Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Capacitors

For Teachers 5th - 10th
Students explain the concepts of charge storage and how a capacitor works. They construct a capacitor and measure the stored charge using the appropriate equipment and measurements. They also demonstrate capacitance and how it can be...
Lesson Plan
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Many Happy Returns

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students compare the journey of Lewis and Clark with the space flight of Apollo 11. Students sequence events using a timeline. Students write a persuasive essay trying to persuade the people of the US to support space exploration.
Lesson Plan
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We All Need Trees

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students complete a guessing game. In this tree products instructional activity, students view various household items and try to determine if they were made from trees. They discuss their findings and then read books about trees.
Worksheet
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What Causes Earthquakes?

For Students 6th - 8th
In this earthquakes worksheet, learners will read information about how different myths and legends have been created to describe the cause of earthquakes. Students will use this information to complete 3 short answer questions.
Lesson Plan
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Cloning Animals and Plants: Any Difference?

For Teachers 6th - Higher Ed
Students examine the process in which plants and animals are cloned. They compare and contrast the two procedures and determine if there is a difference. They share their views on cloning to the class.
Lesson Plan
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Totally Termites

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students explore the world of termites, their adaptations, and anatomy. They examine the property risks of termites and how pest control professionals manage termite problems.
Lesson Plan
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Electromagnetic Spectrum/Spectroscopy

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students examine the electromagnetic spectrum and demonstrate the elements within.  In this investigative lesson students complete a demonstration and calculate the energy of a photon. 
Lesson Plan
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Aging of Trees

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Students examine tree rings to determine its age.  For this tree ring lesson, students examine core tree samples, identify the tree rings, and then determine its age. Students complete a worksheet, deciding which of the two core...
Lesson Plan
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Catapults

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Students are introduced to the concept of a catapult and how it is used with the help of a media presentation. They use catapults in a large, open area and record the distances objects travel. Students use the scientific method while...
Lesson Plan
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Earthquakes

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders explain that earthquakes are sudden motions along breaks in the crust called faults. They list the major geologic events including earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and mountain building, which are the result of crustal plate...
Lesson Plan
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Termitology

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Learners engage in an inquiry-based study of the ecology of termites. Through hands-on investigations, they explore the life cycle of termites, the termite's role in the food web, and the unique social structure of termite colonies.
Lesson Plan
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Before They Were Pests

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students explore the native habitats and behaviors of common pests to explain why and how household pests enter our homes. Theyexamine the relationship between humans and pests and the limited habitat and resources shared by both.
Lesson Plan
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Suspension Bridges

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students view examples of suspension bridges and discuss their structure. They complete a tension and compression experiment with a partner then perform a similar experiment with books. They discuss engineers and how they design and...
Lesson Plan
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Deposition

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Pupils follow carefully designed instructions to bond silver to glass thus creating a mirror. The process used, Brashear's Process, uses sugar rather than formaldehyde to reduce the compounds, but many of the chemicals are dangerous, so...
Lesson Plan
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Environmental Hazards

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students identify environmental hazards on a simulated field trip. They analyze the exposure and suggest methods to eliminate or reduce exposure to toxic sources.
Lesson Plan
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Imperialism in Africa

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Learners study imperialism in Africa. In this Imperialism lesson plan, students consider how democratic revolutions around the world led to imperialism in Africa. 
Lesson Plan
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The "Write Sport"

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders discuss the history of sports in Iowa. In this sports lesson plan, 5th graders write a friendly sports letter and a how to directional writing. They write five entries in their journal from the point of view of a piece of...
Lesson Plan
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Transportation with Lewis and Clark

For Teachers 1st - 4th
Students listen to a PowerPoint presentation and complete a Venn diagram comparing the methods of transportation in the early 1800s with today's transportation. They experiment with the buoyancy of keelboats.
Lesson Plan
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A Tale of a Whale: And Why It Can Be Told

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students examine the characteristics of particular whales. In this whale characteristics lesson, students discover the methods scientists use to track whales and attempt to match the unique pattern of callosities themselves. A role...
Lesson Plan
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More Than Meets the Eye

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students use the Archimedes method to demonstrate scientific principles behind observations.
Lesson Plan
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A Basin Filled With Time

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students use fossil leaves and a mathematical formula to study climate change. In this climate change and fossil lesson plan, students determine the differences in temperatures during two different times during the Cenozoic era using...
Lesson Plan
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Water Pressure Experiments

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students perform experiments measuring water pressure. They record their observations after poking holes in plastic bottles filled with water with the lids on and then off. They discover the role gravity plays in the water flow.
Lesson Plan
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Conceptualizing an Experiment

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Learners work together to design an experiment. They discover the origin of a family artifact. They analyze the data and discuss the results. They determine if the experiment is the best way to find out this type of information.
Lesson Plan
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Rocks and Their Properties: Day 5

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students demonstrate their knowledge of rock formation processes in varied ways by sharing their cooperative research projects with the class. They generate well-framed questions in response to each presentation.