Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Stomata: Microscopic Openings that Let Plants Breathe

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students participate in a lab experiment to observe and measure the opening and closing of stomata. They focus on photoperiod, locate and identify stomata on a leaf and explain the role of stomata in the daily functioning of a plant.
Worksheet
Curated OER

How Do Astronomers Measure Distances to Stars?

For Students 8th - 9th
For this astronomy worksheet, students participate in an activity using the parallax effect to measure star distances. They record their information in a data table then complete 5 fill in the blank conclusion questions.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Debunking the Myth of the American West

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students participate in a close reading. They examine the text closely for implied and hidden meaning, dissect the story to understand the text as a written craft, and discuss significant details and overall meaning of story. They...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Where Do Birds Live? Cavity Nesters of the Watsonville Wetlands

For Teachers 6th - 7th
Students compare and contrast primary and secondary cavity nesters. For this life science lesson, students explore the different types of nests that birds make. They play a team game to apply what they learned.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Disappearing Water

For Teachers K - 3rd
Students explore the water cycle. In this earth science instructional activity, students observe and measure water in a closed container and in an open container. Students record their observations and compare their sets of data to draw...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Wetland Food Webs

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers study life science. In this food webs and food chains comparison lesson plan, students examine the wetlands to discover the relationships that exist between the animals that live there. They participate in group...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Phylogenetic Perspective for the Cladistically Challenged

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students observe the structures of skulls as presented in drawings, and determine which are most closely related to the skull of the mosasaur.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Wetland Water Testing

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students examine the different properties that affect water quality.  In this pollution lesson students play a game, complete a hands on activity and computer lab. 
Lab Resource
Creative Chemistry

How to Use the Burette

For Students 9th - 12th
In this burette activity, learners learn how to use a burette to perform a titration properly and run four trials, indicating their data. Students calculate the initial volume, the final volume, the titre volume, and the mean titre...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Genome: A Tour and Genetic Disorder Brochure

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students use the Internet to gather information about genetics, then research a genetic disorder. In this biology lesson, students listen to an interview with a geneticist, watch an animation of "chromosome coiling", then research and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Our Sun and the Four Seasons

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students discover the relationship between the sun and Earth.  In this weather instructional activity, students examine the effect of the sun on the Earth's seasons.  Students complete a weather activity using props to simulate...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Convection and Wind

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Students use water, beakers, hot plates, paper dots, and goggles to participate in a hands on activity where they see how a convection current creates wind. In this convection current lesson plan, students participate in a hands on...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

It's Rainin', It's Pouring

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Learners take a quick examine part of the water cycle, and the combined gas laws. The lesson plan lead them through the conditions necessary for cloud formation and allow them to create clouds in three different hands-on activities.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lamarck Is Dead!

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers read Lamarck's obituary and respond to questions.Students can work individually or in small groups.This activity can be used at the beginning of an evolution unit.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Memory and Learning

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Students identify parts of the brain and what each part does. In this brain anatomy instructional activity, students participate in activities that focus on the job of each part of the brain co connect the task to the brain section....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

It's a Gas!

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students investigate gases and their properties by completing 4 activities. In this gases lesson plan, students perform activities to show that gases take up space, they diffuse, and that odors and vibrations pass through gases. They...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Pass the Jug

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students discuss water rights. In this science instructional activity, students simulate an exercise whereby they begin to understand the meaning of water allocation and limited water supplies by actually passing out water from a jug.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Biologically Altered (B/A Fish)

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students complete a variety of activities as they examine the ethics involved in biologically altering fish. They hold a mock town meeting in which they determine whether or not a transgenic aquaculture should be allowed to locate in...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Molecular Approaches to Evolution

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine the molecular studies of organisms that have led to a new era in their understanding of speciation and evolutionary relationships. Students study the allelic frequency of genes controlling specific molecules and assess...
Interactive
Curated OER

Earthquakes In Your State

For Students 5th - 12th
In this earthquake instructional activity students complete an interactive activity then answer a series of short answer questions on different earthquakes and their magnitude, and epicenter. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Team Building

For Teachers K - Higher Ed
Students participate in various activities to become more successful as a team member.  In this team building activity, students discuss team jobs versus individual ones.  Students must work together to complete activities such...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Testing Fats in Food

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students consider the fats found in foods. In this science lesson plan, students test the presence of fat in foods and become more aware of their daily diets.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Using Color as Defense

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners explore mimicry and crypsis, participate in hands-on predator-prey activity, and practice calculating averages and graph results in histogram.
Worksheet
Curated OER

Adopt An Insect

For Students 2nd - 5th
This lesson plan combines a creative building activity with analyzing a butterfly photograph and using problem solving to complete the puzzle. It blends art and science very well. Students will learn and enjoy the process. The extension...