Third graders create rain gauges and take them home. Individually, they record the rainfall amounts at all of their homes over a 2-week period and then bring the data back to class so they can compare the different amounts of rainfall...

Students explore the variety of ways to use solar energy. They investigate the thermal energy storage capacities of different test materials to determine which to use in passive solar building design. They explain how passive solar...

Students drop water from different heights to demonstrate the conversion of water's potential energy to kinetic energy. They see how varying the height from which water is dropped affects the splash size. In seeing how falling water can...

Students observe a demonstration of Newton's third law of motion using a small wooden car. They discuss Newton's third law of motion and what happens to motion if the mass or acceleration is increased, construct their car, and record...

Students study different ways of using solar energy. They design a solar water heater and determine how much water it can heat in a set amount of time. They examine how the heaters work by solar radiation and convection.

Students discuss Newton's laws of motion. The conduct motion experiments by building "Newton Rocket Cars" from assorted materials. They propel the cars with rubber bands and wooden blocks and record the distance traveled on data sheets.

Students examine renewable energy sources such as solar, water, and wind. They experiment to determine how renewable energy is transformed into electricity. They investigate the role of engineers who work in the field of renewable energy.

Student groups rotate through four stations to examine light energy behavior: refraction, magnification, prisms and polarization. They see how a beam of light is refracted (bent) through various transparent mediums. Students investigate...

Students understand that the moon appears differently throughout the month. In this phases of the moon lesson, students observe and record the phases of the moon.

Third graders create a flipbook. In this phases of the moon lesson, 3rd graders examine how the moon changes and phases occur.  Students create their own flipbook of the phases of the moon using file cards to create a motion-picture...

Students examine the different types of asteroids and how they enter the atmosphere.  In this space instructional activity students use mashed potatoes to create an asteroid they can eat.

Students discuss different ways engineers use light. In this engineering lesson, students are introduced to the properties of light and the way light is used. They view a demonstration of light waves using a slinky, and practice using...

Young astronomers read an informational text on the gas giant, Jupiter. Then they answer four multiple choice questions based on what they read.

Clever! Participants don square-foot cardboard shoes to mark out the rain garden plot that they have spent the last few weeks designing. In this way, they are practicing scale modeling as well! Note that this lesson is part of a unit,...

Students investigate how satellites help people communicate with others far away and in remote areas. They discuss a scenario of someone travelling to an area with no mode of communication, observe a teacher demonstration, and create a...

Students study myths regarding four earthquakes myths. They receive a list of supplies each family should have at home to prepare for an earthquake and construct an "Earthquake Preparation" poster showing some of the most important items...

In this telescopes worksheet, students will read information about the differences between the early telescopes and the modern telescopes. Then students will complete 2 short answer questions.

In this online interactive science rays worksheet, students read 5 questions and choose the multiple choice answer that answers each question correctly. Students answer 1 science question on rays online in the box provided.

Students observe magnetic fields and locate the position of "ore deposits" patterns using models and maps.  In this magnetometer lesson students complete a hands on activity and a reading/writing exercise. 

Students explore recycling.  In this ecology lesson, students sort classroom garbage into items that can be reused, reduced, or recycled.  Students brainstorm ideas for reusing items and discuss ways to celebrate Earth Day at...

Students define the origin of rock samples and how surface core samples can tell us about the history and make-up of Mars. Candies are used as a Martian surface sample. Students study the samples and make a hypothesis about the cause of...

Students use NASA photographs and hands-on activities to compare the amounts of land and water on our planet. They discover that the world has five oceans and that they cover seventy percent of Earth's surface. Students learn how this...

Students explore the concept that not all light is visible to the human eye. Although UV light is not visible, it can still be harmful, causing sunburns or skin cancer. They use special beads to detect UV light around the school....

Students identify how the tilt and position of the Earth causes the seasons. After a discussion of the seasons and when they begin. Using themselves as the objects in the universe, they role play how the rotational movement of the...