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Earth and Its Resources

Earth and Its Resources

Global environmental issues, oceans, weather, cycles of matter and energy, carbon, water, rock, landforms, fossil fuel, alternative energy

  • About Air

    About AirLesson

    Students use popcorn of different colors to model the composition of air.

    Grades: 3-5

  • Detecting Air Pollution

    Detecting Air PollutionLesson

    Students create model air pollution detectors to sample particles in indoor and outdoor air.

    Grades: K-2

  • Dust Catchers

    Dust CatchersLesson

    Students make a simple device to collect particles from the air at home or in the classroom.

    Grades: 3-5

  • Fossil Fuels and the Carbon Cycle

    Fossil Fuels and the Carbon CycleLesson

    Students learn how geologists locate fossil fuels by using a straw to extract "core samples" from a model that has different layers.

    Grades: 3-5

  • Making a Water Cycle

    Making a Water CycleLesson

    Students observe a simple model of the water cycle constructed of sand and ice in a plastic shoe box.

    Grades: K-2

  • People and Climate

    People and ClimateLesson

    Students learn about Earth’s major climate types, how climate affects people's lifestyles, and impacts of climate change.

    Grades: 3-5

  • River Ecology

    River EcologyLesson

    Students simulate activities that can affect a water source, like a river as it flows from one place to another within a community.

    Grades: K-2

  • There's Something in the Air

    There's Something in the AirLesson

    To model the movement of pollutants through the air, students compare the dispersal of odors, both inside and outdoors.

    Grades: 3-5

  • Using Heat from the Sun

    Using Heat from the SunLesson

    Students conduct a discovery activity that demonstrates how energy from sunlight can heat water.

    Grades: 3-5

  • Water Cycle and Global Warming

    Water Cycle and Global WarmingLesson

    Students investigate the water cycle, properties of water, simulated effects of global temperature change on oceanic surface levels, and potential consequences of these changes.

    Grades: 6-8 9-12

Related Content

  • Energy, Ecosystems and the Atmosphere

    Energy, Ecosystems and the Atmosphere

    Overview of the sources and flow of energy through ecosystems, and how the use and transfer of energy impacts our planetary ecosystems.

  • Physical Science of Water

    Physical Science of Water

    Water is unique among all liquids. David Caprette, PhD, discusses its remarkable properties and describes experiments to conduct with this common, crucial substance.

  • Static Electricity

    Static Electricity

    Electrify your science teaching! Static electricity is an electric charge on the surface of an object. Watch the sparks produced by a Van de Graaff generator, find out how lightning is created, and see how static charges attract and repel.

  • The Global Carbon Cycle

    The Global Carbon Cycle

    Join Nancy Moreno, PhD, as she discusses Earth’s atmosphere, climate change, factors that influence the atmosphere, and other topics related to our planet’s carbon cycle. 

  • The Rock Cycle and Plate Tectonics

    The Rock Cycle and Plate Tectonics

    The processes known as the rock cycle and plate tectonics continually recycle and remodel Earth's solid surface, and reshape its oceans and rivers.