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 primary classroom!
This collection of Australian science 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 primary 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 Primary School?
When we talk about Earth science (or geology) in primary school, we aren't pulling out reference tables or digging deep into climatology.
On the primary 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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What Is Climate Change? Comprehension Worksheet
Teach your students about the perils of climate change with this comprehensive article with accompanying comprehension questions.
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Let's Get Ready to Rock! – Reading Comprehension Worksheet
Read and discover the three types of rock with a set of Year 3 Reading Comprehension Worksheets.
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Informative Text Writing Task – Why Do Volcanoes Erupt?
Research and write about how volcanoes erupt with a scaffolded informational writing task.
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Rocks and Minerals Word Search
Introduce or review academic vocabulary with a printable Rocks and Minerals Word Search.
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The Water Cycle – Reading Comprehension Worksheet
Enhance your students’ comprehension and science vocabulary skills with this water cycle worksheet.
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How Do Rocks Form? – Informative Text Sequencing Task
Help students learn about informative text structure and how rocks are formed with an engaging cut-and-paste sorting activity.
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Severe Weather STEM - Build a Storm Shelter Project
Design a storm shelter to protect against wind and rain with a hands-on Weather Stem Challenge.
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Rock Identification Chart Pack
Download a Rock Identification Chart to help your students identify examples of sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic rock.
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What Are Floods? Comprehension Worksheet
Read and learn about flooding with a printable reading comprehension worksheet.
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Rocks and The Rock Cycle - Digital Learning Activity
Discover rocks and the rock cycle with an engaging Google Slides Digital Learning Activity.
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Earthquake - Tectonic Plates Diagram & Worksheets
Introduce students to plate tectonics with a labelled diagram and worksheet set featuring different types of volcanoes, layers of earth and landforms.
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Rock Cycle Photo Vocabulary Word Cards
Promote daily rock cycle vocabulary review with a printable rock cycle vocabulary word wall.
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Weathering, Erosion & Deposition Interactive Activity
Use this set of interactive activities to strengthen student understanding of weathering, erosion and deposition concepts.
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Weathering, Erosion and Deposition – Teaching Slides
Learn about the different types of weathering, effects of erosion, results of deposition and more with this set of teaching slides.
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Seasonal Changes Differentiated Word Search
Get your students’ minds buzzing with this word search seasons activity, while they build their scientific vocabulary about Earth and space sciences.
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Explanation Text Writing Task – How Does the Water Cycle Work?
A scaffolded writing task for students to complete when learning about the explanation text type.
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Weathering, Erosion and Deposition – Word Search
Strengthen your students' understanding of weathering, erosion and deposition terms with a vocabulary word search.
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Natural Disasters PowerPoint
A 45 slide editable PowerPoint template for teaching a unit on natural disasters.
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Water is Life - Instructional PowerPoint
Learn about the importance of water to life on Earth, along with where water comes from, with an instructional slide deck.
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Layers of the Earth Worksheet
A worksheet to use when exploring the layers inside the Earth.
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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.
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Characteristics of Seasons Interactive Activity
Use this activity-packed interactive resource to explore with your students the names and characteristics of summer, autumn, winter and spring!
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Weathering, Erosion and Deposition Mini-Book
Introduce your students to the different slow changes to Earth’s surface with a printable mini-book designed for year 4 and 5 students.
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How About This Weather? - Worksheet
Explore different types of weather and subsequent observable changes with this 5-page worksheet pack.
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Natural Disasters Inquiry Task - Newspaper Report
Use our 3-page graphic organiser to research and report on a significant natural disaster from the last 100 years.
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Flood Safety Poster - Design and Create Task
A design and create task for students to demonstrate their understanding of the impact of floods.
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Months and Seasons Worksheet - Matching Activity
Order the months of the year and match them with their corresponding seasons with a cut-and-paste activity.
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Natural Disaster Word Wall Vocabulary
Use this teacher-created resource to explore natural disaster vocabulary with your primary school students.
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Weather vs. Climate – Teaching Slides and Guided Notes
Teach your students the difference between climate and weather with this set of teaching slides and accompanying guided notes.
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Comparing and Observing Properties of Rocks Game
Practise comparing the physical properties of rocks with an interactive Comparing Rocks Game for early years students.
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Rocks and the Rock Cycle Worksheet Pack - Vocabulary
Download our Rocks and the Rock Cycle Worksheet Pack to practise a variety of academic vocabulary skills with your students.
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Describing Rocks and Minerals Chart Pack
Use a Describing Rocks and Minerals Chart to help your students describe the properties of rocks and minerals.
- Earth Science Worksheets
- Earth Science Posters
- Earth Science Games
- Earth Science Teaching Presentations
- Earth Science Templates
- Earth Science Word Walls
- Earth Science for Preschool/Kindergarten
- Earth Science for Foundation Year
- Earth Science for Year 1
- Earth Science for Year 2
- Earth Science for Year 3
- Earth Science for Year 4
- Earth Science for Year 5
- Earth Science for Year 6