Fifth graders investigate evaporation, condensation, and precipitation. They observe a water cycle kit and record their observations, and examine how water condenses on the outside of a cup. Next, they observe an evaporation...

Fourth graders investigate the different types of precipitation and conduct a hail experiment. They identify the types of precipitation during a slideshow, and define key vocabulary terms. Next, in small groups they follow the...

Students explore monarch migration through the Journey North web site. For this butterfly lesson, students use the internet to identify a butterfly's migration pattern. Students write in electronic journals.

Students discover what types of objects reflect and absorb light. In this science inquiry activity, students use flashlights to determine whether different objects absorb or reflect light.

Seventh graders describe electrical energy and how it is produced. In this natural resource activity, 7th graders explain the various ways of obtaining and using natural resources for energy and the environmental consequences. They will...

Students research environmental destruction. In this cause and effect lesson, students students gain an understanding of everyday things we do to harm the environment. Students work in groups to create a brochure that tells the...

Students design an instrument. In this sound, vibration and pitch lesson, students learn about the characteristics of sound, vibration and pitch.  Students design a guitar using the assembled craft materials and demonstrate how they...

Young scholars observe, measure, and record the properties in making objects stick together using science tools. In this science lesson, students explore with their senses while mixing flour and water. Additionally, young scholars share...

Students study earthquakes, monitor seismic activity using the Web, and plot real-time activity. They examine movement of the Earth's tectonic plates. They create an earthquake preparedness project.

Students examine the similarities and differences between living organisms and fossils.  In this fossil lesson plan students reenact the process of creating a fossil.

Students as a class create a fountain using both coke soda, and mentos candy. For this science lesson, students test which combination of coke and mentos products produce the tallest fountain. Students use the scientific method to track...

Learners discuss the Earth's energy. In this science lesson, students construct a simple circuit, a series circuit, and a parallel circuit.

Fifth graders gather information about plant cells. As they read in their science book about plant cells, they take notes on the important facts. Then, they look at their notes and organize them into an outline before they write their...

Students investigate the conditions needed for cloud formation and explore how pressure and temperature effect cloud formation.  In this atmospheric pressure lesson students complete a lab on cloud formation. 

Students prepare for field journaling at Yosemite Institute. They create and decorate their Institute journal giving them both a place to journal and ownership of it.

Students measure the daily growth of plants in this technology-based science lesson that uses Timeliner to record student data. The lesson allows students practice at basic computer skills (typing/data entry).

Students record observations of a living organism over a period of time. They observe meal worms and record their observations in a scientific journal.

Students take a virtual tour of Yosemite and selects photographs to use in their journal.

Students create a terrarium to examine the stages of the water cycle. In small groups, they plant and water a seed in an enclosed plastic container. Each day they diagram and write observations of the terrarium using water cycle vocabulary.

Fourth graders discover earth's air pressure through observation of several experiments. In the "Experiment of the Leaky Bottle," they observe how air pressure forces water out of the lowest hole farther than the holes above it. In...

How reliable is a painting of the first Thanksgiving if it was created 300 years after the fact? Learners assess the validity of a primary source image to determine what it can actually reveal about this event. 

Test your learners' sensory awareness with three hands-on activities that ask pupils to use their other senses to identify and describe everyday objects hidden from sight.  

Proving microscopic structures exist is a difficult task. Learn how scientists did just that in the mid-1800s as they set out to identify the cellular structures related to genetics. The online lesson explains the collection of work that...

A little bit of this and a little bit of that. The final lesson of the 21-part unit assesses learners on each animal and plant system. The test covers the basics of each system and focuses on key vocabulary from the unit.