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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The Water Cycle - Cut and Paste Worksheet
Sequence the steps of the water cycle with a cut and paste worksheet.
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Water Cycle in a Bag – Investigation Activity
Create a water cycle in a bag, make observations, and answer discussion questions with this printable science activity.
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How Do People Use Natural Resources? Teaching Slides
Teach about natural resources and how humans interact with them with this 17-slide teaching deck.
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Renewable or Nonrenewable? Earth's Resources Game
Investigate the differences between renewable and nonrenewable resources with a self-checking interactive science game.
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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.
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Weathering and Erosion Poster
Learn how weathering and erosion can cause slow changes to Earth’s surface with this printable poster.
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Reduce, Reuse, Recycle - Earth Day Foldables
Display different ways to conserve resources with a set of fun recycling–based foldable interactive notebook templates.
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Helping the Earth Flipbook - Primary
Use this printable recycling flipbook with your students to teach them about ways to help Earth.
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Recycling Writing Prompts - Earth Day Worksheets
Differentiate writing instruction in primary grades with informational writing prompts about recycling and conservation.
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Types of Weather Bingo
Identify basic weather vocabulary terms such as windy, cloudy, snowy, cold, etc., with an exciting game of Bingo!
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Weather Journal – Mini-Book
Draw and write about the current weather conditions, record weather data, and predict what the following day’s forecast will be with this printable mini-book.
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Reduce Reuse Recycle! - Printable Earth Day Read-Alouds
Teach your students to reduce, reuse, and recycle with a printable 3 Rs Mini-Book.
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All About Clouds - Cloze Worksheet
Strengthen student understanding of different cloud types with this cloze reading worksheet.
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Earth Day Booklet
Help your young students learn and write about Earth Day with a printable Earth Day booklet for kids.
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All About Clouds – Instructional Slide Deck
Teach your students about the different types of clouds with this 19-slide instructional slide deck.
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Types of Weather – Sorting Activity
Observe and categorize pictures showing different types of weather with this sorting activity.
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Weather Words – Worksheet Pack
Use this set of worksheets when identifying different types of weather.
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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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Types of Weather – Word Search
Review science vocabulary terms with an engaging weather word search.
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What is Pollution? Guided Note-Taking Worksheets
Provide your learners with an organized note-taking method with a pack of Pollution note-taking templates.
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Types of Clouds – Poster Pack
Learn about nimbus, cirrus, stratus, and cumulus clouds with this set of 4 printable posters.
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Clouds and Their Position – Poster
Learn about the different types of clouds and their position within the atmosphere with this printable poster.
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Daily Weather Report – Interactive Powerpoint
Encourage your students to become weather reporters with this interactive weather activity.
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Natural, Managed, and Human-Made Features Posters
Identify the natural, manmade, and managed features of environments with printable anchor charts.
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How to Reduce Waste - School Lunch Project
Investigate the waste produced from school lunches and create a plan of action to reduce waste with a school lunch waste analysis project.
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Sustainability Activity - Caring for the Environment Sort
Promote sustainable living with a sustainability sorting activity.
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To Your Tap - Water Poster
Display the process that water goes through to get to your tap with a printable poster.
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Being Water Wise - Saving Water Poster Project
Learn and demonstrate knowledge about water conservation with a "Being Water Wise" poster project.
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The World Without Water – Natural Resource Worksheet
Imagine and depict what a world without water would look like with a drawing prompt worksheet.
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Water Use Timeline Worksheet
Observe and explore the ways water is used throughout the day with a printable water timeline worksheet.
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To Your Tap - Water Worksheet
Identify the places where water travels before entering homes with a vocabulary-matching worksheet.
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Water Walk Worksheet
Observe and explore the uses of water around the school building with a water walk worksheet.
- Earth Science Worksheets
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- Earth Science for Pre-K
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- Earth Science for 6th Grade