Fifth graders find examples of magnets in or around their homes and make a list. They discover that some motors use magnets and make a simple motor using magnets, a battery and copper wire. They add to their magnet list.

Young scholars research masks and their purposes,. They listen to the teacher read books about masks. Students study techniques for working with clay, they create masks from clay. Young scholars take pictures of the process and the...

Explore the sun's ability to distill contaminated water with this simple set of classroom experiments. After filling two glass bowls, one with muddy water and the other with salt water, they are covered with plastic wrap and placed...

Students participate in a collaboration activity. In this My Hero Project instructional activity, students discover what a hero is to someone halfway around the world and themselves. Over the 16-week session, circles, made up of between...

Students use chart data to determine the location of the epicenter of an earthquake. This task assesses students' abilities to generalize and infer, organize data, interpret data, and apply mathematical concepts.

Learners develop simple observations. They observe bleeding of colored inks with water, to understand mixtures, and to make generalized inferences from their observations.

Learners observe a picture containing patterns of animal tracks, infer what might have happened based upon the pattern of tracks, and write a story describing what might have happened.

Students investigate scientific methods by analyzing an article from the Natural Inquirer.  In this data analysis lesson, students read an article from the magazine and discuss at least 2 scientific methods that could be used to...

Students use a dichotomous key to identify unknown fictitious organisms in an assessment designed to be used after a discussion on the use of a dichotomous keys has occurred. Follow up questions about key included.

Fifth graders pull a paper clip sitting on paper with a magnet beneath the paper. They experiment to see what happens if they substitute the paper with thicker paper and other materials (plywood, glass, foil, etc.)

Learners analyze transits from previous scientists. They identify simple objects that could have been used for documentation in the science world. They also practice scientific inquiry using methodology.

Students are introduced to the beauty of silk painting. They create a colorful leaf-print sun catcher that glows when placed in a window. Each student experiences the mixing of the colors and tie a link with Asian cultures, science and...

Learners explore how they can make healthy food choices and assess how "eating healthy" requires knowledge and planning ahead. They review and discuss The Edible Pyramid as well before they complete this project online. Each student maps...

In this science worksheet, students study diversity in human genetics by participating in a class survey and generating a tally graph. Students are asked if they have a "hitchhiker's thumb" and the results are displayed on the tally...

Students incorporate technology into the classroom as they investigate force and motion. In this science instructional activity, students construct a glider to be able to safely take a banana to the ground without dropping it. They...

Fifth graders construct a voltaic battery. They change chemical energy into electrical energy by inserting copper wire into a lemon. They discover the tingle of the wire on their tongue is due to the movement of electrons.

Students create a project poster displaying photos, drawings, and journal writings that incorporate the major themes of California's missions, and use perspective and point of view both visually and in writing.

Learners identify the desired features of an aircraft and the limits that they, the Wright Brothers, or NASA scientists might face in designing one, and methods to solve these. They review parts of an airplane and what makes it fly. They...

Students explore the measurements of capacity by constructing a creative project in the shape of a man. The man has body parts that represent different units of measurement and can be used to make conversions. This is highly concrete and...

Students create a pond habitat inside and outside their classroom. In this pond lesson plan, students create a habitat with animals, water, and plants in order to create a proper pond habitat.

Students discuss jobs/roles in everyday life. In this social science lesson, students examine the fact that jobs or roles that were once gender specific no longer are. Students realize that any gender can have any job as long as that...