Earth Science Activities
Rock'n Game
Students review the rock cycle, types of rocks, and some examples of rocks in this game. The game can be modified for advance students by having them do the separate categories of each of the rock types such as intrusive and extrusive igneous rocks, foliated and nonfoliated metamorphic rocks, and clastic, chemical, and organic sedimentary rocks. It can also be modified for inclusion classes by having students look at the challenge cards as they go through the game and then slowly work up to not having to use the card and use it as a challenge card.
Filtration Demonstration
Students are taught about the ground acting as a natural filtration system. Students break into groups and are given filter paper or a plastic cap with a nail hole in the top, a plastic soda bottle cut in half, and other materials such as soil, large, medium, and small rocks, sand, and gravel. Vase and fishtank gravel and marble can also be used. All students will have access to these materials, but told that they don't have to use all of them. Students as a group are given the challenge of designing a filtration system that is better than the teachers. Remind the students that parent rock is always found a the bottom and soil with the humus layer is found at the top. Judging will take place at the end and based on clarity. Students as a class get to vote.
Ocean Floor Sonar
Students use a shoe box and play-doe/clay..etc to construct an ocean floor. Students will then poke holes in the top of the box in at least 3 different evenly spaced rows. Then dowel rods are used to try and create the ocean floor graphically. Once graphed, students cut them out and glue them on paper to make a 3D image of a sonogram and then try and label the features that they put in on their graphs.
Kahoot Review
Kahoot is an online activity where you can crate questions that students can use any device to answer such as ipads, laptops, and even their phones. Student compete against each other in the question/trivia game. Once finished you can export the results in an excel document to see how the students did as a class and individually.