Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Testing for Life

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Students test for organic molecules to determine if a solution contains once living molecules. In this characteristics of life lesson, students test common liquids for the presence of organic molecules, including starch, protein, and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Circle of Life

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Here is a well-designed science lesson that shows learners that everything that organisms do in ecosystems, including running, breathing, burrowing, growing, requires energy. After a thorough discussion of their own eating and drinking...
Lesson Plan
NASA

Is It Alive?

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Determining whether or not something is living can be more difficult than it seems. Put your young scientists to work defining their own criteria to identify life, then work with three samples to see if they are alive or...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Testing for Life

For Teachers 7th - 10th
Students discuss food and the food groups and their organic nature. They test 3 different solutions and test for protein, starch and glucose. In addition, they create a master table on the board to collect all the teams results.
Activity
Serendip

Cells as Molecular Factories

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Cells are both made of molecules and make molecules all at the same time! An exploratory lesson provides a means for scholars to research the components of cells made of molecules and also investigate the molecule-producing power of...
Lesson Plan
Cornell University

The Making of Macromolecules

For Students 7th - 12th
Compare and contrast macromolecules made from the same elements. Young scholars learn how the structure of a molecule has as much influence on a compound as the elements in the molecule. They experiment with molecular model kits to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Chromosomes

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students study chromosomes and how molecular half life affects them.  In this chromosome lesson students complete several lab activities on calculating half life, and cracking alkanes. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Atoms Work

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students analyze the way atoms function and how they combine to form molecules and various compounds. Using a software program, they create a diagram of an atom and write a summary about their functions. They complete a worksheet and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Staying Young with Vitamin E

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Investigate how Vitamin E is used to prevent cell aging. Young scientists coat the surface of apples and bananas with oil, Vitamin E, and water. They place each in a petri dish and cover them to observe oxidation over time. They answer 8...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Animals of the Fire Ice

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Learners examine ocean life by identifying methane hydrates.  In this ocean life lesson, students research organisms that live in the coldest, deepest parts of the ocean and live off methane hydrates.  Learners create a group...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Plankton / Phytoplankton

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students discuss the importance of plankton in the ocean ecosystem. In this biology lesson, students identify the different types plankton by observing them under the microscope. They explain how plankton population affect global climate.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

DNA Blueprint for Life

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Did you know that meat tenderizers contain DNA cutting enzimes? Did you know that you can isolate your own DNA? Or the DNA of fruit? Explore with your learners the DNA world with a series of experiments using readily available materials...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

DNA Blueprint for Life

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners isolate DNA from different food sources. In this biology lesson, students research DNA extraction. They analyze DNA stands collected from the lab, and compare the differences between each.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Diffusion through Membranes

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students identify diffusion and its processes through experimentation and calculations. They also use a CBL and conductivity probe to measure the conductivity of various solutions and study the effect of concentration gradients on the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Circle of Life

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students consider why we eat and where our food obtains its energy. They illustrate food chains that might be found on an open field, dissect owl pellets, identify the remains of animals in the pellets, watch videos and participate in...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Winter

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore the nature of water and water molecules. They examine the role of ice on organisms.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Using Abiotic and Biotic Parameters to Monitor Air Quality

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students identify the abiotic factors that influence a river or stream and the organisms that live in it. They measure several abiotic and biotic parameters to gauge water quality. Students examine the biotic environment by identifying...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduction to Adult Insects and Their Adaptations

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students study organisms found in Class Insecta. They examine the different adaptations these organisms have developed over time to survive and prosper in their respective habitats. They research the origin of the names of several orders...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Nucleic Acids and Protein Synthesis

For Teachers 10th
Tenth graders complete a vocabulary assignment based on terms in the unit. They complete appropriate worksheets as each section of the unit is completed. They participate in classroom discussions. They construct a model of a DNA molecule.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Polymers

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students explore online tutorial on polymers. In this chemistry lesson, they create two polymers in the lab and compare their properties. They write a sales letter about their new and improved polymer product.
Unit Plan
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Curated OER

The Brain’s Inner Workings

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Do you want to learn about how you learn? Help pupils become the best learners they can be by teaching them how their brain works. The resources available include videos about brain structure and a study guide full of activities that...
Activity
Colorado State University

How Do Long and Short EM Waves Interact with the Earth's Atmosphere?

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Things are about to heat up in your classroom! A kinesthetic lesson asks learners to play the part of the gases in the earth's atmosphere and interact with the sun's radiation. The focus is to learn the impact of the increasing...
Lesson Plan
Cornell University

Electroplating

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Silver pennies and copper nickels are made possible by applying some chemistry. Learners use electrolysis to coat a penny with zinc sulfate and a nickel with copper sulfate. Their investigation builds an understanding of electroplating...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Is There Really Life on Mars?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine the work of scientists and determine how they test their theories.