Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Walking For Water

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students investigate how third world countries get their water. In this water lesson, students research how countries like Kenya and Ethiopia get their water supply. Students participate in an experiment to role play how difficult it is...
Lesson Plan
Alabama Learning Exchange

Energy and Work Amusement Park Style

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students distinguish between kinetic and potential energy. They recognize that energy can change from one form to other forms. They identify and describe several forms of energy.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water Layering and Circulation

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Young scholars examine relationships and interactions between different types of water. They experiment with colored water of different temperature and salinity and discuss how the results relate to real ocean currents.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Parachutes: What a Drag

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders make 2 different kinds of parachutes and record and graph the time for each one for the different drag forces. In this parachute lesson plan, 6th graders compare the results to the rest of the class of each parachute and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Medieval Catapults

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students design and build a working catapult or trebuchet to explore the concepts of force, motion, and distance.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Building a Roller Coaster

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students describe the law of conservation of energy. They identify the conversion between potential and kinetic energy. They investigate and describe the application of Newton's Laws of Motion.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Extra! Extra!

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students describe how plants and animals depend on each other. They see how living and nonliving environments change over time. They identify ways in which humans have changed their environment and the effects of those changes.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

"Measurement in Motion"

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders examine the rate of motion and changes in motion using a ramp and a rolling object. They conduct the demonstration, determine the average speed, and describe how a moving object can have zero acceleration and deceleration.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Newton Rocket Car

For Teachers K - 5th
Students observe a demonstration of Newton's third law of motion using a small wooden car. They discuss Newton's third law of motion and what happens to motion if the mass or acceleration is increased, construct their car, and record...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

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.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Wonder Underground

For Teachers K - 3rd
Students classify and record objects they find "underground." In this observation instructional activity, students dig into bins filled with soil and encounter various objects such as bark, twigs, etc. Students classify their findings.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduction to Friction

For Teachers 11th - Higher Ed
Students study the properties of the frictional force between two surfaces in contact. They inspect various phenomena in nature where friction plays an important role and demonstrate
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Race the Track! Shoot the Loop

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Students experiment with a steel ball and matchbox car to find the effects of force and motion. In this force and motion lesson plan, students assemble a track, conduct experiments and record on a shoot the loop worksheet. Students...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

High Five Burger

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders investigate agricultural sources. In this agricultural instructional activity, 5th graders read the book Have a Hamburger and See the U.S.A. and record each component of a hamburger. Students use a map of the U.S.A. to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Explosive Geography

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Students consider how volcanic eruptions can affect an environment and how a volcano works. The explosions of Mt. Saint Helen's, Mt. Redoubt, and Mt. Kilauea are researched and presented to the class in groups.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Transfer of Thermal Energy

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students define temperature and heat, distinguish between temperature and heat flow, calculate amount of heat energy released or absorbed in chemical process, and design procedure, through experimentation, to gather and evaluate data to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Elements 'R' Us

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders participate in a Web Quest in order to examine the periodic table of elements. After collecting information about an element of their choice, they share with group members what they have learned. Groups create class...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Exercise and Heartrate

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders experiment to find the effects of exercise on the heart rate.  In this exercise and heart rate lesson, 4th graders create questions about exercise and heart rate. Students use the scientific method to test and analyze...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How can my breakfast help the birds?

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders design farms with a bird's habitat in mind. In this farm lesson plan, 6th graders research how sun grown coffee destroys a bird habitat, and then they make their own farm with a bird's habitat being preserved. They then...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Emulsions

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Learners identify the characteristics and composition of emulsions. In this chemistry lesson, students classify household products according to emulsion type. They explain how to make the best emulsion.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

It's For the Birds

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders examine how anatomical adaptations make it possible for a bird to survive in various habitats. They discuss and list birds and their unique characteristics, and create an imaginary bird, illustrating the environmental...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Something Fishy Going On

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students create a video animation of how Swimmy gathered his fish friends together to form a great big fish that would frighten the predator tuna away. In art class each child create a small red fish which gets displayed in the ocean...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Designing Machines

For Teachers 5th - 10th
Students explore simple and compound machines. In groups of four students, they design a compound machine using K'NEX that has a stated purpose and consists of at least two simple machines.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Investigative Case - Protistan Tales of Atlantic White Cedar Swamps

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students use this WebQuest to explore the vast diversity of microbes, especially those microbes of the Atlantic Cedar Swamps. They tell a story about the protests of the Atlantic Cedar Swamp in the form of anthropomorphism.