Lesson Plan: Earth Materials & Everyday Natural Resources
Grade Level: Grade 1
Subject: Earth Science
Duration: 50 minutes

1. Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, students will be able to

• Identify and describe common Earth materials (rock, soil, water, and sand).
• Explain at least two ways humans use these Earth materials in everyday life.
• Ask and answer questions about the properties and uses of natural resources.
• Convey information in drawings and simple sentences.

2. Standards Alignment

Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)

• 1-ESS2-1: Use observations to describe patterns in the natural world (Earth materials).
• K-ESS3-1: Use a model to represent the relationship between natural resources and human needs.

Common Core State Standards (CCSS)—ELA Connections

• RI.1.1: Ask and answer questions about key details in informational texts.
• RI.1.3: Describe the connection between two individuals, events, or ideas.
• SL.1.1: Participate in collaborative conversations with peers and adults.
• W.1.2: Write informative/explanatory texts in which they name a topic and supply some facts.

3. Materials & Resources

• Real or pictured samples of rock, soil, water, sand
• Chart paper & markers
• Pencils, crayons, glue sticks
• Magnifying glasses (optional)
• Picture cards illustrating uses (brick house, paper, glass jar, garden)

4. Lesson Procedures

A. Warm-Up/Introduction (5 min)

• Gather students on the carpet with four sample trays labeled Rock, Soil, Water, and Sand.
• Show them a video of “Natural Resources of the Earth.”
• Think-Pair-Share: “What do you notice about each tray? How are they the same or different?”
• Briefly record answers on chart paper under the headings Hard/Soft, Wet/Dry, and Rough/Smooth.

B. Lesson Proper (15 min)

• Small Discussion (5 min): Explain the qualities each material has and provide one sentence that describes it. 

Earth Materials: rock, soil, water, and sand. Show picture cards or PowerPoint presentations.

C. Guided Discussion (10 min):

• “How do we use rock? Soil? Water? Sand?” 
• Record student ideas on a chart (e.g., rock → building; soil → growing plants; water → drinking; sand → making glass).
• Model asking and answering questions: “Why do we use soil to grow plants?”

D. Guided Practice / Activities (10 min)

       Choose from the following worksheets:

Worksheet 1: Color, circle, and match the earth materials.

Worksheet 2: Cut and paste the objects to the earth materials. 

Worksheet 3: Complete the sentence.

E. Test/Assessments (10 min)

         Choose from the following worksheets:

Worksheet 1: Sort & Match Earth Materials and Uses.

Worksheet 2: Color the smiling face for true and a sad face for false after reading the sentence.

• Students work independently; teachers offer help as needed. 

F. Review & Closing (5 min) 

• Exit Ticket: On a sticky note, each student writes/draws one way they use a natural resource at home.
• Share several examples aloud.
• Revisit the chart: reinforce key vocabulary and uses.

5. Assessment Methods

• Observation of Think-Pair-Share and chart contributions
• Completion & accuracy of Guided Practice Worksheets
• Performance on Assessment Worksheets
• Exit Ticket responses for real-world connections

6. Lesson Timeline

7. Differentiation Strategies

• Struggling Learners:

Provide picture-word cards for matching. 

Pair with a buddy for paired reading of instructions.

• English Learners:

Pre-teach key vocabulary with visual support.

Use sentence frames: “We use ___ to ___.”

• Advanced Learners:

Challenge to list an additional use of each material. 

Journal prompt: “How might Earth materials change in the future?”

Introduction Video

PowerPoint Lesson

Worksheet