Young geologists begin exploring volcanoes of different structures and states: active, extinct, or dormant. During the lab, they make three models and compare different types of volcanoes, including composite, cinder cone, and...

Part two in a series of four explores the effects of climate on succession or the changing of plant species in a forest. Groups review how to identify trees and then spend a day in the field collecting extensive data on trees to...

Students use a simple method to collect living microorganisms from natural and/or artificial environments and develop skills in microscopy, observation, drawing, speculation, hypothesizing, oral presentation, and raising questions.

Students use leaves to make model of a carbonized plant and classify leaves by shape and margin type.

Students develop working knowledge of common plants and awareness of plant diversity by starting a school herbarium.

Students create imaginary creature that has some of the adaptations birds have.

Create a creature using some of the characteristics of a real animal. Second graders will read a book from the "Froggy," series by Johnathan London to learn about the characteristics of frogs. After discussing and recording various...

Young scientists study creeks around their area to see how clean the water really is. One way to tell is by the invertebrate populations that are present. This lesson introduces a game which learners simulate a variety of species found...

Students practice skills essential to all scientific investigation: carefully observing and collecting data. They become field biologists in a series of hands-on activities to collect and identify specimens, and survey and calculate the...

Learners study wildlife management as it relates to ecological principles and whole systems. They role play professional ecologists working for the fish and wildlife service to develop a plan to manage a new wildlife refuge along the Rio...

Learners explore animal habitats.  In this cross curriculum animal survival and writing lesson, students view a website about wild horses on Shackelford Island and discuss ways in which the horses have changed to this...

Students play the role of a Ranger with the Department of Forestry.  In this forest fires instructional activity, students examine data on biomes and images to determine high risk areas for forest fires to develop.  

The concise slides in this presentation give a good amount of detail for many aspects of matter chemistry.  There are summaries and diagrams for particle movement in solids, liquids, gases and plasma.

The main characteristics and definitive features of red, green, brown, and 4 other algea are listed along with great photos and examples. The details involved with reproduction styles, and information about traits of each Phyla are...

If you are teaching physical oceanography to middle school earth scientists, here is a terrific multiple choice activity. Learners look at a diagram of a landscape created by glacial sediment deposition and the resulting ocean floor....

A review of a full unit on energy and matter, this slide show starts with basic definitions of states of matter and their mass. It then develops the ideas of the forces that that matter can exert. Details about bonding within matter and...

Composting is a great way to get children involved in recycling. First, they discuss how biodegradable products decompose to make compost. Then, they talk about what can and cannot be composted. They play a game similar to around the...

A 22-slide set provides pretty much everything you need to teach the rock cycle except the actual specimens. All of the slides contain graphics or photographs to help describe the process, and most even have links to educational videos....

Explore the amazing temperate rainforest of the Pacific Northwest. Your class starts by investigating the animals and plants of the Northwest, specifically Washington, and then research an animal population common to the area. In small...

Name is Bond, covalent bond. Through readings and answering questions, classes explore the different types of chemical bonds, their characteristics, valence shell electron pair repulsion theory, and atomic orbitals. 

Ozone, made of three bonded oxygen atoms, is found 15-30 km above Earth, has a strong smell, is blue, and blocks sunlight from hitting the surface of Earth. The 22nd lesson in a series of 36 specifically focuses on the important elements...

Potassium permanganate, containing manganese one of the transition elements, has many uses such as mouthwash and propelling rockets, making it is a very diverse compound. The lesson delves into such transition elements and...

Crystal comes from a Greek word meaning ice. Activity eight in a series of 36 has class members analyzing amorphous and crystalline solids and further classifying them based on their forces. They then explore solids, learning about unit...

Apply the principles of geology to a series of collaborative, hands-on class activities. Young earth scientists learn more about igneous, metamorphic, and sedentary rocks before classifying and weathering rocks that they find....