Michigan State University
Bug Lyphe!
Introduce ecology classes to biodiversity and interdependence in ecosystems with a PowerPoint presentation. Then, they get up-close and personal with the invertebrate world by collecting insects, classifying them, and graphing their...
Annenberg Foundation
Geometry 3D Shapes: Surface Area and Volume
Whether you wrap it or fill it, you're using geometric concepts. Classmates use an interactive approach to learn how to find volume and surface area of cylinders and prisms in the second lesson in a five-part series. The online lesson...
Curated OER
Plants and Animals: Partners in Pollination
Students describe the complementary relationships between pollinators and the plants they pollinate, identify adaptations that flowers have developed to "encourage" pollination, and create and draw their own "designer" flowers.
Curated OER
Water, Weather, and the World
Students in a special education classroom examine the role of weather and water in their lives.  Each day, they add a symbol for the weather outside and identify the proper activities for the weather on that day.  In groups, they...
Curated OER
Plants and Animals, Partners in Pollination
Learners participate in multiple hands-on activities to explore reproduction and pollination. In groups, using a cotton swab and powder, students simulate being pollinators and plants. They name the parts of the flowers and the function...
Curated OER
Rocks and Minerals
Students bring rocks and minerals from home to investigate in the classroom. In this rocks and minerals lesson plan, students observe all the rocks and minerals brought into the class and answer 7 questions about the features of the...
Curated OER
Modeling the Big Bang and the Formation of the Universe
Sixth graders conduct an experiment to understand the Big Bang Theory.  In this Big Bang Theory lesson, 6th graders will observe a balloon with confetti popping to emulate and analyze information related tot he Big Bang theory....
Curated OER
Rockin? Chalk (Integrating science - make own chalk)
Students use plaster of Paris, talc, and cornstarch to create their own chalk. They hypothesize what mixture of ingredients  produce the "best" chalk. Students discuss what they think are the characteristics of the "best" chalk.
Curated OER
Earth Day Poster
Students promote Earth Day. For this Earth Day lesson, students create an Earth Day catch phrase and use graphic art design principles to make an Earth Day poster.
Curated OER
Earth Day - Grow A Seed Garden
Students discover how things grow and how they can take better care of the environment in this Earth Day lesson for the elementary classroom.  The activity can be accomplished in one day and left in the sun until the "beans" begin growing.
Curated OER
Save the Earth: It's Everyone's Home!
Students create artwork to remind them to conserve the Earth. In this conservation lesson plan, students discuss the Earth's conservation and then create an art project representing what they can do to conserve.
Curated OER
Save the Earth: It's Everyone's Home!
Students demonstrate how to make earth-smart choices. In this environmental awareness lesson, students listen to a short lecture on environmentally friendly products. Students invent an environmentally friendly product and complete an...
Curated OER
Save the Earth, it's Everyone's Home!
Students examine trash for items to recycle and reuse.  In this trash instructional activity, students explore how people in the community can use recycled and reused items as they play a recycling game.
Curated OER
Observing and Sketching the Lunar Surface
Young scholars explore space science by conducting an illustration activity. In this lunar lesson, students discuss what the moon is and the role it plays for our environment on Earth. Young scholars view images of the moon and utilize...
Curated OER
Where in the World? The Basics of Latitude and Longitude
Students are introduced to the concepts of latitude and longitude. In groups, they identify the Earth's magnetic field and the disadvantages of using compasses for navigation. They identify the major lines of latitude and longitude on a...
Curated OER
Time Line of Astronomy Events and Discoveries
Students work in groups to present a segment of a timeline of events and discoveries in astronomy. In this astronomy lesson plan, students teach their classmates about their section of the timeline.
Curated OER
Earth Day Grocery Bag Art
Learners decorate grocery bags with messages aimed at increasing environmental responsibility. They deliver the bags to local grocery stores in time for Earth Day.
Curated OER
Dinosaur! Fossil Rush: Tale of a Bone
Explore 1870s when a "bone rush" led to amazing discoveries, as fossil-hunters risked life and limb in their quest for dinosaur remains. The class uses the attached visual encyclopedia to prep for a discussion on early paleontology. Two...
NASA
Project X-51
In a nose-cone to nose-cone competition, which rocket will prevail? Teams form rocket companies to design and build a rocket while competing against other teams in an economic challenge. The team that comes up with the best benefit/cost...
Curated OER
Science: Discovering Sharks
Young scholars incorporate some basic information regarding ocean life and ecological conservation into their "earth watch" lives.
Curated OER
The Dynamic Earth
Students use the Internet to investigate earthquakes and plate tectonics. In this plate tectonics lesson, students complete a web quest with multiple links and activity types relating to earthquakes and volcanoes. They connect the...
Curated OER
Let's Clean Up Our Act and the Earth!
Students complete activities that help clean up the Earth and protect the environment. In this Earth protection instructional activity, students go outside and listen to the environment. Students discuss their observations and their role...
Curated OER
Earth Day - Bursting Beans
Students fill jars with dried beans and water, cover the jars, and wait to see what happens in this excellent Science experiment ideal for Earth Day (April 22nd).  Emphasis is placed on discovering the reactions of seeds to water.
Curated OER
Save the Earth: It's Everyone's Home!
Students organize a donation drive based on the concept of reusing items for an animal shelter. In this reusing items lesson plan, students distinguish between reusable and non reusable items, have a donation drive, and use the...