DiscoverE
Design a Wind Turbine
Discover the power of wind energy. Learners design, build, and test wind blades in a hands-on experiment. They analyze the results to determine if they can make any improvements before gathering as a class to discuss their designs.
Chicago Botanic Garden
Recognizing Change (Observation vs. Inference)
What is the difference between making inferences and making observations? Young climatologists refer to a PowerPoint to make observations on each slide. They record their observations in a provided worksheet before drawing a...
Curated OER
Preparation of Artificial Flavorings and Fragrances
Students prepare artificial flavorings and fragrances. In this esters instructional activity, students combine an acid and an alcohol of choice to make an ester. Water is released and they produce an artificial flavoring or fragrance....
Virginia Department of Education
A Crystal Lab
Young chemists grow ionic crystals, metallic crystals, and supersaturated crystals in three different lab experiments. Observing these under a microscope allows pupils to compare the various structures.
Curated OER
Save a Drop for Me
Learners discuss the meaning of philanthropy and how it applies to people caring about the water supply. In this water conservation lesson plan, students explore possible water conservation activities and select a project. Learners will...
Curated OER
Insulators, Conductors, and Energy Transfer
Third graders conduct experiments to determine what types of material make good insulators. They prepare a graph of time vs. temperature for their sample. They choose a graph using each kind of material to display for class analysis and...
Curated OER
Stream Scanners
Students investigate quality of water in a stream, lake, or pond by examining chemical, physical, and biological characteristics.
Cornell University
The Physics of Bridges
Stability is key when building a bridge. Scholars explore the forces acting upon bridges through an analysis of Newton's Laws and Hooke's Law. The activity asks individuals to apply their learning by building a bridge of their own.
Curated OER
Are Beds Made of Balsa Wood?
Here is an interesting resource which describes different kinds of wood and their uses. There is a table with six different types of furniture wood listed, and the number of worm holes found in each one. Based on the information in the...
Curated OER
Your Own Fresh Water Aquarium in the Classroom
Learners explore aquariums. In this fish and ecosystems lessons, students establish a freshwater aquarium environment using materials provided. Learners read about and care for the classroom fish.
Curated OER
Seed Dispersal
Young scholars explore seed dispersal by designing their own wind dispersed seed structure. Using one piece of paper and a box fan, they construct a seed dispersal structure, record the distance their seed travels, and answer discussion...
Curated OER
Chemical Reactions
In this chemical reaction worksheet, students investigate the results of mixing calcium chloride with sodium bicarbonate. They observe the chemical and physical changes that occur, identify the properties of the chemical before and after...
Curated OER
Catapults
Students test catapults. In this physics instructional activity, student conduct scientific investigations that require them to test catapults. Students practice their problem solving skills as they employ the use of the scientific method.
Curated OER
Building A Bug Bungalow
Young scholars chart how milkweed bugs grow and change. In this growth and life stages lesson plan, students read two stories and discuss how and why things grow. Young scholars brainstorm what can be measured about humans,...
Curated OER
The Interpretation of Dreams
Students study Freud and what he thought of dreams. In this dream interpretation lesson students complete an experiment on dreams.
Curated OER
Diffusion Through Balloons
Students observe the diffusion of air molecules through a balloon. In this chemistry and molecules lesson, students fill balloons with air and a scented substance and observe whether the scented air is able to permeate the balloon.
Curated OER
Open-Ended Scientific Method Lab
Pupils inspect a given problem and come up with a hypothesis. In this investigative lesson students come up with a hypothesis for a problem, test each hypothesis and evaluate how successful each one was.
Curated OER
Magnetic Discovery Bottle
Learners examine how to conduct simple investigations and use simple equipment to gather data. In this magnet lesson students decide what types of objects are attracted to magnets.
Curated OER
Tadpoles
Students examine tadpoles at various stages of development. They make careful scientific observations and compare the changes that occur at five different phases of a frog's life.
Curated OER
Catapults
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...
Curated OER
Population Density In Fish
Young scholars investigate how a population of fish multiplies in an ecosystem and the kinds of things that must be done to maintain a healthy population balance with other organisms that live there. They conduct an experiment to test...
Curated OER
Make Sense of Nature
Students participate in this program that heightens their awareness and curiosity of nature as well as their sense of adventure and exploring new surroundings. They identify and choose an object from nature after exploring it with other...
Curated OER
Penguin Parents are Cool
Fourth graders explore the lives of penguins and the relationship between them and their parents. They compare and contrast penguin populations in various areas of the world as well as their nesting sites. After constructing a penguin...
Curated OER
Murder Mystery
High schoolers examine how to capture foot prints while they simulate a criminal investigation. They discover how the clues are needed for identifying or eliminating murder suspects.