Curated OER
Designing a Germination Experiment
Students explore botany by participating in a seed experiment. In this plant nutrition lesson, students define several science experiment vocabulary terms like observation, treatment, and replicate. Students utilize soaked seeds in a...
Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics
Orbit Simulator
Researchers think they have evidence of a new planet deep in our solar system that is the size of Neptune and orbits the sun far beyond Pluto. The orbit simulator shows the orbits of our well-known planets, as well as Pluto and the comet...
Science 4 Inquiry
The Ups and Downs of Populations
As the reality of population decline across many species becomes real, pupils learn about the variables related to changes in populations. They complete a simulation of population changes and graph the results, then discuss limiting...
PHET
Geometric Optics
What would happen if your entire world was flipped upside down? In addition to changing the distance and size of an object, lenses flip the image upside down. The simulation allows scholars to vary the object, move the object, move the...
Learning Games Lab
Testing for Corn Mold
Learners complete a virtual lab to test for a corn mold that can lead to dangerous toxins. They walk through a detailed step-by-step procedure then see their findings. Throughout the activity, they learn how to use lab tools and practice...
Curated OER
Biodiversity Debate - Stream Side Science
Role play community members who are both for and against the construction of a dam. Research the pros and cons and then hold a classroom debate. This activity ideally follows a series of stream studies, links to which are included. Use...
Concord Consortium
Concentrating Charge and Electric Fields
How did Rutherford determine that the nucleus was the center of an atom? Take a look inside the famous Gold Foil Experiment with an interesting interactive. Learners fire a beam of alpha particles at a nucleus containing variable...
Curated OER
Altering a Plant Environment
Students investigate what a controlled group is by creating an experiment. In this plant growth lesson, students identify the different parts of a plant and discuss what is needed for a plant to be successfully grown....
Curated OER
Testing a New Drug 1
High schoolers act as chief research scientists with the responsibility of testing a new drug. Students design a controlled experiment to test a hypothetical experimental drug. High schoolers write a clear, concise, and detailed plan to...
PHET
Planet Designer: Retro Planet Red
What does the atmosphere on Mars look like? This fourth lesson in the series of five is designed for high schoolers. Scholars apply previous knowledge to add atmosphere to Mars in an online simulation. This comprehensive lesson includes...
PHET
Planet Designer: Martian Makeover
Mars used to have liquid water, can you make it come back? Use the lesson and simulation to understand why Mars lost its magnetic field, why atmosphere is important, and what gravity has to do with it. This is the third lesson...
Curated OER
Which Tape is Stickiest?
Learners conduct an experiment to determine which style of tape will stick the best. In this controlled experiment lesson plan, students predict which tape will stick best to a marble that rolls over it, then they conduct the...
Curated OER
Investigating the Biosphere With Planetary Models
Students create a biosphere using the computer program SImEarth. They work in small groups to create "Daisyworld" in which they model aspects of the Gaia hypothesis. They form a question to answer and choose variables to investigate in...
Curated OER
Water Lesson Plan
Students discuss the importance of water in our daily lives. In this physics lesson, students calculate the pressure of water tower systems. They investigate the effect of certain variables using a computer simulation.
Curated OER
There's Gotta Be An Angle
Students examine the external variables that affect a downhill skier in the quest for speed. They access websites imbedded in this plan to become ski teams competing against one another. Each team presents results of all experiments.
Curated OER
The Contest Between the Sun and the Wind
Students investigate the relationship between the sun and wind. For this reading comprehension lesson, students read the book The Contest Between the Sun and the Wind, and observe the effect of the Sun and wind on our planet....
Curated OER
What's The Big Deal About Accutane?
Students take on the role of epidemiologists. They investigate an "outbreak" in serious birth defects that occur in infants born to teenage girls. students discover a link between the use of the acne drug called Accutane and birth defects.
PHET
Planet Designer: Kelvin Climb
It's time to get those creative juices flowing! This second lesson in a series of five continues allowing pupils to design their own planets. It the same format as the first, but, this time, allows high schoolers to alter greenhouse...
Curated OER
Who Done It?
Pick and choose which activities to include in this crime scene investigation. Junior detectives can examine fingerprints, DNA, blood samples, or bone structure. The plan suggests you have teams solve a mystery, but it does not...
Curated OER
Soil Sample Lab 2
Students examine each soil sample and record observations. In this biology lesson, students design an experiment to test soil flow rate. They write a lab report about the experiment.
Curated OER
Smog City - Part II
Students create an experiment about ozone levels using a Smog City Simulation on the Internet. They complete a worksheet and study associated vocabulary.
Curated OER
Lotic Environment Lesson Plans
Students create and conduct experiments on a "classroom river habitat." They manipulate the biotic and abiotic factors so that they are able to compare an artificially prepared river model to a naturally occurring lotic ecosystem.
Curated OER
Paper Airplane Contest
Students research principles of flight. They design their own paper airplanes and make predictions about the performance of different designs. Students keep track of their findings in an electronic journal.
Curated OER
Ocean Layers
Students investigate how temperature and salinity causes ocean layering. For this ecology lesson, students observe and sketch their experimental result. They report their findings in class.