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Geology Activities and Lesson Plans

  Web interactive activities: Geology   

Image from State Symbols Web Exhibit and Game
State Symbols Web Exhibit and Game
Play a State Symbols Identification Game and learn about all the Illinois State symbols.



  Web-available Lesson Plans: Geology   

Image from A Burst of Light: Mineral Use in Fireworks - grades 5/6
A Burst of Light: Mineral Use in Fireworks - grades 5/6
A Geology Online lesson for upper elementary students that shows how minerals are used to make colorful fireworks.



Image from A Burst of Light: Mineral Use in Fireworks - grades K-6 - pdf
A Burst of Light: Mineral Use in Fireworks - grades K-6 - pdf
Learn about the minerals that are used in fireworks.



Image from Animal Adaptations Lesson from Midwest U.S. 16,000 Years Ago
Animal Adaptations Lesson from Midwest U.S. 16,000 Years Ago
Learn about adaptations in animals by studying the teeth of mastodons, mammoths, and saber-tooth cats. (pdf)(Middle school)


Image from Collecting Rocks - Kindergarten
Collecting Rocks - Kindergarten
The first of three lessons on this topic.


Image from Collecting Rocks - Kindergarten - pdf
Collecting Rocks - Kindergarten - pdf
First of three lessons on this topic.


Image from Creating Spreadsheets—AppleWorks - grades 6-12 - pdf
Creating Spreadsheets—AppleWorks - grades 6-12 - pdf
Use software to create a spreadsheet for your data.



Image from Evaluating an Illinois Earthquake - grades 7/8
Evaluating an Illinois Earthquake - grades 7/8
Learn about the faultlines in Illinois and the history of earthquakes there.



Image from Evaluating an Illinois Earthquake - grades 7/8 - pdf
Evaluating an Illinois Earthquake - grades 7/8 - pdf
Learn about the faultlines and earthquakes that effect Illinois.



Image from Exploring How Rocks Are Formed
Exploring How Rocks Are Formed
Learn how sedimentary, metamorphic, and igneous rocks are formed.



Image from Exploring How Rocks Are Formed - grades 3/4 - pdf
Exploring How Rocks Are Formed - grades 3/4 - pdf
Learn how sedimentary, metamorphic, and ignweous rocks are formed.



Image from Exploring Minerals - grades 3/4
Exploring Minerals - grades 3/4
Learn the physical characteristics of minerals.



Image from Exploring Minerals - grades 3/4 - pdf
Exploring Minerals - grades 3/4 - pdf
Learn to identify minerals by their characteristics and behaviors.



Image from Exploring Rocks - grades 3/4
Exploring Rocks - grades 3/4
Classifying rocks by their properties



Image from Exploring Rocks - grades 3/4 - pdf
Exploring Rocks - grades 3/4 - pdf
Classify rocks by their properties.



Image from Exploring Uses of Rocks & Minerals - grades 3/4
Exploring Uses of Rocks & Minerals - grades 3/4
Many everyday objects contain minerals.



Image from Exploring Uses of Rocks & Minerals - grades 3/4 - pdf
Exploring Uses of Rocks & Minerals - grades 3/4 - pdf
Many everyday objects contain minerals.



Image from Forms for Exhibit Creation Lessons
Forms for Exhibit Creation Lessons
In the Classroom Exhibit lesson for the Behind the Scenes module, students can print out and use forms to keep records of the objects or specimens they are planning to exhibit.


Image from Geo-Hunt - grades 7/8
Geo-Hunt - grades 7/8
Conduct a scavenger hunt for rocks and minerals according to their uses.



Image from GeoHunt - grades 7/8 - pdf
GeoHunt - grades 7/8 - pdf
Conduct a scavenger hunt for rocks and minerals for their uses.



Image from Gliding Glaciers - grades 5/6
Gliding Glaciers - grades 5/6
Understand what types of landforms are created from glacial movement.


Image from Gliding Glaciers - grades 5/6 - pdf
Gliding Glaciers - grades 5/6 - pdf
Learn about the movement of glaciers.



Image from How Old Is Illinois? - high school
How Old Is Illinois? - high school
Study the fossils found in rock layers to determine the age of the strata between Rock Island and Chicago.


Image from How Old Is Illinois? - high school - pdf
How Old Is Illinois? - high school - pdf
Study the age of Illinois by looking at fossils and their strata.



How to Use FaunMap Lesson

After looking at the Midwestern United States 16,000 Years Ago Web exhibit, learn how to use the Museum's online FaunMap to discover where species lived in the Ice Ages compared to today. (pdf)(High school)

The url of the Museum's Online Research Program <a href="/research/faunmap/">FaunMap</a>




Image from Igneous Rocks
Igneous Rocks
Learn about igneous rocks and their formation.



Image from Igneous Rocks - high school
Igneous Rocks - high school
Learn about the formation of igneous rocks.



Image from Igneous Rocks - high school - pdf
Igneous Rocks - high school - pdf
Learn how igneous rocks are found.



Image from Igneous Rocks - second grade
Igneous Rocks - second grade
Build a volcano and learn how igneous rocks are formed.



Image from Landforms of Illinois - grades 5/6
Landforms of Illinois - grades 5/6
How are landforms created?



Image from Landforms of Illinois - grades 5/6 - pdf
Landforms of Illinois - grades 5/6 - pdf
How was land fomred in Illinois?



