Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Powered Up About Electricity!

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students study the process of turning coal into electricity. In this electricity lesson, students are guided by their teacher through the steps required to turn coal into electricity. Students complete a worksheet answering questions...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Things Fly

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students observe photographs of selected twentieth-century aircraft at the National Air and Space Museum and note differences in the design of aircraft wings, fuselages, and engines.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Spy on a Spider

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students view slides or live specimens to name and describe the distinguishing features of groups of arthropods, especially spiders and insects. They complete worksheets, observe webs and then search for and record where spiders can be...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Facts, Feats and Folklore: Spiders

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students review and discuss a variety of sayings, folklore and superstitions about spiders. They discuss this information and choose either an interesting fact or appealing foklore tradition to illustrate.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Pigment Plucking

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students examine pigments found in different fruits and vegetables and practice the processes for extracting the pigments. Pigments are used to create artwork and a class PowerPoint presentation is made on the different types of plant...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rocket Me into Space

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders study the concept of thrust and how it propels rockets into space. They discover why airplanes cannot travel into space while considering the engineering techniques use in designing rockets. They look at how space...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Keep in Touch: Communications and Satellites

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Young scholars 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...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Our State Road Trip

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students take a virtual tour of the country of China instead of a state. Using the Internet, they examine the differences between a political and physical map and use latitude and longitude to locate specific places. They also research...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Volcanic Wrath

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students observe volcanic action using an internet Web site of satellite photographs. Stuents create a portfolio of observable features.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Slide Right On By Using an Inclined Plane

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders examine the simple machine known as a plane. They build their own pyramid and identify the role of screws. They participate in a hands-on activity in which they determine the angle in which to make it easier to pull.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

an Explorative Journey Through the Solar System

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
Learners, in groups, research a planet from our solar system. They create Styrofoam models of the planets and place the planets on a correct distance scale from the sun.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Coral Reef

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders discuss life in a coral reef, and view photographs and a computer program about coral reefs. They design and create colorful watercolor, ink, and crayon drawings of coral reefs.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Raw Materials

For Teachers K - 12th
Students participate in a nature hike and record the natural resources observed. They compare traditional and modern versions of everyday use items, and create graphic organizers that demonstrate the interconnectedness of resources.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

An Uplifting Experience

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students examine the forces that affect the flight of airplanes through the use of paper airplanes. They conduct Internet research, conduct experiments demonstrating Bernoulli's Principle, and design and construct a paper airplane.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Electrical motors

For Teachers K - 5th
Students investigate and experiement with a 9-volt motor. They will use the connecting wire and battery pack to discover fans.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Blowing in the Wind

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students identify and interpret maps, graphs, charts, tables and political cartoons. Students identify what a compass rose is and review its meaning in relation to standard directions. Students design their own weathervanes. Students...
Lesson Plan
National First Ladies' Library

Fitness for Life

For Teachers 1st - 6th
Students discuss their favorite activities and determine which activities are suitable for older people. In groups, students research the benefits of aerobic exercises and the equipment needed. Students share their information with the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Does Climate Affect Your Environment?

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students access the Global Sun Temperature Project website and research the relationship between the location and climate of a participating school to its building structure. They consider how climate affects the type of structures...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rocketry in Motion

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students investigate why a balloon flies in one direction as air escapes in the opposite direction, which helps them understand the nature of rockets and fireworks. Individually and in teams, students conduct research to create a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mussel Identification Activity

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students participate in an activity in which they identify mussels by choosing a set of characteristics. They review the parts of a mussel before and after the activity. They complete a worksheet to finish the activity.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Build a Snowplow

For Teachers 1st - 5th
Students design and build a snowplow using LEGO materials. They compete in an Engineer's Challenge to clear a path through Styrofoam peanuts.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Pressure in Fluids

For Teachers Pre-K - 6th
Students study the properties of fluids under different circumstances.  For this pressure fluids lesson students view a demonstration, complete an activity and describe what they learned. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Measure Up!

For Teachers K - 4th
Discover ways to measure items without standard tools. In this measurements lesson, learners estimate how long certain objects are by measuring with a non-standard measuring tool. Students check their estimates with a ruler and share...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Principles of Flight: Flying Paper Airplanes

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students investigate ways to enhance an object's flying ability.  In this model construction lesson, students construct two paper airplanes, one of which is twice as big as the first.  Students compare and contrast the two...