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.
- Plus Plan
Looking at Landforms Worksheet
Identify the major landforms of the world with a labeling worksheet.
- Free Plan
Natural or Man-made? - Worksheet
Distinguish between natural and man-made resources with this cut-and-paste worksheet.
- Plus Plan
Informative Texts Writing Task - Weather
A fact file and a scaffolding template that can be used to write an informative text about weather.
- Free Plan
Water Conservation Foldable
Display different ways to save water with this water conservation foldable.
- Plus Plan
Weathering, Erosion, and Deposition Flipbook
Learn about the causes and effects of weathering, erosion, and deposition with a printable flipbook.
- Plus Plan
Water Cycle Cube Project
Learn about the water cycle with this fun cube activity project and template.
- Plus Plan
Renewable or Nonrenewable? Earth's Resources Task Cards
Identify natural resources and Earth’s energy sources with a set of 24 renewable and nonrenewable resource task cards.
- Plus Plan
Weathering and Erosion Poster
Learn how weathering and erosion can cause slow changes to Earth’s surface with this printable poster.
- Plus Plan
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle - Earth Day Foldables
Display different ways to conserve resources with a set of fun recycling–based foldable interactive notebook templates.
- Plus Plan
Helping the Earth Flipbook - Primary
Use this printable recycling flipbook with your students to teach them about ways to help Earth.
- Free Plan
Illustrating the Water Cycle – Template
Illustrate the stages of the water cycle with this printable template.
- Free Plan
Rain Cloud in a Jar Experiment
Use this science experiment when learning about the different types and features of clouds and how they contribute to the water cycle.
- Plus Plan
Impacts of Floods PowerPoint
An editable PowerPoint teaching resource about floods and their impact on our communities.
- Plus Plan
What is Pollution? Guided Note-Taking Worksheets
Provide your learners with an organized note-taking method with a pack of Pollution note-taking templates.
- Plus Plan
How to Save Water Poster and Worksheet Pack
Teach your students ways to save water with a printable poster and worksheet pack.
- Plus Plan
Man-Made vs Natural Materials Worksheet
Move around the classroom and identify different examples of manmade and natural materials with a gallery walk worksheet.
- Plus Plan
What are Natural Resources - Instructional Slide Deck
Explore natural resources, where they come from, and how we use them with an instructional slide deck.
- Plus Plan
Renewable and Nonrenewable Resources – Vocabulary Mini Book
Reinforce science vocabulary by creating a booklet to reference when studying renewable and nonrenewable resources.
- Plus Plan
Spring Writing Prompts for Beginning Writers
Celebrate a new season with Spring writing worksheets for primary grades.
- Free Plan
Printable Weather Recording Charts
Use these printable weather charts to graph and analyze the weather for each month.
- Plus Plan
Ocean Pollution Art Activity
Inspire discussions about ocean pollution and environmental impact with an Earth Day art project.
- Plus Plan
The Changing Seasons Comprehension Worksheets
Read and write about the changing seasons with a comprehension passage and worksheet.
- Plus Plan
Weather Tools – Mini-Book
Introduce various weather tools to your students with this 12-page integrated activity mini-book.
- Plus Plan
Predicting Weather – Worksheet
Use data tables to answer questions and make predictions about temperature and precipitation with this weather worksheet.
- Free Plan
Landforms of the World - Brochure Template
Add to your bank of landform project ideas with a free Landform Research Brochure.
- Plus Plan
Flood Vocabulary Worksheet
A vocabulary task for students to use when learning about floods.
- Free Plan
The Recycling Process Poster
Show your students the process materials go through when they are recycled with printable recycling posters.
- Plus Plan
My Ecological Footprint - Worksheet
A worksheet for students to evaluate their family's ecological footprint and compare it with the class.
- Plus Plan
The Seasons Around the World Posters and Worksheet
A diagram showing the Earth's rotation around the sun and the corresponding seasons in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.
- Plus Plan
Water Overuse Infographic Poster
Display important facts and statistics about water overuse with an eye-opening infographic.
- Plus Plan
Weathering, Erosion and Deposition Color By Code Worksheet
Guide your students to differentiate between examples of weathering, erosion and deposition with this color-by-number science worksheet.
- Plus Plan
Rock It Out With Weathering, Erosion and Deposition – Interactive Task Cards
Dive into the fascinating world of Earth’s transformations! Download this set of interactive task cards to review weathering, erosion and deposition concepts with your students.
- Earth Science Worksheets
- Earth Science Posters
- Earth Science Templates
- Earth Science Games
- Earth Science Word Walls
- Earth Science for Pre-K
- Earth Science for Kindergarten
- Earth Science for 1st Grade
- Earth Science for 2nd Grade
- Earth Science for 3rd Grade
- Earth Science for 4th Grade
- Earth Science for 5th Grade
- Earth Science for 6th Grade