Image from Mammal Adaptation Game
Mammal Adaptation Game
Play the Mammal Adaptation Game to learn how mammals are adapted to their environments and what happens when their environment changes. (pdf) (Elementary school)


Image from Metamorphic Rocks - second grade
Metamorphic Rocks - second grade
Second grade lessonplan about the formation of metamorphic rocks.



Image from Metamorphic Rocks - second grade - pdf
Metamorphic Rocks - second grade - pdf
Learn how metamorphic rocks are formed.



Image from Mighty Minerals - grades 7/8
Mighty Minerals - grades 7/8
Middle school students will learn the characteristics of different minerals.



Image from Mighty Minerals - grades 7/8 - pdf
Mighty Minerals - grades 7/8 - pdf
Learn about the characteristics of minerals.



Image from Minerals - the Building Blocks of Rocks - Kindergarten - pdf
Minerals - the Building Blocks of Rocks - Kindergarten - pdf
Rocks are composed of different minerals.



Image from Museum Adventure WebQuest - grades 3/4
Museum Adventure WebQuest - grades 3/4
What are the properties of minerals, exemplified by fluorite?



Image from Museum Adventure WebQuest - grades 3/4 - pdf
Museum Adventure WebQuest - grades 3/4 - pdf
What are the properties of minerals, exemplified by fluorite?



Image from Our Everchanging Earth - First Grade
Our Everchanging Earth - First Grade
Record data; explain differences.


Our Everchanging Earth - First grade - pdf
record data, explain differences


Image from Project Geode - grades 7/8
Project Geode - grades 7/8
Learn how geodes are structured.



Image from Project Geode - grades 7/8 - pdf
Project Geode - grades 7/8 - pdf
Learn how geodes are structured.



Image from Ride the Rock Cycle - grades 5/6
Ride the Rock Cycle - grades 5/6
Learn the steps of the rock cycle.



Image from Ride the Rock Cycle - grades 5/6 - pdf
Ride the Rock Cycle - grades 5/6 - pdf
Learn the steps of the rock cycle.



Image from Rocks & Minerals - First grade
Rocks & Minerals - First grade
a unit plan and contains more than one lesson. You can pick and choose those that best fit your goals and the ability level of your students.


Image from Rocks and Minerals - First Grade - pdf
Rocks and Minerals - First Grade - pdf
a unit plan and contains more than one lesson. You can pick and choose those that best fit your goals and the ability level of your students.


Image from Rocks and Minerals - Uses Past and Present - Kindergarten
Rocks and Minerals - Uses Past and Present - Kindergarten
Kindergarten lesson on how people have used rocks.



Image from Rocks and Minerals - Uses Past and Present - Kindergarten - pdf
Rocks and Minerals - Uses Past and Present - Kindergarten - pdf
Kindergarten lesson on how people have used rocks.



Image from Rocks, Rocks & More Rocks - second grade
Rocks, Rocks & More Rocks - second grade
Second graders will learn the propoerties of rocks and sort a given number of them by those properties.



Image from Sediment Sleuths - grades 7/8
Sediment Sleuths - grades 7/8
Learn about Illinois rocks and minerals.



Image from Sediment Sleuths - grades 7/8 - pdf
Sediment Sleuths - grades 7/8 - pdf
Learn about the minerals found in Illinois.



Image from Sedimentary Rocks - high school
Sedimentary Rocks - high school
High schoolers will learn how sedimentary rocks are formed.



Image from Sedimentary Rocks - high school - pdf
Sedimentary Rocks - high school - pdf
Learn how sedimentary rocks are formed.



Image from Sedimentary Rocks - second grade
Sedimentary Rocks - second grade
Learn about the rock cycle.



Image from Sorting Rocks - Kindergarten
Sorting Rocks - Kindergarten
Second of three lessons on rocks.


Image from Sorting Rocks - Kindergarten - pdf
Sorting Rocks - Kindergarten - pdf
Second of three lessons on rocks.


The ISM builds a replica giant ground sloth skeleton
For the Changes! Exhibition, the Illinois State Museum replicated a Jefferson’s Giant Ground Sloth, an extinct Ice Age mammal.


Image from The Rocks Under Illinois
The Rocks Under Illinois
Learn the geological history of Illinois by drawing the rock layers.



Image from The Rocks Under Illinois - high school
The Rocks Under Illinois - high school
Learn the geological history of Illinois by drawing the rock layers.



Image from Three Dimensional Geology - high school
Three Dimensional Geology - high school
Learn how rock strata are 3-dimensional.



Image from Three Dimensional Geology - high school - pdf
Three Dimensional Geology - high school - pdf
Learn that rock strata are 3-dimensional.



Image from Using HyperStudio - grades 2-8
Using HyperStudio - grades 2-8
Hyperstudio use to create your project in geology.



Image from Using HyperStudio - grades 2-8 - pdf
Using HyperStudio - grades 2-8 - pdf
Hyperstudio use to create a geology project.



Image from Using Inspiration - grades 4-12 - pdf
Using Inspiration - grades 4-12 - pdf
Inspiration is a software program for Macs.



Image from Using KidPix - grades 5/6 - pdf
Using KidPix - grades 5/6 - pdf
KidPix software helps students create a digital project.



Image from Using KidPix - grades K-6
Using KidPix - grades K-6
KiPix software helps students crate a digital project.



Image from Weathering & Erosion - grades 5/6
Weathering & Erosion - grades 5/6
Learn to identify when and how a rock has been eroded.



Image from Weathering & Erosion - grades 5/6 - pdf
Weathering & Erosion - grades 5/6 - pdf
Learn to identify if and how a rock has been eroded.



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Last updated 11-22-05, 09:55 AM by shuitt