Part of NASA's classroom of the future program, the Earth Science Explorer site contains a virtual tour of a castle that contains several floors of varying topics. The earth floor has a plate tectonics, geologic time, biomes, diversity, cycles, spheres, and an adaptation room to explore. The site also has a dinosaur floor with interesting information as well as a teacher's resource area and a...

This Learning Web unit from the US Geological Survey offers an engaging, interdisciplinary exploration of caves for grades K-3. Although Exploring Caves is listed as a life science unit, it encompasses a wide range of fields: earth science, hydrology, mapping, biology, and anthropology. The unit is linked by an original read-aloud story about the adventures of two kids who get lost in a cave and...

Geologic Maps are unique in that they show the distribution of geologic features on a landscape through specific symbols and colors. The United States Geological Survey's (USGS) site Geologic Maps provides visitors with a good introduction to these concepts, which include the unique features of a geologic map; the meaning of their lines, colors, and symbols; the location of faults; and more....

From the National Park Service comes the Teachers Corner Web site on Badlands National Park. The lesson plans offered include erosion in a box, understanding rock layers, making dirt, muddying the waters, and more. Each lesson page gives a suggested grade range, key concepts, background, materials, procedure, results, and a why section that explains the scientific reasons behind the results. The...

Teachers, are you looking for new activities to excite your students about the evolution of igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks? This website, developed by the non-profit organization Math/Science Nucleus, provides numerous hands-on activities for each grade from kindergarten through sixth. The chemistry section deals with the mystery of why and how minerals and rocks are formed. The...

Chock full of information about water, the US Geological Survey's (USGS) Water Science for Schools is an enjoyable site for educators and students alike. From Water Basics to Special Topics, this easily navigable site teaches students about the importance of water in their everyday lives. Visitors confused about terminology can refer to the glossary, a tool that defines terms used within the site...