Curated OER
Aquatic Exotics
Students identify and describe the aquatic exotic species found in Illinois. Using the internet, they research the species origins and discover their effects on native species in the area. They discuss how appropriate it is to introduce...
Curated OER
Photosynthesis
Students are introduced to the process of photosynthesis. In groups, they test the effects of the lack of sunlight on plant leaves and compare the results with their hypothesis. They note the characteristics that plants and animals share...
Curated OER
Video Haiku
Students write Haiku poetry and illustrate their poems with a form of digital or video technology. In this poetry and technology lesson, students study examples of haiku poetry and then write their own poem. Students use digital cameras...
Curated OER
Facial Studies Through Creation of a Face Jug
Students study facial expressions and create a face jug. In this facial study lesson plan, students look at images of face jugs through history before drawing thumbnails of facial images. They use the coil method to make a jug, and use a...
Curated OER
Do the Research! Arbor Day
In this researching and recording worksheet, students read what and how questions, research the answers, and record them. Students write 5 short answers.
Curated OER
Baga Drum
Students examine a Baga Drum in order to explore the history of the Baga people of West Africa. In this art history lesson plan, students recognize figures used in Baga Drum design that represent aspects of Baga culture. They also design...
Wild BC
The Greenhouse Effect: The Role of CO2
Though this is meant to be second in a two-part lesson, the two are not dependent on each other. Pupils play the roles of visible light rays, light or dark surfaces, and carbon dioxide molecules. They interact and react according to...
Curated OER
Go To The Head of the Cloud
Students pretend they are water droplets traveling through the water cycle. Using their text, they discover the steps in the cycle and the different paths water can take. They write a report about their journey through the water cycle...
Curated OER
Meteorology
Students research and produce an oral history that reflects the importance of meterologists in the lives of people in their community.
Curated OER
Crystal Growing
Students grow crystals and document their observations by recording timeing and growth. Additional characteristics of crystals are observed under a black light, by growing under different conditions and mineral content is determined.
Curated OER
Rock River Watershed
Students discover what a watershed is and which one they live in. Using the internet, they research why watersheds are important to an ecosystem and how to keep them from getting polluted. They use a map to locate various items within a...
Curated OER
Everybody Needs a Little Sunshine
Three activities introduce upper elementary ecologists to photosynthesis and food webs. In the first, an experiment is set up to determine how plants respond to different types of light. In the second, they connect organism cards with...
Curated OER
Roger the Rock
Here is a creative way to assess your geologists' grasp of the rock cycle: have them write and illustrate a children's book in which the main character journeys though his life, i.e. the rock cycle! A brief student instruction sheet and...
Curated OER
The Weather Classroom: Atmosphere
Middle schoolers explore the planets and their atmospheres online. They write the story of "Goldilocks and the Nine Planets" to explain how each planet's atmosphere differs from Earth's. They design a viable life form.
Curated OER
Harvesting the Seeds of Technology
Students determine what the phrase "stewards of the earth" means and evaluate the responsibilities that term entails. They assess whether or not applications of technology and science are consistent with our role as stewards of the earth...
Curated OER
Sedimentary Structures- An Adventure in Painting and Collage
Students identify and interpret concepts about how the Earth was formed and convey some of these ideas in a painting.
Students experiment with different types of paints and paint applicators to achieve a variety of visual textures....
Curated OER
Natural Wonders of China And Japan
Young scholars identify some of the attributes of China and Japan and compare and contrast the way Chinese, Japanese, and American artists represent nature in art. The lesson is for upper-elementary classrooms.
Curated OER
The Phases of the Moon
Students view an applet to study the phases of the Moon in relation to the orientation of the sun, moon, and Earth.
Curated OER
Looking Upwards: Greenroofing & Rooftop Gardening
Pupils explore the role of green roofing and rooftop gardening in contemporary architectural design. They then conduct collaborative research to learn about the history, process, science, and environmental impact of green roofing....
Curated OER
Barnet Atmosphere Adv Word Search Puzzle
In this science and language arts learning exercise, students analyze 30 words in a word bank which pertain to the atmosphere and weather. Students find the words in a word search. The meaning of the title is unclear.
Curated OER
How to Choose Articles
In this language arts worksheet, students read detailed information that helps students choose correct articles in their writing. Students learn about nouns that refer to one unique thing, countable nouns, uncountable nouns, proper nouns...
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
Plants and Animals, Partners in Pollination
Students 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
Learners 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...