Discovery Education
By All Indications
How do people determine if something is acidic or basic? Learners make their own acid-base indicators using red cabbage and then determine the acidity and alkalinity of different substances. First, they test substances of known pH and...
Curated OER
Does Soil Get Soggy?
Study the properties of soil and water absorption with a science activity. Based on a paragraph with background knowledge on sandy soil, silt, and clay soil, third graders choose which illustration represents a bottle full of sandy soil....
LABScI
The Separation Lab: Candy Colors
There's no better motivator than candy! An engaging activity has pupils explore methods for separating mixtures. A two-part lab first explores methods of separation based on size and magnetism. The second activity introduces learners to...
NASA
Cleaning Water
Give young scientists a new appreciation of fresh, clean drinking water. After learning about the ways astronauts recycle their air and water, your class will work in small groups creating and testing their very own water...
Curated OER
Wetland Metaphors
Students describe the characteristics of wetlands and identify their ecological functions. They inspect items and use them to create metaphors about wetlands.
Beyond Benign
SLS Toxicology Test
Ingredients in your shampoo are toxic enough to kill plants. The 16th installment of the series of 24 tests the toxicity level of various concentrations of SLS, a chemical found in nearly all shampoo. Learners prepare percent solutions...
Curated OER
Solving Mysteries Using Paper Chromotagraphy
Learners solve the mystery of the kidnapped teacher by analyzing a ransom note using paper chromatography. They carefully prepare ink samples from the note to known ink samples to determine the kidnapper.
DiscoverE
Make Your Own Glue
You won't regret being stuck with this activity. By mixing a variety of household items, pupils create their own glue. They test the tensile strength of their glue and compare it to that of other adhesives.
Curated OER
St. Patrick's Day and Leprechauns
Young learners are introduced to the history, and customs surrounding St. Patrick's Day. This colorful and enchanting instructional activity has the students hunt for leprechauns, four-leaf clovers, and that lucky pot 'o gold.
Curated OER
Slash Trash! Reducing, Reusing and Recycling Our Way to Zero Waste
The other "Three Rs" are covered in this lesson: reduce, reuse, and recycle. Over four weeks, conservationists collect data about waste in their own homes. They combine their findings with those of other students in order to analyze...
Texas State Energy Conservation Office
Investigation: Greenhouse Effect
Pupils compare the temperature change in a closed and open box as a demonstration of the greenhouse effect.
Curated OER
Capillary Action
Students experiment with capillary action. Capillary action enables soil moisture to move in any direction within the soil as water moves from wet areas to drier areas. Capillary rise of water occurs especially in and regions where...
Curated OER
Chromatography of Foods
Students complete a counter top chemistry experiment on the chromatography of foods. The experiment is based upon the relative attraction of the components of the mixture for the mobile phase (water) and the stationery phase (paper).
Curated OER
Recycling
Third graders observe the importance of recycling. In this environmental instructional activity, 3rd graders will view experiments on water filtration, paper-making, and breathing pollutants, and will categorize recyclable materials.
Curated OER
Perkin' Through the Pores
Young scholars investigate how organic matter increases the amount of water soil will hold. In this water soil lesson plan, students use soil and measure water amounts using organic matter. Young scholars measure the water holding...
Curated OER
Quality of Life
Students discover that people influence the quality of life of those around them. They read the literature selection 'Berenstein Bears, Don't Pollute' and discuss the many ways people have changed the environment by polluting.
Curated OER
The Symmetry of Snowflakes
Celebrating the change of season with science and language arts activities.
Curated OER
An Introduction to Acids and Bases
Young scholars explore acids and bases. In this lesson about acids and bases, students do an experiment to test certain items to determine what they are. Young scholars use cabbage and litmus paper as indicators. Students understand how...
Curated OER
Land Development and the Environment
Students examine the relationship between land development and the environment. In this environmental stewardship lesson, students explore how population density, land development, transportation, and impervious surfaces take their toll...
Curated OER
Crazy Chemistry Lesson Plan
Students study water molecules, cohesion and surface tension. For this molecule cohesion lesson students create chemical reactions that cause a balloon to inflate and another one that results in soap suds.
Curated OER
Water Filtration Competition
Young scholars design water filtration systems. They draw sketches and write paragraphs about their systems. After presenting their systems to the class, each group then builds their system and determines its effectiveness for purifying...
Curated OER
Water Filtration
In this water pollution and filtration lesson plan, 5th graders read the story 'Saving Salila's Turtle' and discuss the impact pollution has had on the Ganges river. Students work in groups to brainstorm different types of water...
Curated OER
Water: A Necessity for Life
Students examine types of aquifers and make a model landfill. In this water usage lesson, students determine the difference between confined and unconfined aquifers. They build a model landfill, observe it for two weeks, and analyze what...
Curated OER
Leaf Chromatography
You can bring science alive for students with these lessons on leaf pigments.