and other links to information about famous geologists. Great animations. Appropriate for grades 3 and up.
    9. Savage Earth Animations
      This is a companion site for the Savage Earth PBS series. It provides animations for different plate boundry processes such as volcanoes and earthquakes. Good information and easy to navigate. Appropriate for upper elementary students.
    10. Shakin' It Up
      Explanations and examples of the earth's major land features are shown. Visuals of different types of  volcanoes and earthquakes are displayed. A student quiz on rock forms is included.
    11. Topography
      Students in grades 3 and 4 can view released images of the various parts of the earth.
    12. US Geological Survey: Ask-A-Geologist
      This site provides an E-Mail address where students or teachers may ask questions about land features or geological events.  (Volcanoes, earthquakes, mountains, rocks, ground water, lakes, or rivers)  Some sample questions and answers are given.  Maps are discussed.  This site could also be of value to other elementary grades (objectives in first, and fifth: Ask-A-Geologist@usgs.gov.
    13. Volcano Virtual Tour
      This site provides information and pictures on volcanos by taking students on a virtual tour. This site also provides resources for teachers to get information on volcanos.
    14. Web Minerals
      This mineral database contains 4,442 individual mineral species descriptions with links and a comprehensive image library.
  3. E.SE.E.3 Using Earth Materials -"Some Earth materials have properties that make them useful either in their present form or designed and modified to solve human problems. They can enhance the quality of life as in the case of materials used for building or fuels used for heating and transportation."
    1. Coal Education Web Site
      This site will allow teachers and students to look at coal mining and how coal is used in their homes. There are many different lesson plans for all grade levels.
    2. Earth Topics New
      This site provides several links to elementary sites about the earth. There is a multitude of information provided, in addition to activities for teachers, students, and parents.
    3. Metamorphic Rock: Melting Rock
      Students in grades K-3 will gain a better understanding of the metamoposing power of heat by using household items.
    4. National Energy Foundation
      This site has free materials for K-12 educators to send for related to natural gas. Supply is limited. These materials can be ordered electronically; specify your grade level.
    5. Rock Collecting
      Students will practice classifying rocks in the categories sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic. Grades 2-4
    6. This Planet Really Rocks!
      Outstanding - This web site provides colorful and animated descriptions of the rock cycle, types of rocks, and examples of minerals. The vocabulary is highlighted so students can get quick explanations. There are real pictures of rocks and minerals as well. This web site is both teacher and student friendly.
  4. "Describe major features of the earth's surface."
    1. Canadian Rockhound: Geological Magazine
      Provides articles and multiple photographs of rocks, minerals, and gems; as well as tutorials on rock classification, identification of minerals, and the rock cycle(available in the Junior Rockhound section). Rock samples and jewelry available with price lists. An extensive list of categorized web links is also available.
    2. Cave Virtual Tour
      This site provides information and pictures on many different types of caves by taking students on a virtual tour.
    3. Desert Virtual Tour
      This site provides information and pictures on deserts by taking students on a virtual tour. This site also provides resources for teachers to get information on deserts.
    4. Earth's Physical Features
      Outstanding - This site provides students with interactive games that deal with the earth's physical features. the games test knowledge of physcial features all over the world and may be appropriate for students in third grade and higher.
    5. Earth Science Picture of the Day
      Each day a different image or photograph is featured, with an accompanying caption, that deals with various topics in Earth Science. The site also offers information and other links to Earth Science related topics.
    6. Fantastic Journeys: Yellowstone
      On this site students can explore Yellowstone National Park including going underground to see how a geyser forms. Links open slowly. Easy to navigate. No downloads required. Appropriate for grades 3-5.
    7. Geography4Kids - Geosphere
      This site provides information and explantions of earth. There are also quizes to test knowledge that students learn from this site. Appropriate for grades 3 & up.
    8. Hawaiian Volcano Observatory
      USGS web site monitoring Hawaiian volcanoes. This site contains teachers lesson plans and a link to "Volcanoes For Kids".
    9. How Volcanoes Work
      This website is an educational resource that describes the science behind volcanoes and volcanic processes. This site could be used by upper elementary students as a resource for pictures and diagrams showing volcanic activity. It also provides indepth information for those students who wish to explore the topic in more detail.
    10. Ocean Virtual Tour
      This site provides information and pictures on oceans by taking students on a virtual tour. This site also provides resources for teachers to get information on oceans.
    11. Rock Hounds
      This site provides hands-on activities for students for information and explantions on how the earth was formed and rock formations. This site is student friendly and has resources for teachers. Appropriate for grade K - 5.
    12. Shakin' It Up
      Explanations and examples of the earth's major land features are shown. Visuals of different types of  volcanoes and earthquakes are displayed. A student quiz on rock forms is included.
    13. US Geological Survey: Ask-A-Geologist
      This site provides an E-Mail address where students or teachers may ask questions about land features or geological events.  (Volcanoes, earthquakes, mountains, rocks, ground water, lakes, or rivers)  Some sample questions and answers are given.  Maps are discussed.  This site could also be of value to other elementary grades (objectives in first, and fifth: Ask-A-Geologist@usgs.gov.
    14. Topography - Geosphere
      Students in grades 3 and 4 can view released images of the various parts of the earth Provides information, characteristics, and images for a large number of minerals. Images and information may be used for non-commercial and educational purposes. Good visuals.
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