Curated OER
Exploring The Depths!
Fifth graders make a model of the ocean floor. In this ocean characteristics lesson, 5th graders complete a KWL chart about the ocean floor, use the Ocean Depth Data Sheet to create a graph, and create a 3-D model of the ocean floor.
Curated OER
Light
Young scholars explore light. In this light wave physics lesson, students construct periscopes, kaleidoscopes, color wheels, and pinhole cameras. Young scholars observe and record characteristics of light demonstrated through the use...
Curated OER
Creating with Clay
Young scholars are introduced to the Art Museum's Ahambra Vase. They explore the difference between throwing on the pottery wheel and hand building. Students create a functional vessel using two of the three hand-building techniques....
Curated OER
Symmetry in Relief
Students explore radial symmetry. In this 3 dimensional art and geometry lesson, students identify examples of radial symmetry in everyday objects. Students create an imprint using radial symmetry on clay tiles.
Curated OER
Soil
In this soil instructional activity, students read about soil and the attributes that determine how soil is formed. They then answer the 11 questions in the packet. The answers are on the last page of the packet.
University of Wisconsin
Infiltration Test: Exploring the Flow of Water Through Soils
Soil scientists gain experience with an infiltrometer can to determine the infiltration rates at different locations on campus. If you are using the entire unit, the class has already analyzed water flow and soil types, so they should...
Curated OER
Technology for Studying Comets
Young scholars design an Aerogel model to capture clay particles. In this space science instructional activity, students discover what happens to comets as they hit a surface. They explain how the Aerogel technology would help scientists...
National Park Service
Rock Ranking
Junior geologists sort rocks and soil. They separate a sample of river gravel by size, shape, color, and other characteristics. To include Common Core standards, you could have little ones graph the number of particles in each sample.
Curated OER
Wetlands Are Wonderful
Students study the characteristics of wetlands. They are introduced to terms and different examples of wetlands. The hands-on activity reinforces the different parts of the wetlands, and provides a working model of a wetland.
Curated OER
Egypt, Mesopotamia, Indus River, and Huang He Civilizations
Students develop a timeline of events associated with Egypt, Mesopotamia, the Indus River, and the Huang He. They prepare a clay, wood, or paper model of a representative artifact from one civilization. They write a description of their...
Virginia Department of Education
Metamorphic Rocks
Rocks can bend? Pupils investigate how heat and pressure produce metamorphic rocks by modeling them using clay, and then categorize samples based on observable characteristics. The lesson ends with a metamorphic rock identification...
California Academy of Science
Fish Forms
I've said it before, and I'll say it again, you can add art to any lesson! While little learners are discovering why fish have specific body parts such as, scales, fins, and gills, they start making three-dimensional fish forms. Children...
Polar Trec
Identifying Sea Ice
Sea ice contains 17 sub-types based on age and various characteristics. Scholars observe ice floating in a simulated ocean and record their observations. Then, they view photographs of different types of sea ice and learn to...
Curated OER
Visual Arts- 3D Self-Sculpture
Students construct three dimensional self-portraits. In this visual arts lesson, students use clay to create a self-portrait. Students make the clay and discuss their self-portrait.
Curated OER
Animal Habitats
Learners explore animal lifestyles by researching their characteristics. In this animal habitat lesson, students read the story Over in the Jungle and analyze the animal illustrations in the book. Learners create clay animal characters...
Curated OER
Examining Geometric Solids
Students explore geometry by completing a math worksheet in class. In this shape identification instructional activity, students identify the characteristics associated with 15 solid geometric shapes. Students identify patterns between...
Curated OER
Pueblo Pottery
Students are introduced to the characteristics of pueblo pottery and create their own piece of pueblo inspired pottery. After a brief lecture into the history and methods creating pueblo pottery, students use provided materials to create...
Curated OER
What are Metamorphic Rocks and How are They Formed?
Even though the student handouts are not included in the write-up, this lesson plan contains the instructions for terrific activities to use when teaching middle schoolers about metamorphic rocks. First, they compare granite to gneiss...
Curated OER
"What If The Earth Were Made Of Sand
Students examine the most common characteristics of clay and sand, and to understand how the properties of these materials affect the erosion of the landscape and the formation of the many landforms. They explore clay and sand through...
Curated OER
Soil Stories
Tenth graders collect and analyze soil samples and extrapolate the characteristics needed to support different types of plant life. They research different types of prairie soil and how it supports plant and animal life.
Curated OER
A Dinosaur Scavenger Hunt
Students explain what a fossil is, learn six dinosaurs and tell one characteristic about each, then describe verbally what a dinosaur might have looked like.
Curated OER
Air and Its Characteristics
Students explore air through guided discovery. In this air lesson, students will observe three demonstrations about air. They will answer leading questions as they observe how air displaces and takes up space, how air has weight, and how...
Curated OER
Animal Self-portrait Mosaics: A Visual Arts Elective
Out-lined here is a two-week procedure that has the class creating ceramic animal tiles that are metaphorical representations of their own personalities. They discuss animal images found throughout history, what they mean, metaphor, and...
Curated OER
Be Brain Smart
Students examine the function of the brain. Using the internet, they research facts of the brains of vertebrates. Using clay, they make three sculptures of brains of different vertebrates and use crayola colors to color it. To end the...