Earth Science Activities

 There is something special about teaching science to middle school students. They are at the age where they understand the planets and how some aspects of Earth happen. So, they are now eager to dive in deeper and learn more information. Thankfully, this means students will be focused and excited to participate while working on Earth Science activities! 

Moon Phases, Eclipses, and Tides 

The moon is fascinating to study! Honestly, every aspect of space is. Luckily, the multiple templates help teach and review phases of the moon. Additionally, there are templates for students to explore the differences between solar and lunar eclipses. Students will even discover how spring and neap tide work. 

To push thinking further, students will represent the position of the sun, moon, and earth during eclipses and tides. They will do this by cutting and pasting included pictures to represent the different positions. Thankfully, this extra manipulation allows students to truly push their knowledge to a deeper level of thinking! 

Rocks and Minerals 

These resources will help students learn and review minerals, the rock cycle, and different types of rocks! 

There are 5 products to ensure students explore these topics in-depth. This includes 4 different graphics organizers with review questions. There is even a fun assignment where students write a creative story from the perspective of a rock in the rock cycle! Additionally, there is a mineral identification activity and review games. 

Rocks Doodle & Write 

The rock cycle is always fun for students to learn about! It is fascinating how rocks transform over time. So, this interactive doodle graphic organizer is the perfect way to review or introduce the three types of rocks. 

Specifically, students will learn about igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks. There are two detailed graphic organizers for students to add notes and doodles while learning about rocks. 

Students will love the creativity behind these notes! 

Astronomy Activity Bundle 

Once students begin moon lessons and activities, they will want more! Honestly, astronomy is so exciting to learn about! Thankfully, this bundle helps teach all about space and the solar system. 

Students will learn about the solar system through a doodle and write activity and a flip book. These are amazing ways to increase engagement and focus! Additionally, they will learn about the sun through a graphic organizer. They will even learn about the moon's phases, tides, and eclipses through an interactive notebook. There is even a fun cookie activity for the phases of the moon! 

Honestly, this bundle has so many incredible moon lessons and activities! Students will love learning how fascinating the solar system is with these lessons. 

It is so much fun teaching Earth Science activities! Since students have a connection with their planet, they are always eager and excited to learn how things work. Thankfully, these lessons will mean the classroom has so many engaged students focused on their learning! 

If you do not want to miss any of the upcoming lessons, join my email list to be notified of all the interactive lessons coming up! By joining the email list, you will receive freebies for blog exclusive subscribers! 

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Music in My Science Classroom

Music in science class you ask??  How do you combine music with science???

I teach Earth Science and I love it... it's one of my favorite subjects to teach.  I love the hands on activities we can do, how easy it is to connect to the real world and I love that there soooo many songs that I can play in class.

In my room, if we're not doing a lab or activity I allow my students to listen to music.  However, I want us all to be listening to the same music, rather than allow them to plug into their own ipod or phone.  So I need to find music to relate to what we're doing in class.

Here are some examples:

If we're studying ROCKS... we only listen to songs with the word "rock" in the title.  I know, I know... there's no educational value to listening to "We Will Rock You" or "Jailhouse Rock"... but it's fun, the kids love to think of songs that work and it tends to put everyone in a good mood.  Plus... you might even educate them about some classic music!

Here are few more songs with "ROCK" in the title...

 - Like a Rock - Bob Seeger
 - Rock With You - Micheal Jackson
 - R.O.C.K In the USA - John Couger Mellancamp
 - Rock Around the Clock - Bill Haley and the Comets
 - I Love Rock and Roll - Joan Jett
 - Rockin' in the Free World - Neil Young

But this works for so many of the topics we can cover in class...

Astronomy - look for songs with the word "STAR" or "SUN" or "MOON" in the title... you'll be amazed at how many songs do!!

Weathering / Erosion - look for songs with the word "RAIN", "WIND", "ICE", or "RIVER" in the title.

Weather - some good key words are "SUN", "WIND", "STORM", "WATER" OR "CLOUD".

Plate Tectonics - look for "FIRE" and "EARTH" in the title.

I'm quite sure that once you start looking you'll be amazed at what is out there that you can tie into your class sometimes.  It doesn't work with every unit and not every class is conducive to listening to music... but when I can play music I find it does wonders for my students' productive and their mood.

You're probably wondering how I have access to 1000s of titles of songs.... I just go to Youtube and play the songs from there.  I don't show the video... just play the music on my speakers.

Best of luck looking for music to play in class... I'm sure that other subjects are just as easy to find music for... you just might have to do a little digging.

~Addie

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Plate Tectonic Play Dough

One of my favourite units to teach is Plate Tectonics - it's a great unit to hook kids and get them excited about geology and earth sciences.  It does not seem to matter if my students are 10 or 20 years old, videos and stories about erupting volcanoes and earthquakes never fail to impress.

One of the ways I like to wrap up this unit is with an assessment using Play Dough.... and again, whether my students are 10 or 20 years old, they get excited about the chance to play with Play Dough.  There's just something about the smell and feel that takes everyone back to their childhood.

