Lesson Plan
ReadWriteThink

Webcams in the Classroom: Animal Inquiry and Observation

For Teachers 3rd - 5th Standards
Boost observational skills with an inquiry-based lesson that takes scholars on a virtual field trip. With help from webcams, learners observe animals in a zoo or aquarium. Observations go into a journal and a discussion is held to review...
Activity
Howard Hughes Medical Institute

Gorongosa: Making Observations Activity

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
Do you have young scientists wanting to make new discoveries rather than just completing the same experiments? Young scientists use their observational skills to identify animals and patterns in animal behavior. Through tracking...
Lesson Plan
Howard Hughes Medical Institute

Lesson 7: Observations Across Habitats

For Teachers 9th - 12th
How are animals in separate but nearby habitats related? Ecology scholars compare the animal inhabitants of the Gorongosa National Park in part seven of an eight-part series. Learners study photos from two different habitats, then...
Activity
Cornell University

Celebrate Urban Birds

For Students 3rd - 8th
Set up a 50x50 square foot area in a space at school and choose three days to go outside and observe the birds seen in a 10 minute span. The activity has learners tapping into their observation skills and creates awareness of the birds...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Picture This

For Teachers K - 4th
A unique writing lesson, this plan begins with learners talking about multiculturalism in small groups. Each learner will choose a picture from a newspaper, describe it to their small group, and think about how it relates to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Close Observation: Coins

For Teachers 2nd
Integrate math, science, and speaking/listening with a collaborative hands-on activity. Each group works with a single penny, examining it with the naked eye and recording observations. Repeat using magnifying glasses. Then repeat with a...
Unit Plan
Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Amazing Birds

For Teachers K - 4th
What's so amazing about birds? Find out just how amazing birds are with a physics of animal behavior unit created by Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Have learners explore and tap into their observational skills and notice how birds fly, what...
Lesson Plan
California Academy of Science

What's on a Penny?

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
As a lesson on scientific observation, have your class investigate the features of a penny and a nickel. Working in pairs, they practice writing detailed descriptions using their senses and a ruler to gather information. This is an...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What Makes Shadows? Observing and Drawing Shadows

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Students make accurate drawings of a classmate's shadow. They note position of the sun in the sky. They identify a connection between the direction of the shadow and the location of the sun. They observe changes in shadows over time.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Observations and Procedures

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Young scientists critique the breakdown of detailed observations. They discover the importance of writing down experimental procedures. There are some guided discussion questions at the end of the resource.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Storm Clouds-- Fly over a Late Winter Storm onboard a NASA Earth Observing Satellite

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students study cloud data and weather maps to explore cloud activity.  In this cloud data lesson plan students locate latitude and longitude coordinates and determine cloud cover percentages. 
Lesson Plan
American Chemical Society

Colors Collide or Combine?

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
As part of a unit investigating the dissolving of M&Ms® candy coating, this lesson examines whether or not the different colors combine. There are no new concepts revealed in this particular lesson, but learners will see that the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Outdoor Observations

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders attain data using their senses. They record information. They develop observation skills and explore how to investigate. They gain appreciation for nature through their observations.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What Can We Learn From the Past?

For Teachers 7th - 11th
What would future archeologists learn from your scholars' personal belongings? Have them bring in a box of "primary sources" from their home. Discuss the difference between observations and inference, using some of your own items to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Deep Convective Clouds

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students observe clouds. In this deep convective clouds lesson, students analyze cloud data recorded over one month and draw conclusions based on results.  Students predict "Thunderstorm Season" and prepare to defend their decision...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

When the Wind Blows Lesson Plan

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Learners read a book and observe the wind and how it affects the environment. They explore what wind does by looking at pictures, reading a book, and by completing an experiment. They will use their own knowledge of the wind and compare...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

"Lettuce" Learn About the Water Cycle

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Young scientists investigate the water cycle through a lettuce seed experiment. For this experiment, learners plant lettuce seeds inside of a ziplock bag in order to create a small greenhouse. They observe condensation and precipitation,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Hatching Chickens

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students consider the concept that much can be learned from the natural world by observation. They observe the incubation and hatching of chicken eggs in the classroom and discuss the needs of living things.
Lesson Plan
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American Chemical Society

Classifying Objects Based on their Observable Properties

For Teachers 2nd
Sorting objects by properties is a instructional activity in justification. Learners begin by studying different types of properties of materials, including those based on appearance and texture. They examine the properties of specific...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Observing the Changes: The Warming of the North

For Teachers 1st - 7th
After reviewing the causes and effects of climate change, students become observers for "Plant Watch," a program to monitor the effects of climate change on plants. Students record blooming and leafing dates for selected local species...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Biology Game To Promote Classification And Observation

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Students play a biology game. In this science lesson plan, students play a game that require them to use observation skills and develop their classification skills.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Frost Depth Study

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Learners complete activities to study the frost and frost depth. In this frost study lesson, students use frost tubes to study and measure the frost at their school. Learners measure the frost in the tube and enter their data online to...
Activity
Cornell University

Study Soil

For Teachers 4th - 5th
What's in soil? Young scientists study the pH levels of soil from their school yard. They observe the land and area the soil came from to decide if location has anything to do with acidity level.
Lesson Plan
Stanford University

Observing Human Rights Day

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
How much intervention is appropriate for America to take in cases of human rights violations? Class members ponder a question that has lingered since the birth of America with a series of primary sources that reflect the degree to which...

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