Lesson Plan
Curated OER

An Age of Exploration

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Learners investigate U.S. history by examining North American timelines. In this American exploration lesson plan, students research the events that led to Columbus finding America and participate in a jeopardy game regarding his...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The First Humans: Prehistory-3500 B.C. "Lucy"

For Teachers 3rd - 7th
Students explore prehistoric times by completing web activities in class. In this human ancestry lesson, students identify the archaeological discovery of the "Lucy" skeleton and what it meant for science. Students investigate the Leakey...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Dinosaurs

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
Students participate in a simulated archeological dig to gain an understanding of the earth's development as well as the organisms on it. In this dinosaur lesson plan, students work in small groups removing five pieces from the 'dig' one...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Magnetic Discovery Bottle

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students examine how to conduct simple investigations and use simple equipment to gather data.  For this magnet lesson students decide what types of objects are attracted to magnets. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Climbing Mount Everest

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Learners use the Discovery Channel's webstie to take a virtual tour of Mount Everest. They read about different people who have climbed the mountain successfully. They also compare the gear used today and in the past for climbing.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Frosty the Snowman Meets His Demise: An Analogy to Carbon Dating

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students read and discuss an article about carbon dating, then participate in a hands-on lab to discover how carbon dating works. Students also write a letter to a friend explaining the process, and how archeologists use the process to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Great Explorations: To the End of the Earth and Beyond

For Teachers 5th - 9th
Students analyze the factors that affect exploration such as religion, trade, territorial expansion, and science. In this Great Explorations lesson, students determine the names of famous explorers as well as their routes and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Money Pit

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students use a penny to explore their culture.
Lesson Plan
Desert Discoveries

Creating a Garden Journal

For Teachers 3rd
Youngsters create science journals which are used to record observations from the school garden. The goal of this activity is to help kids tune into nature by making daily observations on the growth of the plants, and also to take note...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Archaeological Inquiry

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners describe what they see as they observe an "artifact". They draw conclusions based on the information gathered to identify what the artifact might be used for and determine how old it might be.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Elements of Biology: Organization In Living Systems

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore the recent research on dinosaurs.  In this dinosaur lesson plan students write a report on the new findings and how it has changed ideas on dinosaurs. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Exploring Special Lines

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students compare and order numbers. In this geometry lesson, students write equations for inequalities. They differentiate and apply concepts of triangular properties to solve problems.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Dell House Dig

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students experience an archaeological dig exploring off the shore of Black Hawk Island and Wisconsin River. They study in the same place where the infamous Dell House once stood. Dell House and its historical significance is reviewed...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Why Do Ice Cubes Melt?

For Teachers 1st
First graders investigate water properties by participating in a hands on experiment. In this ice formation instructional activity, 1st graders examine real ice cubes in a bowl and identify the reasons why certain cubes melt faster than...