Properties of Earth Materials

Properties of Earth Materials (K-4)

* Earth materials are solid rocks and soils, water, and the gases of the atmosphere. The materials have different properties which make them useful for different purposes, such as buildings, fuels, and food. * Soils have properties of color and texture; capacity to hold water, and grow plants. * Fossils provide evidence about plants and animals that lived long ago and the nature of the earth at that time. (NSES, 1996)

In the rectangle above, you will find the fundamental concepts and principles that underlie this standard. Below you will find a list of recommended "learning tools" for this standard. Just click the links within the descriptions. Numbers are for reference only. Use our "Tell a Friend" feature, at the bottom, to send this page to a friend!

The name of this "learning tool" is called Rocks and Soils. Use the blue arrows in the upper right hand corner to go through the simulation. This tool has been developed by the bbc.co.uk and their Science Clips program. These are very clear, concise, and effective lessons for young students. Flash is required.

The name of this clever "learning tool" is called Geo Mysteries. Rocks that float. Golden cubes. What's going on here? Join Rex the Dino Detective and solve these mysteries about rocks, fossils and minerals. Includes an interactive animated exploration of a slab of fossilized sea floor. This interactive is produced by the Children's Museum of Indianapolis.

The name of this wonderful visual lesson is If Rocks Could Talk! It does a nice job of describing and showing examples of the three major types of rocks: Igneous, Sedimentary, and Metamorphic. This lesson was produced by the American Museum of Natural History in New York and is featured in their Earth: Our World in Motion web site.

The name of this wonderful learning tool is Life Has a History. Level One is designed for K-4, while Level 2 is designed for Grades 5 to 12. This learning tool comes to us from the University of California Museum of Paleontology, and is part of their site called Explorations Through Time. The Explorations Through Time has a number of very good interactive about life changing over time. Great work.

The name of this "learning tool" is called Paleontology: The Big Dig. It features wonderful visual lesson in all aspects of paleontology. Check out Going Gobi, Face to Fossil and Beyond T. Rex. The American Museum of Natural History is leader in science education on may fronts. Their web site Ology is just terrific.

The BBCi has some wonderful interactive lessons. This learning tool is called Fossilization (the British spelling) and comes from the BBC series entitled Walking with Beasts.

Use this "learning tool" called Fossil Gallery to explore the history of life through fossils. Click on a group of fossils, select a geologic time period or use the menus below to begin. Use the help buttons for more information about taxonomic groupings. This wonderful site comes to us from the Paleontology Portal.