Hello Everyone! What a great day to start a study on clouds!! Dark clouds this morning releasing a deluge of rain! By 1:00 beautiful clear sky with just a few cirrus clouds! Perfect example of our ever changing skies. I'll share our Cloud Unit in a second, but first I wanted to show some pics of our whole group math lesson. We are continuing our study of place value. After all the activities we did last week, it was time to see how all of this fits in relationship to other numbers. I pulled out our bigger than life 100 board and handed out some mystery picture clues. Each clue described a number in place value (tens and ones). The kids took turns putting their cards on the number for which their clue stood. When we finished putting all the clues down, a cloud was revealed! Use your imagination! It looks like a cloud, right??? The kids loved working together to create it!! I'm not even sure they realized they were growing their number sense!!! I did put together a little integrated cloud unit. We are going to try to get most of this in this week!! The unit also includes some poetry, another science activity and more!! You can get it if you click HERE!! Stay tuned for more cloud fun later in the week! Until then, have a wonderful week!! Thanks for stopping by for a peek!! Joyfully! Nancy

Check out these fun and hands-on geology activities for kids. Learn about the layers of the earth, rock cycle, growing crystals and more.

These free volcano and earthquake printables and hands-on activities are designed for preschoolers through early elementary at home or in the classroom!

Learn About the 7 Continents! Exploring the 7 Continents has never been more exciting! It’s a Small World Continent Study is filled with over 35 activities to help your students gain a greater understanding of the seven continents. This 130+ page unit is filled with great resources, posters, printables, activities, and projects that will open […]

STEM Earthquake Challenge - students experiment on cardboard houses & different materials to create the best structure to withstand a simulated earthquake.

When we started our fossil unit, I wanted to spark my kids’ excitement! I asked my kids to come up to the carpet- a typical request- but then, I asked them to make two columns with some space in the middle. They were a little confused, but complied. As they sat down, I started my monologue: “Please ensure your seats are in the full upright position and all carry-on items have been stowed in the overhead bins or under the seat in front of you. The captain requires that you fasten your seatbelts and turn off all electronic devices until we reach cruising altitude. In case of an emergency, exits are located at the front of the airplane and over the wings. Thank you for flying Garwoodington Air.” Then, I showed this YouTube video of a plane taking off. My kids LOVED this! (Yes, even in 4th grade.) They mimicked shutting off their cell phones, buckling their seatbelts, and even shouted out when their ears “popped!” After the plane took off, I told them, “You may now get out your electronic devices, but this flight goes surprisingly fast.” I then turned away, and as I started the next video, covered my mouth with my fist to muffle it. “This is your captain speaking. As we begin our final approach, you can see the mountains in the distance, and the wide open skies that this state is so famous for. Please remain in your seats until the plane comes to a complete stop. We hope you enjoy your stay in beautiful Montana!” As the plane “lands,” I move to the front of the seats and direct the students to move into the aisle and disembark. Then, they “drive” out to our dig site for the day (back to their tables) and I change the screen to show a photo of Montana and then of a paleontology dig site. From there, we went through The Great Fossil Find, a mock paleontology dig from Indiana University. (Did I mention it’s free?) I read from the script they provided to set the stage for each “day,” and my kids “dug” bones out of these envelopes a few at a time. As they found new bones, my little paleontologists had to change their configuration and predictions. I loved this lesson for the excitement it brought- from sitting in a “plane,” to digging up bones, to the moment of discovery when my kids saw how the bones fit together! It was such an engaging way to kick off the unit! Even better, I felt like the lesson not only taught some content, but also gave my kids a truer sense of what life as a scientist might really be like- needing to work as a team, revising your ideas as you find new evidence, not being able to check your work with an answer key, the need for patience, and the moment of frustration when they had to leave the rest of the bones inside the envelope! I did type out a more 4th grade-friendly version of the Fossil Journal for my students, which you can download here: Mock Fossil Dig Handout All other downloads are available from IU here: http://www.indiana.edu/~ensiweb/lessons/gr.fs.fd.html Even if you aren’t teaching fossils, I highly recommend taking 5 minutes at the start of class to “fly” to a destination. It really sets the stage for a fun and interactive virtual field trip that could take you anywhere- to learn about holidays around the world, to visit important landforms or historical landmarks, or even to visit the scene of a story. Take the time to make learning come alive. It doesn’t always take costumes and elaborate props- sometimes it’s as simple as prompting kids to use their imaginations!

These DIY moon rocks are super easy to make and a great for not only crafts, but science experiments as well. They actually resemble real moon rocks!

Teach about the rock cycle in a creative way with this printable geology rock cycle board game~ The Rock Collectors. Geology will never be boring again!

Learn about plate tectonics using an orange. This hands on activity is a great introduction to plat boundaries and tectonics for kids

Volcano Paper Fortune Teller A fun and engaging activity for the children to create their own fortune teller origami chatterbox all about composite and - High quality downloadable teaching resource from Teacher's Pet.

Earthquakes and Volcanoes Worksheets are essential tools for learners eager to gain a deeper understanding of these fascinating natural phenomena. Designed for students in middle school and high school, these worksheets cover a wide range of topics related to earthquakes and volcanoes, including plate tectonics, seismic waves, volcano formation, and more. With engaging activities and thought-provoking questions, these educational resources will surely captivate students and enhance their knowledge about the Earth's powerful forces.

Stop laminating? In my special education classroom? I know, I know. But trust me. Save time, money and the Earth with 3 additions to your supply cabinet.