This activity takes about 60-90 minutes and can be done with just a few simple and inexpensive supplies.
                  -  paper / styrofoam plates (from our school cafeteria)
                  -  plastic knives for "carving" the playdough (also from the cafeteria)
                  -  a "can" of play dough for each student 
                  -  plain white or lined paper

I hand out a "can" of Play Dough to each student and then ask them to form groups of 2-3.  I leave the rest of the supplies on my lab table at the front of the room and let students gather what they need throughout the lesson.

I ask students to do the following:

Plate Boundaries
- You must demonstrate your understanding of the three types of plate boundaries (converging, diverging and sliding).
- You must include all features associated with each boundary - trench, volcano, ridge...

Volcanoes
- You must demonstrate your understanding of the three types of volcanoes (cinder cone, strata, shield)

Earthquakes
- You must demonstrate your understanding of the three types of faults we studied in class (normal, reverse, transform)

They may use any of the supplies I have in the classroom or their school bags (I've had some creative ideas used before!).  My students often add little flags or signs, they add writing to the plate or paper that their Play Dough is displayed on or they carve symbols or words into the Play Dough.

I also wander around the classroom and ask each student in the group to orally explain one aspect of their Play Dough creations.  I give students a mark as I go through the room based on the level of detail that they have included and their ability to explain what's going on.

Have fun! I hope you and your students have as much fun with 

Play Dough as we do!

Enjoy! Addie

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Using Cookies in Your Science Classroom

I don't know about your students, but food is a big motivator for my kiddos!  I love to incorporate food and hands on activities as much as I can into my high-school science classroom.

I use the "Cookie Lab" to have students review and demonstrate their knowledge of rocks and the rock cycle. Depending on the level and abilities of your students you can use just three types of cookies for the three groups of rocks or you can get really detailed and ask for more differentiation. I usually do this activity at the end of a Rock & Mineral Unit so that it's one of the culminating activities for the students. 

Here are the cookies I use for each of the different rock types - I would love to hear your ideas for some of the specific rocks types I don't have cookies for!!

When we do the activity I put out 4-5 different types of cookie "rocks" and ask students to work in groups of 2-3.  I provide enough cookies for each group to have one of each and a napkin / paper plate.  I usually buy my cookies from the Dollar Store and the kids never complain - they're just happy to have cookies! (Students may each the cookies when they've completed the activity.)

If you're looking for more Earth Science / Geology resources be sure to check out some of the graphic organizers and activities I have in my TeachersPayTeachers shop.

Have fun rockin' out with rocks!

Addie

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Playing with Playdough

I love keeping my students on their toes wondering what they're going to do in class everyday.  Some days (despite my best intentions) class isn't very exciting, however when my high school students walk into class and see that I've got the playdough out, they get positively giddy!

It's amazing how the feel and smell of playdough can take us back to being 4 years old! I love the way it wams up in my hand and the salty taste it leaves behind.  Apparently, my students feel the same way!!

Here's how I use playdough in my Science, Geography and English classrooms.

1. Playdough is a fabulous way for students to create 3-D models of a concept.  Whether it's creating the shape of a specific type of volcano, demonstrating a plate boundary, creating an organism, a cell, an internal organ or part of a plant... having the students physically create something helps them to learn the information and retain it.  I always circulate around the room, ask my students to explain what they're making, ask them to share with a partner etc. 

2. Playdough is also a fantastic way for students to explain a process. For example I can ask students to use playdough to explain how headlands, sea caves, sea arches and sea stacks are related.  This takes the lesson beyond a typical sketch and paragraph. I quickly circulate and ask students to explain the concept to me, I can ask the students questions and they can share with each other.  Other examples - show me three pieces of evidence that glaciers move, show how a rift valley forms, demonstrate the life cycle of a star, show the phases of the moon, the digestive track...  I think the possibilities are almost endless for science (especially biology and earth science / geography).

3. In English class I have asked students to create and explain a symbol to represent a character, a theme, the mood, a character's emotion, the setting, the climax... Asking students to think outside the box and demonstrate their learning in a different way is not only engaging for the students, but also makes the lesson memorable and long-lasting. Here's an example of how a student used playdough to represent a setting.

4. One of the biggest things about using playdough is that it's risk free for the students.  I can't collect it and mark it. I'm not judging them on their artistic abilities because as long as they can explain it , I know that they understand it.  It's not permanent... so if they see that they've got the concept wrong the first time, the playdough gets mashed up and they can start all over again.  No harm is done and no marks are lost!  

5. Did I mention how excited my students get when they see playdough?? I've had the same box of playdough for two school years... all of the colors are in their original containers, none of the colors have been mixed / mashed together and none are missing.  The students respect the opportunity I'm giving them and I've had no problems.  I'm not gonna lie... I was worried that all sorts of inappropriate things where going to be made out of the playdough... but so far...so good!

How have you used playdough in your classroom?? 

Have fun!

Addie

Be sure to check out some other fun and smart teaching techniques by following the link below.

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