Curated OER
Shadows & Light, Science & Puppetry
Lights, shadows, action, and inquiry await your artistic scientists. They explore the way light travels, absorbs, reflects, and transmits through shadow play. They create folktale-inspired shadow puppets, explore the science of light,...
PHET
Bending Light
Different colors of the spectrum travel at different speeds through media, causing them to refract at different angles—which allows humans to see their colors. Through a simulation, pupils see how air, water, and other media bend light....
Scholastic
Lesson Three: The Earth, Movement in Space
If you feel like you're standing still, you're wrong! The Earth is constantly rotating and orbiting under our feet. Demonstrate the Earth's movement within the solar system with a collaborative activity. With a candle or lamp in the...
CK-12 Foundation
Diamond Cut
How do jewelers tell the difference between diamonds, glass, and cubic zirconia? A sparkling simulation demonstrates how to use a ray of light to determine the substance and ideal shape for a diamond. Scholars control the material,...
Columbus City Schools
Earthly Waves
How did scientists discover what lies beneath the earth's surface? Dig a hole? X-ray vision? Guide your class through the types of seismic waves and how these waves helped shed light on Earth's many layers. The included resources provide...
Wild BC
The Greenhouse Effect: The Role of CO2
Though this is meant to be second in a two-part instructional activity, 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...
Physics Classroom
Law Enforcement - Refraction
Pupils apply their knowledge of refraction to four different sets of challenges. Each of the first three focus on one variable's impact on the direction of bending. The fourth combines variables for greater challenge.
Curated OER
Kaleidoscope
Students explore energy by creating a light project in class. In this kaleidoscope lesson, students discuss the properties of light and how mirrors can reflect the energy in different directions. Students view a diagram of light...
Curated OER
Lighten Up!
Third graders observe light as a form of energy, that it can be reflected/bounced, refracted/bent and absorbed. They explore how different types of light affect our lives as a whole. Songs are researched that involve light (ex. "You...
Science 4 Inquiry
Phases of the Moon
The moon takes just over 27 days to orbit around Earth. Young scientists position themselves as the earth as they rotate around the sun and hold the moon. This allows them to observe the patterns and phases of the moon.
Curated OER
Invisible Rays
Students explore physical science by completing a lab assignment. In this sunlight lesson, students define a list of scientific vocabulary terms and complete fill in the blank questions. Students conduct a photographic experiment in...
Curated OER
Bouncing Sunlight
Third graders use flashlights and balls to demonstrate how the light bounces off of the sun and reflects onto the moon. They record their observations in a journal.
Curated OER
The Sky Jeopardy
First graders reinforce concepts about sun, moon, day, night and sky by playing the Sky Jeopardy game. In the end, 1st graders get to nibble crackers in order to show the different phases of the moon.
Curated OER
Astronomy and Me: Moons Over New Haven
Third graders study the features of different moons orbiting the planets. In this astronomy lesson, 3rd graders explore the different phases of the moon using an interactive online website. They compare and contrast the features of the...
Curated OER
Earth's Rotation
Fourth graders investigate the Earth's rotation. In this Earth's rotation lesson, 4th graders realize that the rotation of Earth causes the days and nights on Earth. Students break into groups and use a flashlight and a sphere to...
Curated OER
Electricity and Magnetism: Ben Franklin and His Influence
Fourth graders explore electricity by examining the life of Benjamin Franklin. In this biographical lesson plan, 4th graders listen to the teacher read facts of Benjamin Franklin's life and analyze his contributions to our current...
Curated OER
Moon Glow
Students identify the Earth-Moon relationship and the phases of the Moon. They participate in an activity that illustrates why the Moon has so many different looks within a lunar cycle. They discuss solar and lunar eclipses.
Curated OER
What Are Ecosystems?
Third graders recognize and examine ecosystems. They observe and describe habitats within ecosystems and observe and identify organisms with similar needs that compete for resources.
Curated OER
Techno Movie
Students explore storytelling by using video editing software. In this movie making lesson, students identify the uses of PowerPoint and create a story using a digital camera which takes stills or video. Students combine this footage...
Curated OER
Sea Turtle Savvy
Young scholars explore sea turtles. They create paper plate sea turtles and brainstorm other organisms that live in the sea turtle's habitat. They role-play scenes from a nonfiction book, A Baby Sea Turtle's Journey. They play a game...
Curated OER
Wavelength And Resolution
Students perform a simulation of the workings of an electron microscope to discover that the resolution will need to improved to detect objects in the nano-scale. They use wooden dowels as detectors to determine the shape of objects in...
Curated OER
Automated Vehicle Programming Design
Students design a program to make an automated vehicle perform a specific task. In this robotics lesson, students play the role of scientists competing to win a factory's contract. They present their algorithm to class.