Amazing Caves!
There is a fantastic world hidden beneath the surface of the Earth.
It is the eerie home of creatures that never see the light of day.
It is a world of beautiful crystals and weirdly shaped rocks,
twisting tunnels and vast domed rooms.
It is a dark, silent world.
It is the world of caves.
You are invited to explore this fascinating underground world with your students.
“Amazing Caves!” is a technology infused earth science curriculum designed for 5th – 8th grade.
It consists of 14 lessons which can be completed consecutively or choose the lessons that best fit your classroom needs. The lessons include hands-on experiments and activities as well as a variety educational technology components and are written to meet both the current National Science Education Standards and
the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) Standards for Students.
The lessons include:
Lesson 1 – Caves: Earth’s Underground Treasures
This lesson introduces students to caves.
Lesson 2 – Caves of the United States
Students will become familiar with some of the longest caves in the United States.
Lesson 3 – Geo Detectives
Students will use geologic maps to determine what rock types caves are located in.
Lesson 4 – Rocks Rock!
Students will become familiar with rocks, minerals, and be introduced to the rock cycle.
Lesson 5 – Disappearing Rocks
Students will examine limestone and perform a “Bubble Test”.
Lesson 6 – Making Carbonic Acid
Students will become familiar with the concepts of acidity, alkalinity, and pH. They will demonstrate how carbonic acid is formed and describe how it can dissolve limestone and create caves.
Lesson 7 – Create a Cave
In this lesson students will create a model to demonstrate how caves form.
Lesson 8 – Dripping Crystals
This lesson will introduce students to cave formations, also known as speleothems, and the basic process in which they form.
Lesson 9 – Speleothem Sleuths
There are many types of speleothems found in caves besides stalactites and stalagmites. In this lesson students will individually research a specific type of speleothem and then creatively share their knowledge with their classmates.
Lesson 10 – Cave Critters
Students will learn that caves provide suitable habitat for wildlife species and that the animals found within caves have a variety of adaptations that allow them to survive in such a unique environment.
Lesson 11 – People & Caves
This lesson summarizes the many ways that humans have used caves historically as well as their current uses.
Students are able to create their own cave art as an optional activity.
Lesson 12 – Let’s Go Caving!
In this lesson students will become familiar with the proper gear/equipment and skills required to
participate in the responsible exploration of caves.
Lesson 13 – Are There Caves Near You?
Students will investigate whether or not there are caves located near where they live/go to school.
Lesson 14 – Take a Trip to a Cave!
Students will participate in either a physical field trip or a virtual field trip to a cave.
For a more detailed list of the lesson descriptions, objectives, standards addressed, and time requirement
see the attachment below.
Have fun exploring the fascinating underground world of caves!
It is the eerie home of creatures that never see the light of day.
It is a world of beautiful crystals and weirdly shaped rocks,
twisting tunnels and vast domed rooms.
It is a dark, silent world.
It is the world of caves.
You are invited to explore this fascinating underground world with your students.
“Amazing Caves!” is a technology infused earth science curriculum designed for 5th – 8th grade.
It consists of 14 lessons which can be completed consecutively or choose the lessons that best fit your classroom needs. The lessons include hands-on experiments and activities as well as a variety educational technology components and are written to meet both the current National Science Education Standards and
the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) Standards for Students.
The lessons include:
Lesson 1 – Caves: Earth’s Underground Treasures
This lesson introduces students to caves.
Lesson 2 – Caves of the United States
Students will become familiar with some of the longest caves in the United States.
Lesson 3 – Geo Detectives
Students will use geologic maps to determine what rock types caves are located in.
Lesson 4 – Rocks Rock!
Students will become familiar with rocks, minerals, and be introduced to the rock cycle.
Lesson 5 – Disappearing Rocks
Students will examine limestone and perform a “Bubble Test”.
Lesson 6 – Making Carbonic Acid
Students will become familiar with the concepts of acidity, alkalinity, and pH. They will demonstrate how carbonic acid is formed and describe how it can dissolve limestone and create caves.
Lesson 7 – Create a Cave
In this lesson students will create a model to demonstrate how caves form.
Lesson 8 – Dripping Crystals
This lesson will introduce students to cave formations, also known as speleothems, and the basic process in which they form.
Lesson 9 – Speleothem Sleuths
There are many types of speleothems found in caves besides stalactites and stalagmites. In this lesson students will individually research a specific type of speleothem and then creatively share their knowledge with their classmates.
Lesson 10 – Cave Critters
Students will learn that caves provide suitable habitat for wildlife species and that the animals found within caves have a variety of adaptations that allow them to survive in such a unique environment.
Lesson 11 – People & Caves
This lesson summarizes the many ways that humans have used caves historically as well as their current uses.
Students are able to create their own cave art as an optional activity.
Lesson 12 – Let’s Go Caving!
In this lesson students will become familiar with the proper gear/equipment and skills required to
participate in the responsible exploration of caves.
Lesson 13 – Are There Caves Near You?
Students will investigate whether or not there are caves located near where they live/go to school.
Lesson 14 – Take a Trip to a Cave!
Students will participate in either a physical field trip or a virtual field trip to a cave.
For a more detailed list of the lesson descriptions, objectives, standards addressed, and time requirement
see the attachment below.
Have fun exploring the fascinating underground world of caves!
| amazing_caves_detailed_lesson_information.pdf |
