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.

Temperature rises and land disappears! Through a lab exploration, learners understand the effect of temperature increase on water similar to the effect of global warming on our oceans. As they heat the water in a flask, they measure the...

One of the key objectives of Europe's Copernicus Earth program is to monitor the temperatures of the oceans and seas on Earth. Young scholars learn the effects of different heat capacities through two experiments. These experiments...

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...

Class members will dig this activity that has them trying their hand at recovering artifacts. Groups are assigned a section of a sandbox, carefully uncover the artifacts in their section, and then develop theories about who might...

Two hands-on activities celebrate the sun and moon autumnal equinox. First, scholars create a cairn using a shoebox, flashlight, and drawing tools to view the sun's progression. Second, learners take to the kitchen to bake mooncakes...

Student explore ecosystems. In this ecosystem organization lesson, pupils consider how scientists study living organisms. Students participate in a teacher guided activity that requires them to visualize an organism and imagine its place...

Students study the Mexican traditions for the Day of the Dead. In this Mexican traditions lesson plan, students study monarch butterflies and learn about the role that the mariposa plays in the Day of the Dead. Students learn about...

Students examine how frogs change. In this life cycle lesson, students create a model to show how a frog changes throughout its life. Students will show the process of frog metamorphosis, from polliwog to adult frog.

Students create a graphic organizer in preparation for a web page about a specific science-related topic. This lesson is used as a follow-up to a field trip experience and can be adapted for many different subjects.

Students examine the contributions to medicine, science, and technology by individuals of diverse backgrounds.

Students investigate how human beings impact ocean ecosystems. In this ocean ecosystem lesson, students explore how marine debris affects marine life. Internet resources are provided.

Learners use a science journal to log plants that are native to Alabama. In this plant lesson plan, students identify characteristics, describe environments, and classify the plants that they find.

Students observe organisms found in pond water with a microscope. In groups, they discuss how single-celled organisms satisfy their needs for food, water and air. They compare and contrast the needs of macroscopic and microscopic...

Students draw conclusions about an mystery person based on documents and artifacts provided. In this drawing conclusions lesson plan, students become detectives by reading and analyzing evidence provided. This lesson plan includes...

Students become aware of their family background to make a life plan for their future.  In this heritage lesson students complete activities on their family tree. 

Fifth graders explore the life cycle of stars. They analyze small, medium, and large stars and view a video that compares the life cycles of the various sized stars. They create a flipbook movie detailing the life cycles of a star and...

Students explore the diversity of different marine sanctuaries.  For this biodiversity lesson students work in groups to explore a sanctuary.

Students study spiders. In this spider lesson plan, students divide into four study groups, research their topic, and give a report over their findings. The four topics are Characteristics of spiders, life cycles of spiders, fun facts...

In this marine life learning exercise, learners fill in the boxes beside each ocean creature name with one of the following feeding methods: predator, scavenger, grazer, and filter feeder. Students then list or draw marine creatures that...

Students observe life stages in flour beetles and graph the results. They write a summary report.

Students, after reading about the parts of a plant, identify each part and describe its function.

Fifth graders study the parts of a plant, their life cycles, and how to care for them in this unit.

Students are provided with a physical description of the insect, in words and graphics, including body parts, special adaptations, color, and so on. They explore and report on all four elements of an insect's habitat: food, water,...