Curated OER
Branching Art From Nature
Students construct an art piece from nature. In this visual art lesson, students use objects from the environment (petals, leaves, and stones) to create a unique art piece.
University of Minnesota
Beautiful Brain: Do You See What I See?
Can art play tricks on your eyes, and can a still painting really appear to vibrate? The second lesson in a four-part series discusses the way our beautiful brains translate visual images. It highlights the style of optical art and...
University of Minnesota
Beautiful Brain: Strangest Dream
Do words change or add meaning or interest to a work of art? The final instructional activity in a four-part series on the beautiful brain as a work of art focuses on art analysis. Scholars write a story about exploring art from the...
University of Minnesota
Beautiful Brain: Step Inside the Brain
Before digital microscopes, scientists hired artists to draw the things visible in the microscope. Through training in neuroscience and art, Cajal revolutionized the way we view the beautiful brain. The third lesson plan in a series of...
University of Minnesota
Beautiful Brain: Brain Inspiration
"Neuroscientists consider Cajal as important to their discipline as Einstein is to physics." The first of four lessons has scholars view Santiago Ramon y Cajal's drawings of neurons. They reflect and respond to the art through writing...
Curated OER
Beef or Dairy?
Guernsey, Jersey, Holstein. Brangus, Charoloais, Herford. Here’s a truly cross-curricular resource that combines language arts, science, math, and visual arts activities as class members learn to distinguish between beef and dairy...
Curated OER
Crepe or Tissue Paper Blots
What happens when you drip vinegar onto tissue paper? The colors bleed, leaving an interesting and organic design. Get your class observing and creating with this quick-and-easy art project. Tip: This can also be done using coffee...
Curated OER
Air Pollution in Mexico City
A fantastic instructional activity on urban air pollution problems throughout the world is here for you. Learners understand that there are many factors involved in creating pollution, that there are many health effects brought on by air...
Curated OER
What's That Habitat?
Fourth graders explore the environment by researching animal characteristics. In this habitat identification lesson, 4th graders utilize paper and crayons to illustrate their own habitats or homes and discuss what it contains that is...
Curated OER
Forest Communities
Students identify tree specimens. In this tree specimens lesson, students collect different parts of a tree from the areas around the school or their home. They then work in groups to create booklet that identifies tree specimens.
Curated OER
Rocks and Minerals
Learners bring rocks and minerals from home to investigate in the classroom. In this rocks and minerals lesson plan, students observe all the rocks and minerals brought into the class and answer 7 questions about the features of the...
Curated OER
Weathervanes in the Wind
Students investigate wind and weather by creating a weathervane. In this environment lesson, students identify the purpose of a weathervane and observe weathervanes in action on their campus. Students create a weathervane and decorate...
Curated OER
Rainforest (Elementary, Social Studies)
Explore the rainforest with your class. Learners study the meaning of the word endangered, choose an animal to study, gather data, and discuss why the animal is in danger of extinction. This is a motivating way to have your class discuss...
Curated OER
Energy: Eco-Icons that Electrify
Students examine environmental issues. In this energy lesson plan, students explore the topic of energy conservation and then create marketing (to be implemented in their school) meant to communicate the benefits of energy conservation.
Curated OER
Color Your World with Changes --- the Camouflage Game
Seventh graders, after predicting dominant colors foud in their habitat or garden, visit heir area on a monthly basis. They search for colored toothpicks, then graph the results, determining the dominant color for the month.