Earth Science Teaching Resources
Browse printable Earth science worksheets, digital activities and a whole lot more to bring the wonders of our planet to life in your elementary classroom!
This collection of NGSS curriculum-aligned teaching resources has been created by our expert teacher team to save your valuable lesson planning time with differentiated and editable science printables and Google slides.
Looking to learn more about the Earth science curriculum for elementary school, or just need some fresh ideas to engage your students? Read on for a primer from our teacher team!
What Is Earth Science?
We know this one may seem obvious — after all, it's right there in the name! But how do you explain this one to your students? Here's a kid-friendly definition you can use!
Earth Science is the study of our planet Earth and it's a chance to learn about the different layers of the Earth, rocks and minerals, weather patterns and climate, water and oceans and natural resources.
Earth scientists use different tools to study the Earth, including looking at rocks, studying the weather, and even using satellites to take pictures from space. By learning about Earth science, we can better understand the world around us and how we can protect and take care of our planet.
What Does Earth Science Look Like in Elementary School?
When we talk about Earth science (or geology) in elementary school, we aren't pulling out reference tables or digging deep into climatology.
On an elementary level, Earth science covers everything from the layers of the Earth to plate tectonics to erosion and weathering. The goal is to provide students with a basic understanding of the Earth and its processes and to develop kids' scientific inquiry and critical thinking skills, laying the groundwork for the more focused Earth science courses available on a high school level.
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Climate Zones of the World – Poster Pack
Learn about different climate types with this set of 6 printable posters.
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Climate Zone Map — Printable Classroom Resource
Print a climate zone map for the classroom to support lessons about the 6 climate types.
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Water Cycle Words - Illustrated Word Wall
Boost vocabulary skills and understanding with an illustrated water cycle word wall.
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Water is Life - Instructional Slide Deck
Learn about the importance of water to life on Earth, along with where our water comes from, with an instructional slide deck.
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Natural Resources Word Search
Review the different natural resources with a word search.
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Recycling Word Search
Build your students’ vocabulary around the topic of recycling with this recycling-themed word search.
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Recycling Labels - Printable Bin Tags
Teach your students how to recycle in the classroom with labeled recycling bins!
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A Day in the Life of a Water Droplet – Comic Strip Templates
Put your artistic skills to use as you illustrate a day in the life of a water droplet with these printable comic strip templates.
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Renewable and Nonrenewable Resources – Cut and Paste Worksheet
Sort renewable and nonrenewable resources with this cut-and-paste science worksheet.
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Factors That Influence Weather – Teaching Slide Deck
Teach your students how temperature, wind, humidity, cloud coverage, and air pressure influence weather with this 18-slide instructional slide deck.
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Natural Landforms Sorting Activity
Identify the major landforms of the world with a sorting activity.
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4th Grade Writing Worksheets: Tornado Text-Based Writing
Enhance your students' comprehension, vocabulary, and writing skills using 4th Grade writing worksheets and a high-interest reading passage about Tornadoes.
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U.S. Landforms Brochure
Research and present knowledge of famous landforms in the United States with a brochure project.
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Dress for the Weather Worksheet
Identify proper clothing choices for different weather conditions with this worksheet.
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Match It Up! Natural Resources – Worksheet
Match natural resources with how they are used with the help of this worksheet.
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Soil Properties Lab – Trifold Template
Investigate different soil types and their properties with this hands-on activity.
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How Do Rocks Form? – Informative Text Structure Sorting Activity
A sorting task to help students learn about the structure of an informative text.
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The Seasons - Classroom Posters
A set of beautifully illustrated posters that depict the four seasons and the differences between them.
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The Recycling Process Poster
Show your students the process materials go through when they are recycled with printable recycling posters.
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My Ecological Footprint - Worksheet
A worksheet for students to evaluate their family's ecological footprint and compare it with the class.
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Ways to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint – Poster and Worksheet
Explore how to reduce your carbon footprint with this poster and accompanying comprehension worksheet.
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Earth Day Coloring Pages
Give your students these beautiful Earth Day coloring sheets to promote sustainability and conservation.
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Earthquake - Tectonic Plates Geology Diagram & Worksheets
Introduce students to plate tectonics with a labeled diagram and worksheet set featuring different types of volcanoes, layers of earth and landforms.
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Design a Conservation T-Shirt – Inquiry-Based Project
Use this conservation project to teach your students about how to ignite positive change in the face of a global environmental crisis.
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Environmental Impact Science Experiments
Use these simple science experiments to teach your students about environmental issues such as oil and water pollution, soil quality and climate change.
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Natural Disasters - Flood Simulation Experiment
A hands-on experiment to use when exploring natural disasters.
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Seasons and Months Posters
Use these four months and the seasons posters to help your students to learn the seasons and their corresponding months.
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Seasonal Changes Words and Definitions Display
Display this easy-to-read seasons word set in your classroom as you investigate seasonal changes with your young students.
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Seasonal Changes Teaching Presentation
Show your students this 26-slide teaching presentation all about the changing seasons, and develop their understanding of seasonal changes in the environment.
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Slow Changes to Earth's Surface Task Cards
Guide your students to answer vocabulary and situational questions about weathering, erosion and deposition with this set of 24 task cards.
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Weathering vs. Erosion vs. Deposition Vocabulary Game
Guide your students to review weathering, erosion and deposition vocabulary words with this free dice game.
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Weathering and Erosion – RACES Writing Strategy Worksheets
Combine reading, writing and science with two worksheets about weathering and erosion using the RACES writing strategy for text evidence.