Curated OER
Dinosaur and DNA Days
Biology stars extract DNA samples from beef thymus and then examine its properties. They use enzymes to digest the DNA samples, and then use electrophoresis to separate fragments. Finally, they discuss methods and principles of...
Curated OER
Mark, Recapture, Sampling
Learners conduct a simulation to explore how scientists estimate the size of animal populations. They analyze a random sample and then extrapolate those results to a larger population. Additionally, they will apply the principals of...
Beyond Benign
Product Test
It's the moment of truth. Previous lessons in the 24-part series had scholars design and develop shampoo formulas using chemical concepts. The 18th lesson asks them to test the function of their shampoos. To do this, they calculate the...
Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey
The Great Peregrine Scavenger Hunt - On the Internet
The story of one bird provides valuable insight into general animal behaviors and interactions. Young researchers investigate the peregrine falcon using a web search. They analyze the behaviors of the raptor including its migration...
Curated OER
Light and Elements
Here is a full-fledged investigation of light waves, the electromagnetic spectrum, and element spectra. Physicists research a scientist that contributed to our understanding of the behavior of light. They take notes on your lecture, and...
American Museum of Natural History
What Do You Know About Astronomy
Develop an understanding of the universe. Learners answer 10 multiple choice questions about several topics in astronomy. Questions contain information about the age of the universe, gravitational attraction, galaxies, planets and comets...
Curated OER
Dissolved Oxygen and Respiration
Students are presented with the question, "Do plants that grow underwater use oxygen?" They create an experiment to test the presence of dissolved oxygen in the water using provided materials. Student experiments include a control jar as...
Curated OER
Change Since 1609
Students recognize how the climate of the Hudson Valley has changed since the last glaciation. They explain these changes using a reconstruction of the land use changes in the Hudson Valley composed of confetti, Ziploc bags and other...
Curated OER
Paleoclimate of the Hudson Valley
Students recognize how the climate of the Hudson Valley has changed since the last glaciation and be able to explain these changes. They reconstruct the paleoclimate of the Hudson Valley.
Curated OER
Skeletal and Muscular Disease Web Quest
Sixth graders investigate a specific skeletal or muscular disease or disorder. They use the internert to gather information about the disease that they have selected. Students can complete the oneline worksheet once they have gathered...
Curated OER
Dino Hunt
Students use the Internet to gather information about dinosaurs. They practice navagating through the different websites. They also practice listening to directions and also explore how to fill out a KWL chart.
Curated OER
Splish, Splash Poetry
Students write weather shape poems and sing weather related songs. In this creative writing instructional activity, students read the book, It's Raining, It's Pouring and list weather words they heard in the story. Students use the...
Curated OER
Ideas for Resources: Geology Lab Manual
The link to Ideas for Resources: Geology Manual is no longer valid, but the link to How to Teach Using Role-Playing does. Choose a realistic problem related to your focus topic, assign roles, and send your geology learners off to...
Curated OER
BEETLES: The Coming Out
Students design an experiment to test the variables involved in the hatching of the Bruchid beetle.
Curated OER
Schoolyard Bird Project
Students observe and count bird sightings around their schoolyard throughout the school year.
Curated OER
His and Her-bariums
Young scholars collect and identify plant species from campus, create a home herbarium, and compare with the plant species from school.
Curated OER
Composting
Using 2-liter bottles, junior ecologists create composting tubes in which they place nitrogen-rich and carbon-rich materials. They observe what changes occur over two weeks' time. Provide more specific direction to your class as to what...
Curated OER
Curriculum Activities: Ecological Concepts
Young scholars explore a variety of microclimates to develop an awareness of why organisms live where they do. Moisture, time of day, land cover, and temperature form the basic concepts of this investigation.
Curated OER
Catch a Wave
Students study low tides and how to calculate for fresh water. In this ocean science instructional activity, students pretend they are stranded on an island and must calculate low tide in order to source the fresh water aquifer. Students...
Curated OER
Supermarket Science: The King Sooper Lab
Students read product labels, compare fat, sodium, and sugar contents of various food items. They work with a partner and often employ the assistance of the deli and bakery managers in a supermarket.
National First Ladies' Library
Science: The Purloined Letter
Students examine Edgar Allan Poe's "the Purloined Letter" from the perspective of a profiler. To sharpen search procedures, they examine the text and make lists of items and places in the house that were searched. Then students discuss...
Curated OER
Fingerprints
Learners analyze their fingerprints. In this fingerprint lesson, students make prints and observe the patterns for arches, loops, and whorls. They write a brief autobiography about themselves titled "I'm Thumbody."
Curated OER
Animal Investigation
Third graders gather information and classify animals. In this animal investigation lesson plan, 3rd graders research animals, and organize the information into notebook.