Curated OER
The Solar System: Why do we Explore?
Third graders act as scientists. In this property discovery instructional activity, 3rd graders explore the substance "Oobleck" (cornstarch, water, food coloring). They work in groups to investigate the substance and make observations as...
Curated OER
Letter A Alligator Theme
Students complete a variety of activities related to the letter A. They trace the letter A on a worksheet, paint the letter A, create an apple print painting, cut out and glue magazine pictures of things starting with the letter A, and...
Curated OER
Cool Activities: Make Slime
Young scholars analyze chemistry by conducting an in-class experiment. In this slime lesson, students discuss what slime is and what form of matter it qualifies as. Young scholars utilize borax, glue, water, cups, food coloring and...
Curated OER
Tracking a Virus
Students simulate the spread of a virus such as HIV through a population by "sharing" (but not drinking) the water in a plastic cup with several classmates. Although invisible, the water in a few of the cups will already be tainted with...
Curated OER
Locating the Salt Front - Section 1
In this salt front of the Hudson River worksheet, 7th graders first read an excerpt about the lower portion of the Hudson River that is an estuary. Then they use a colored pencil to plot salinity data from the table shown on a graph,...
Curated OER
Who Eats Who?
Students recognize that some animals eat plants, some eat meat and some both. In this who eats who lesson, students chart animals in a food chain. Students research information from reading articles. Students chart what...
Teach Engineering
Bubbles and Biosensors
Bubbles aren't just for children. In the third installment of a seven-part series, teenagers use bubble solution to create bubbles and observe patterns of refraction on the bubble surfaces. Application of this concept to thin films in...
National Park Service
It Was a Very Good Year
Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park includes whitebark pines that are over 1,200 years old, meaning they have been there since before medieval times. The second lesson of five details how to read tree rings for climate change and...
Curated OER
Art: Drawing Ducks in Their Natural Habitats
Sixth graders explore various waterfowl species and discover how duck stamps are used. After researching specific types of birds for a stamp competition, they draw the birds in various natural settings. Before sending the submissions,...
Curated OER
Mixing Colors
In this science worksheet, students drop food coloring into a glass of water. Students mix different colors to create new colors.
Curated OER
Swirling and Churning Milk
Students examine the concepts of micelles, polarity, solubility, and properties of detergent in an experiment with milk, water, and food coloring. Students complete a Take-Home Challenge in which they experiment with the behavior of food...
Curated OER
Uncorking Work Problems
Explore the concept of work with your class, using bottles, water, and corks to calculate work, while using the formula work = rate x time. Students conduct multiple experiments, timing how long it takes for water to drain out of the...
Curated OER
Exploring Caves
Students explore the various characteristics of caves. Through class discussion and hands on activities, students identify what forces converge in the creation of a cave. They complete review activities at the conclusion of the lesson....
Curated OER
Diaper-Wipe Diffusion
Explore osmosis through art. Learners use paper towels and markers to create beautiful designs. Although a simple activity, the results are quite remarkable. Your class will love this lesson!
Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI)
DNA Extraction
What does your DNA actually look like? Use simple materials with this experiment to find out! Geneticists of all ages can follow these instructions to extract their own DNA. For learners who are hoping to extend the activity, there are...
Curated OER
Monochromatic Painting
Learners experiment and create an original monochromatic painting. They define tint, monochromatic, and shade. They analyze their paintings objectively and determine the connection between color and emotion.
Curated OER
Paper Clay Fish Sculpture
Why not get creative and use paper clay to create colorful fish sculptures? All the steps needed to complete this activity are included. Your class will sculpt beautiful fish while exploring color, shape, and creative thinking. Use these...
Curated OER
Wildlife
The centerpiece of this lesson plan is a predator-prey simulation in which colored paperclips represent different species of animals camouflaged against a colored background. Relevant follow-up questions are provided. The activity is...
Carnegie Mellon University
Bathtub Model
Using a colorful infographic handout and a guide sheet, hold a class discussion about how a bathtub can serve as a model for the greenhouse effect created by Earth's atmosphere. Participants will understand that as energy or matter is...
Curated OER
Who Lives with Mallard?
Students color a picture of the habitat featuring mallard and other creatures, some of whom might be camouflaged or half-hidden. They discuss other forms of animal adaptation.
Curated OER
Malta: The Landscape
Young scholars work in small groups to create a topographic map of Malta. They must include labeled line drawings of bordering countries and bodies of water. Students use salt and flour clay to make Malta three dimensional, showing the...
Curated OER
Wavelengths of Light
Explore physical science by participating in a visual spectrum experiments. Budding scientists identify the colors in the color spectrum and view the colors in class by utilizing cellophane, flash lights, and other arts and crafts...
Curated OER
Making a Thermometer
Young scholars observe a demonstration of how a thermometer functions. They apply the scientific method while determining which of three cups hold the coldest water. They write a hypothesis before conducting the experiment and gather data.
Curated OER
Mapping Ancient Coastlines
Most of this lesson is spent working on the "Bathymetry Worksheet." It includes a graph of the changes in sea level over the past 150,000 years and a bathymetric map of changes in an imaginary coastline over time. Participants answer...