Space Awareness
Meet Our Neighbors: Sun
The sun isn't just a ball of yellow! Young scientists learn about the features of the sun using a hands-on modeling activity. They build models of the sun using common household items to represent sunspots, solar prominence, and the...
California Academy of Science
Tropical Belt
Where in the world is the equator? Explore a world map with your class, coloring in oceans, continents, and rainforests while locating the three major lines of latitude: the equator, Tropic of Cancer, and Tropic of Capricorn. Discuss how...
Curated OER
Weather Characteristics
Students identify characteristics of weather and seasons, describe the current weather, identify the current season, and locate the current temperature at www.weatherchannel.com. They also depict the current forecast using Math Keys...
Curated OER
Characteristics of Materials
Students describe and compare common properties of various classroom materials. In this science/matter activity, students observe common classroom items and the materials they are made of to complete a list of common properties.
Curated OER
The Solar System - A Review
Students analyze their knowledge about the solar system. In this solar system review lesson, students look at a picture of the solar system on the SMART Board, name them in order, and are able to identify the sun as the center. They...
University of Wisconsin
Noting Notable Features for Rain Gardens
Eight groups in your class are each responsible for a different aspect of surveying the campus for a suitable rain garden location. Features to consider include water flow, topography, sun/shade patterns, land surface, vegetation,...
Curated OER
Plants
First graders explore the specific needs, characteristics, and uses of plants. They discuss the needs of plants as they grow. Students observe plants in various settings as they grow and note the changes they see.
Curated OER
Rocks and Soils
Students compare the properties of rocks and relate these properties to their use. They perform a virtual experiment to describe and group rocks on the basis of their characteristics.
Curated OER
Arthropods at Home- Spider, Isopod, or Any Arthropod
Students design a habitat for an arthropod. In this organisms lesson, students read the book, A House is a House For Me. Students find an arthropod and create a terrarium.
Curated OER
Growing Up (And Around, and Down...) Exploring Plant Growth
Students build plant growing structures. In this plant growth lesson, students plant growth structures such as a garden tepee or a crawl through tunnel. They grow plants that are appropriate for the structure.
Curated OER
The Four Seasons - Earth's Rotation
Students identify characteristics in correlation with each season and identify dates of the changing seasons. They identify and describe how the Earth rotates around the sun and its effects on the temperatures of the earth.
Curated OER
Flowers Growing Through Music, Rhymes & Movement
First graders experience the growing process of a seed becoming a flower as it is exposed to the sun, rain, wind, day and night, and -tickling- bees as they move creatively to music.
Curated OER
Plankton
Learners explore the attributes of plankton. In this plankton lesson, students read This is the Sea That Feeds Us and discuss food chains. Learners discover the differences between phytoplankton and zooplankton as they examine the...
Curated OER
Dinosaurs
Students explore dinosaurs. In this science lesson, students discuss the characteristics of various dinosaurs and color masks and pictures of the dinosaur groups they have chosen.
Curated OER
Animal Diversity
Students explore biology by completing science worksheets in class. In this animal anatomy instructional activity, students read the book The Adventures of Marco and Polo and identify the animals mentioned in it. Students examine a real...
Curated OER
Earth
First graders define what a planet is and study the planet earth. They examine the effects of the sun on the earth and make a model.
Curated OER
Amazing -- Saturn Is So Far Away!
Students work together to create a scale model of the distances between the planets. They write a paragraph to describe Saturn and their make-believe trip to the planet. They identify other characteristics of Saturn as well.
Curated OER
Are You a Frog?
Students listen to the book "Ask Me If I'm a Frog, and compare their anatomy and habits to the anatomy and habits of a frog to identify with the characteristics unique to frogs. They respond to teacher-generated questions by writing...
Curated OER
Earth/Globe (poles & equator)
First graders create his/her own paper mache earth and label the poles and equator. The land masses can be added and labeling of specific bodies of water. The paper mache earth can then be used to discuss the sun, moon, and the earth and...
Curated OER
Variation
Students participate in an online lesson to reinforce the similarities and differences in plants and animals. They classify living things according to observable characteristics.
Curated OER
Mallard's Wet Olympics
Students investigate some of the different characteristics of living things. They make observations from reading and interactive media. Students observe that animals move in different ways and have adaptations to aid in that action.
Curated OER
Once In a Blue Moon
Young scholars review the characteristics of the planets and their moons. Using the internet, they research the relationship between the Earth and its moons. They take a template of the moon and draw craters of different colors to...
Curated OER
Science: How Tall Are Plants
First graders investigate plant growth and examine what factors contribute to plant growth. They keep a class chart of plant growth and write about and illustrate their conclusions.
Nevada Outdoor School
Let It Snow! Let It Melt!
Winter weather offers a great opportunity to teach young scientists about the states of matter. This activity-based lesson includes a range of learning experiences, from experimenting with the rate at which ice melts to singing a song...