Curated OER
Seasonal Science: Spring Life Science Activities
Spring into science with these great lesson ideas involving butterflies.
Curated OER
The Journey of the Pacific Salmon
Students examine the journey of the Pacific salmon. In this salmon species lesson, students review the stages of the salmon life cycle and conduct an experiment to determine how the water and habitat changes during each stage.
Curated OER
100 Things You Can Do to Save the Planet
Young scholars examine the possible ways to recycle, reuse, and re-imagine products and objects in order to reduce pollution and waste on our planet. In this 100 things you can do to save the planet lesson, students take three actions to...
Curated OER
The Skeletal System
Young scholars research the skeletal system. In this anatomy lesson, students measure their bodies to find the approximate length of their bones. They draw and cut out each of the bones and then attach them using brads or glue.
Curated OER
The Nervous System
Students investigate the nervous system. In this anatomy lesson, students identify and define vocabulary related to the nervous system. Students role play the parts of a nervous system and perform an experiment measuring and...
Michigan Sea Grant
Fish Life Cycle
Fish are no different when it comes to a living being's primary objective—to reproduce. They do differ, including from fish species to fish species, in their life cycles, survival tactics and reproductive strategies. After discussion of...
Curated OER
Froggy Fun
Students are introduced to the concept of life cycles. They discover how many species go through their lives in a series of stages from birth or hatching to adulthood. Such stages make up the life cycle. Students investigate the life...
Curated OER
Flour Beetle
Students observe the life cycle of the common flour beetle and make observations of its life stages. They also design and implement an investigation on food preference for the beetle and record data over a period of several months....
Curated OER
Up the Down Tree House
Learners investigate the decomposition process. In this ecology instructional activity, students participate in a play, "Up the Treehouse" where the main idea focuses on a decomposing tree and how food chains are effected by...
Curated OER
Tracks along the Trail
Students identify animal tracks outdoors. In this animal life instructional activity, students go outdoors and find several different animal tracks to identify. Students also discuss how animals must adapt in the winter months.
Curated OER
Ecosystems
A critical look into the structure and function of ecosystems is here for young learners as a series of lessons and worksheet activities. Topics covered include land-based and marine ecosystems, connections to the water cycle, food...
K12 Reader
Tissues, Organs and Systems
Young scientists are introduced to the connections among cells, tissues, organs, and systems in a life science reading comprehension activity that asks them to respond to a series of questions based on the passage.
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Amazing Birds
What's so amazing about birds? Find out just how amazing birds are with a physics of animal behavior unit created by Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Have learners explore and tap into their observational skills and notice how birds fly, what...
National Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network
What’s In Your Neighborhood?
Chart your way to an understanding of nanoscale. Using a Google map, learners estimate a radius around their location of 1,000 and 1,000,000 meters. Predicting what 1,000,000,000 meters would look like takes them off the charts!...
Exploratorium
Thread the Needle
If you are setting up a rotation lab where learners are investigating vision at different stations, this activity can be used to explore depth perception. Setting up a giant needle eye, students attempt to pass a pencil through it with...
Curated OER
The Times and Life During the California Gold Rush
Fourth graders read about the era in their history books, write in their journals revolving around the Gold Rush, making crafts such as newspapers, and also play the part of the Forty-niners.
Curated OER
Planetary Jeopardy!
Space Science can be so much fun, especially when you play Planetary Jeopardy! This game tests students on what they know about Roman Gods, the planets and moons in our solar system, and the Earth's rotation.
Space Awareness
Let's Map the Earth
Before maps went mobile, people actually had to learn how to read maps. Pupils look at map elements in order to understand how to read them and locate specific locations. Finally, young cartographers discover how to make aerial maps.
Space Awareness
Meet Our Neighbors: Moon
Since a field trip to the moon isn't possible, bring the moon to young astronomers! Participants use everyday materials to create models of the moon and represent the features on its surface. The materials serve as a tactile as well as a...
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...
Wilderness Classroom
Pollution
Educate scholars on pollution—air, water, and land—with a series of lessons that begin with a thorough explanation of each type. Learners then take part in three activities to reinforce the importance of reducing pollution. They...
SF Environment
Waste-Less Lunch
Is it possible to have a waste-less lunch? Can your class become leaders in conservation? Discuss the importance of reducing waste during lunch time with a fun lesson that can be extended to everyday practices. First the class examines...
Carson-Dellosa Publishing
Boho Birds Bulletin Board
Maybe you're studying the life cycle of a bird, or maybe you're doing an author study in language arts. Whatever the case may be, use a set of bulletin board ideas any time of the year. Tailor the provided ideas to make them your...
Curated OER
Pump It Up!
Learners design a pumping device that will effectively pump fluid through a model "cardiovascular system." They explore the effects of too much and too little pressure on a circulatory system.