It is more than just blowing hot air. Pupils first build a hot air balloon out of tissue paper by cutting enough panels of tissue paper to form a balloon shape and glue the panels together. Using a hot air gun, individuals then inflate...

Plant roots are the focus here. Pupils discover that some plants actually store food in their roots, that roots provide water for plants, and that gravity and sunlight have an effect on plants. This terrific, six-page plan has two...

In this sunlight worksheet, students record the amount of daylight, sunrise time, sunset time, and average temperatures for the 21st day of each month. Students fill out 60 boxes total.

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...

Immediately capture the attention of your class with the smell of freshly popped popcorn in the sixth lesson of this series on the needs of living things. Young scientists first use their senses to make and record observations of...

It takes some work to ensure you have a balanced diet, but once you know the types of foods that are good for you, it becomes second nature. In the sixth of seven lessons about energy and nutrition, learners create a healthy eating plan...

Help classes understand heat as a form of energy. A hands-on activity has learners investigate how heat, or the lack of heat, affects the physical state of water. They then connect their discoveries to the water cycle.

Students explore energy by creating a light project in class. In this kaleidoscope lesson, students discuss the properties of light and how mirrors can reflect the energy in different directions. Students view a diagram of light...

Students investigate potential energy. In this potential energy activity, students do an experiment with a bouncing ball. Students mark how high the ball bounces when it is dropped and record their results. Students discuss...

Students create food chains. In this energy and food chains lesson, students discuss the importance of energy and food in survival of all animals. Students complete a grab bag research activity, construct food chains, and discuss...

Learners generate a list of operational questions they would like to answer after observing raisins which are placed in a glass which contains, vinegar, water and baking soda. They investigate these questions and record their data and...

Learners share their knowledge about fuel sources, then read a news article about vegetable oil as a cleaner alternative to gasoline. In this current events and environmental science lesson, the teacher introduces the article with a...

In this energy worksheet, students brainstorm and write down the 3 different types of energy. This worksheet is a graphic organizer.

During a unit on density, pupils ponder whether or not temperature affects this property. By carefully inserting blue cold water and yellow hot water into a room-temperature sample, they will see the answer. Make sure to have done the...

Is light related to insulation? An informative hands-on STEM activity demonstrates how light affects temperature. First, the class investigates how light passes through different mediums and how that relates to temperature. Then,...

In collaborative groups, emerging engineers or environmental scientists plan and construct a water wheel or watermill that rotates for a total of three minutes. Everything you need to carry out this instructional activity is included:...

Third graders discuss four points related to conservation. They work in groups to design a package to keep an ice cube from melting to demonstrate the concept of insulation. They then make a chart that shows which materials used did the...

Young scholars explore how chemicals change water. In this chemical change instructional activity, students participate in an experiment to observe how salt effects ice and how ice cream freezes.

Third graders conduct experiments to determine what types of material make good insulators. They prepare a graph of time vs. temperature for their sample. They choose a graph using each kind of material to display for class analysis and...

Students investigate how something at home uses physics to work. In this practical physics lesson plan, students develop a theory of their own to conclude how an object might work. This lesson plan includes a worksheet.

Third graders review the placement and role of the sun in the solar system. Using beads, they create a necklace which they can use to identify the amount of sunlight is being illuminated. In groups, they record observations on the...

Students brainstorm about the sources of heat. They discuss that sunlight is one of those sources. Students complete a lab about cold water and warm water. They record the temperatures from each thermometer and discuss which container...

Students explore energy by participating in a science lab in class. In this energy form lesson, students define the different types of energy such as light, mechanical and sound while examining energy measuring tools in class. Students...

Students examine the concept of potential energy and see that it is the ability to do work.  In this energy lesson students complete several activities on potential energy.