Earth Science
Uncover the forces that shape our world, from plate tectonics to weather.
Take a closer look at what makes Earth go ’round
What’s underfoot, overhead, and all around us? Earth is dynamic and always changing; investigate it with our lesson plans. Crack open the world of plate tectonics, discover what makes flowers bloom, or turn an eye to the night sky. Use these resources to organize and enrich any Earth science unit.
Earth Science For Early Learners
The Night Sky Unit | Early Elementary Science Partnership
Use night sky patterns found in folktales from around the world to explore observable patterns of the moon and stars.
Kindergarten Weather Unit | Early Elementary Science Partnership
Listen to the book Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs and draw comparisons between weather forecasting and responses in Chicago and the fictional town of Chewandswallow.
Dinosaur Toolkit highlights
Dig into the connections between fossils and Earth’s history.
Plate Motion Past and Present | Dinosaur Toolkit
Analyze and interpret data about the structures of Earth’s crust and the fossil record.
Lesson PlanGrades 6-8Rock Clocks Primer | Dinosaur Toolkit
Discover how scientists determine the age of rocks and fossils and use those processes to develop a timeline of Earth's history.
Lesson PlanGrades 3-8What are Fossils Primer | Dinosaur Toolkit
Explore how fossils form and discover how scientists know where to find them.
Lesson PlanGrades 3-8
Earth Science resources
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Animal Survival Unit | Early Elementary Science Partnership
Act as consultants to the City of Chicago and assess their relocation plan for urban coyotes.
Lesson PlanGrades PK-5Artifact Observation Guide
Encourage close examination of a single artifact—an object produced by humans—using observations and inferences.
ActivityGrades 3-12At Home Collections | Science Hub at Home
Create your own museum collection at home.
ActivityGrades 3-8Dinosaur Family Tree | Dinosaur Toolkit
Examine dinosaur physical traits to identify similarities and differences in their features and construct a system of classification.
Lesson PlanGrades 3-5Exhibition Investigation Guide
Investigate a museum exhibition using the claim, evidence, reasoning cycle.
ActivityGrades 3-12Giants from the Past | Dinosaur Toolkit
Analyze and interpret data about sauropods and build a nonfiction narrative about how this group of dinosaurs evolved over millions of years.
Lesson PlanGrades 6-8Island Evolution
Discover why islands contain so many unique species.
VideoGrades 6-12Kindergarten Weather Unit | Early Elementary Science Partnership
Listen to the book Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs and draw comparisons between weather forecasting and responses in Chicago and the fictional town of Chewandswallow.
Lesson PlanGrades PK-2Mapping and Monarchs Unit | Early Elementary Science Partnership
Learn how to analyze and interpret maps by studying monarch butterfly migration.
Lesson PlanGrades PK-2Plate Motion Past and Present | Dinosaur Toolkit
Analyze and interpret data about the structures of Earth’s crust and the fossil record.
Lesson PlanGrades 6-8Pollination Unit | Early Elementary Science Partnership
Interact with various models to explore the structures of plants and animals related to the process of pollination.
Lesson PlanGrades PK-2Pre-K Weather Unit | Early Elementary Science Partnership
Observe and record weather to build a common understanding of observable weather conditions in the fall in Chicago. Then make recommendations about how SUE should prepare to play outside.
Lesson PlanGrades PK-2Protecting Earth's Ecosystem | Exploring the Field Guide
Analyze methods used to address environmental issues and design strategies to protect local ecosystems.
ActivityGrades 3-5Rise of Dinosaurs | Dinosaur Toolkit
Analyze data from a mock fossil dig to determine the differences and similarities between multiple fossil dig sites.
Lesson PlanGrades 3-5Rock Clocks Primer | Dinosaur Toolkit
Discover how scientists determine the age of rocks and fossils and use those processes to develop a timeline of Earth's history.
Lesson PlanGrades 3-8Specimen Observation Guide
Encourage close examination of a single specimen—a collected example of a particular species or type—using observations and inferences.
ActivityGrades 3-12SUE's World | Dinosaur Toolkit
Use fossils as clues to rebuild a North American landscape from the past and imagine the world where SUE the T. rex lived.
Lesson PlanGrades 3-5The Brain Scoop: Tully Monster Mystery Solved!
Learn how researchers discovered the Tully Monster, long believed to be an invertebrate (similar to worms), is actually a vertebrate and more closely related to fish.
VideoGrades 3-12The Field Revealed: Tully Monster
Discover the Tully Monster, the state fossil of Illinois.
VideoGrades 3-12The Night Sky Unit | Early Elementary Science Partnership
Use night sky patterns found in folktales from around the world to explore observable patterns of the moon and stars.
Lesson PlanGrades PK-2Today's Dinosaurs | Dinosaur Toolkit
Explore evidence in the physical features of living animals and dinosaur fossils to learn what living animal is most closely related to dinosaurs.
Lesson PlanGrades 6-8What are Fossils Primer | Dinosaur Toolkit
Explore how fossils form and discover how scientists know where to find them.
Lesson PlanGrades 3-8Who were Dinosaurs? Primer | Dinosaur Toolkit
Uncover the features that all dinosaurs share, and determine whether a mystery species is a dinosaur.
Lesson PlanGrades 3-8
Acknowledgments
The Griffin Dinosaur Toolkit is part of the Griffin Dinosaur Experience, made possible by generous support from Kenneth C. Griffin.
School learning experiences are supported by ITW.