These free rocks and minerals printables and Montessori activities are perfect for preschoolers through early elementary in the classroom or at home!

Help your primary grade students explore, learn, and write about landforms. See our hands-on landforms activities plus our culminating writing project!

My kids loved making these flipbooks to review landforms! Head over to my blog to download your free copy by clicking my button below! You Might Also Like:Leaf Fall Classroom CraftColoring Earth DayScience and Food At Home ExperimentGlow Stick Science!

Teaching earthquakes and earth science concepts of plate movement and does not have to be destructive! Instead check out these engaging science experiments!

Try this fossil experiment with gummy candy and bread to learn about how fossils and sedimentary rocks are formed. Plus- it's edible!

Volcano sequencing worksheet for kids Be careful! The volcano is erupting. Here is the volcano sequencing worksheet for preschoolers and kindergarten.How much does your child concern [...]

Here's another way to approach documentation panels - this formatting idea is courtesy of my brother Shaun. I was talking to him about doc...

This week in Science we have been learning about Earth's Land Features. All week we took notes, learned hand gestures, and watched a video, and then we made a landform flipbook. I have to say, it came out SOOOO cute!! I got the idea from an AIMS lesson and adapted it for the SC landforms. Here is what it looks like completed! And here it is in action! You can download it HERE!

The Clock of eras is a graphic aid to help us visualize geologic time.

For many of us, a rock is simply that – a rock. But the creativity, diversity, and detail that make up each rock is astounding! Help your students learn about 12 different types of rocks and 8 different gemstones and minerals with these Rocks, Gemstones, & Minerals Cheat Sheets & Fact Cards. This fun set...

This science experiment was a great visual for explaining how fold mountains are formed. It also uses materials you already have in the house.

Dive into the Rock Cycle with this chocolate activity that will teach your kids about igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks!

GEOLOGIC TIME SCALE POSTER Earth's history in this vibrant and educational Geological Time Scale Poster! Perfect for the classroom, this Montessori-inspired timeline features: ✨ Colorful Illustration: Engaging visual representation of Earth's timeline from the Hadean Eon to the Present. Highlighting Most Important Life and Animals: Explore key life forms from each period, including the fascinating creatures that shaped our planet. Versatile File Formats: Available in PDF and AI vector formats for flexibility. Vector files are scalable to any size without compromising quality, allowing for optimal classroom display. Easily customizable AI vector files (excluding fonts) for personalized touches. High-resolution JPG files Created by me using Adobe Illustrator, ensuring relevance and accuracy. All rights reserved by the author to maintain the integrity of the resource. Terms of Use: Personal Use: Ideal for educational projects, presentations, and personal exploration. Commercial Use: Permitted, provided that substantial value is added to the product. This encompasses utilizing the image in teaching materials, educational products, and other commercial projects. However, direct resale of this art in its original form is strictly prohibited. Note: Fonts are expanded, ensuring consistent display across platforms. Purchase today and bring Earth's history to life in your classroom!

Geology Rocks! Unit (& FREE Printable Packet). Fantastic resources for teaching rocks to preschool, kindergarten, and elementary school students!

Are you ready to discover new ways to engage your students in primary science? I want to help you. Sign up to my mailing list to receive the printable template for this fun and engaging dinosaur fossil foldable activity. I’d also love to send you ideas for classroom and home activities, and information about my […]

Montessori-inspired Asia learning activities and free printables for kids.

The best "icebreaker" activity for high school students (who hate icebreaker activities). Get a jump start on creating a bond with your students.

Do you feel intimidated by using QR codes in the classroom? There's no need for that, as they're very easy to use! Learn how to use them in this post.

Try this fun twist on dirt cups and make some edible soil layers. This will teach kids about geology in a fun, tasty, hands-on way!

This pack is full of resources to help your students learn more about areas of interest whether they be in the paleozoic, mesozoic or cenezoic.   For each era there is -A set of cloze reading texts: Students fill in the gaps to complete the text. This is an excellent reading comprehension activity -A set of sorting activities; students read and work out features of different geological periods, the end up with a giant grid which gives a great overview of the era and is perfect for students who like to see the big picture. -A set of research projects. I've included a text for each period broken up into easily identified categories. Two options for research are given.   I've also included my Early Life Coloring sheets.   See the individual resources here:  Paleozoic Sorting Paleozoic Research Paleozoic Cloze   Mesozoic Sorting Mesozoic Research Mesozoic Cloze   Cenozoic Sorting Cenozoic Research Cenozoic Cloze    Early Life Coloring sheets   Why not check out the Cosmic Bundle? It has resources to help related to each Great Story   PDF - this is a downloadable resource   You can see all my money saving bundles for a variety of topics here.

STEM Earthquake Challenge - students experiment on cardboard houses & different materials to create the best structure to withstand a simulated earthquake.

We’ve been learning about the continent Australia! One of our parents brought along some wonderful items from Australia to share with us. Boomerangs! Holding a Koala What’s on the Shelf? Here’s our unit studies shelf with materials about Australia Geography of Australia This is our Australia Geography folder full of images from Australia and the Pacific […]

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My son have to determine where to dig a well and where to build his house in our play dough core sampling project.

Weathering vs Erosion STEM activity is a super easy and fun Science experiment that will teach your kids how the earth works.

Help kids learn about rocks by making a rock of their own.

When you look at a map of the world, what do you see? Probably the continents and the ocean, right?