Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction
Using Our Senses to Observe
Look around and explore. Little ones use their five senses with some day-to-day activities designed to guide observation and apply STEM strategies. Young scientists learn through comparing/contrasting and observing with magnifiers as...
National Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network
Big vs. Little - Macro to Micro Lesson 2
The big world is full of tiny surprises. Classes discover all things big and small while completing the second lesson plan of a five-part series comparing macro- and micro-objects. Learners collect items from around the room including...
Cornell University
Beam Focusing Using Lenses
Explore optics using an inquiry-based experimental approach! Young scholars use a set of materials to design and build a unit capable of focusing a beam of light. They experiment with different lenses to determine the best approach to...
Curated OER
Lesson: Magnify It
Young scholars explore the concept of magnification. In this science tools lesson, students participate in activities at viewing stations within the classroom. Young scholars use magnifying tools at each of the stations and reflect on...
Curated OER
Magnify It!
Young scholars view objects of various sizes from several viewing distances to discover that their visual field is limited. They record what they see and compare their observations with classmates. They conduct more structured experiments.
EngageNY
What Lies Behind “Same Shape”?
Develop a more precise definition of similar. The lesson begins with an informal definition of similar figures and develops the need to be more precise. The class learns about dilations and uses that knowledge to arrive at a mathematical...
Curated OER
Transformational Geometry Using the Geometer's Sketchpad
Students complete a webquest on the various types of symmetry. Using a computer, they explore the concepts of transformational geometry and identify points, segments, lines and planes. They experiment with the rotation of a quadrilateral...
Curated OER
Close Observation: Coins
Integrate math, science, and speaking/listening with a collaborative hands-on activity. Each group works with a single penny, examining it with the naked eye and recording observations. Repeat using magnifying glasses. Then repeat with a...
American Chemical Society
Using Dissolving to Identify an Unknown
There is a solvent called aqua regis that can dissolve gold! After observing a solubility demonstration, groups receive four known crystals and one unknown. Based on the demo, they design an experiment to determine the identity of the...
Curated OER
Let's Learn About Plants!
Students discover different plants and plant parts by observing their campus. For this plant life lesson, students take a guided walk around their school with a magnifying glass examining everyday plants as well as photographing them....
Curated OER
Iron For Breakfast
Third graders are challenged to use scientific thinking, they experiment and observe which objects are attracted to a magnet. Pupils use the evidence to construct an explanation as to what common property the objects attracted to a...
Curated OER
Thumbprints
Thumbprints are fascinating! Here is a clever lesson that allows kids to discover that everyone has a unique thumbprint - no two are alike! They use magnifying glasses to closely observe their own, and someone else's thumbprints. Then,...
Curated OER
Making Regolith
You may not be able to take a field trip to the moon, but that doesn't mean your class can't study moon rocks. Using graham crackers as the moon's bedrock and powdered donuts as micrometeorites, young scientists simulate the creation of...
Baylor College
Tools of Magnification
Life science learners need to be able to use a microscope. With this comprehensive resource, they first experience how lenses and magnification work, and then get familiar with using a compound microscope. Tremendous background...
California Academy of Science
What's on a Penny?
As a lesson on scientific observation, have your class investigate the features of a penny and a nickel. Working in pairs, they practice writing detailed descriptions using their senses and a ruler to gather information. This is an...
Baylor College
Dust Catchers
In class, your emerging environmentalists construct dust catchers. They take them home for a week or two, and then bring them back into class to examine under a magnifier. From this activity, they learn what makes up dust and that...
Curated OER
Magnify That
Pupils observe many different objects using a magnifying lens. In this magnification lesson plan, students learn that scientists use different tools, and they use the tool to magnify objects in the classroom to see objects in better detail.
Curated OER
Ruler and Magnifying Fun
First graders investigate objects using rulers and magnifying glasses. They record their observations using a data-recording sheet and write a characteristic for each item they observe. They use the ruler to solve math problems.
Curated OER
Using Your Senses
Students make observations. In this sensory skills activity, students use their senses as well as tools that sharpen their senses to make observations regarding foods and other items.
Curated OER
The Scientific Method Using Mystery Powders
Students use the scientific method to determine physical and chemical properties of unknown substances. In this scientific method lesson plan, students discuss chemical and physical properties of substances as a class after a...
Curated OER
Bugs, Bugs, Everywhere!
Students collect and compare bugs using magnifying lenses and graph data based on their comparisons. In this bugs lesson plan, students also make an aspirator by using a jar, tubing, and screen.
Baylor College
Magnifying and Observing Cells
Though it isn't a novel activity to prepare onion cell and Elodea plant cell slides as examples of cells in a microbiology unit, this resource will leave you thoroughly prepared. As pupils examine the slides that they prepare, they draw...
Michigan Technological University
Giant Mirrors
Did you know some retailers use curved mirrors in their fitting rooms to make customers look thinner? Pupils view themselves in convex and concave mirrors to understand the difference. The resource includes big ideas for multiple age...
LABScI
Botany: The Plant Dissection Lab
Study everything about plants! The 12-part series of lessons continues with an examination of many aspects of plants. Components of the laboratory activity address the growth and structure of plants by evaluating familiar plants. The...