Curated OER
History Detectives
Fifth graders investigate the significant events in America's history. Students listen to a variety of books based on significant historical events in America. Students divide into 6 groups, each of which is responsible for researching...
Curated OER
Growing Barley and Detecting the Presence of Amino Acids
Young scholars produce the greatest mass of plant material possible for 100 seeds of barley, and detect amino acids in barley plant material. They develop rules for the investigation, conduct the experiment, and prepare a computer...
Curated OER
Investigating Fingerprints
Students study the individuality of fingerprints. In this fingerprint lesson, students determine that each person has a unique set of fingerprints. They rub their fingertips with soft pencil lead and rub the print off on a piece of tape....
Curated OER
Urban Biology: Can Fish Detect Odors
Young scholars investigate how fish use their sense of smell. In this scientific method instructional activity, students design and perform an experiment to investigate how fish use their sense of smell. This instructional activity...
Curated OER
The Investigation Of The Taste Buds
Students explore the sense of taste. In this biology lesson plan, students investigate the sense of tastes as they experience salty, sour, bitter, and sweet tastes. Students then discover how taste buds do their job.
Curated OER
Scientist Are Like Detectives
Students demonstrate proper scientific observation skills. In this investigative science lesson, students make observations, record their findings and form conclusions in order to improve their scientific documentation and writing skills.
Curated OER
Forensic Detectives: Who Did It?
Middle schoolers explore forensic science and its uses in criminal investigations. They solve a fictional crime by identifying and analyzing the fingerprints, strand of hair, and thread samples for evidence. After completing charts for...
Curated OER
Secret Agent Stan
Students use a worksheet imbedded in this lesson that goes along with a detective story to give them practice calculating money.
Curated OER
Becoming A Career Detective (Part 2)
Third graders review and expand their discussion of job training and education resources. They work in small groups to find information about the types of training people need to do specific jobs and use data from interviews carried out...
Curated OER
Detail Detective: Story Activity
In this story detail worksheet, students complete a graphic organizer, filling in details about a story read and what characters see, hear, smell, taste, touch and where they go.
Texas State Energy Conservation Office
Investigation: Is Dilution the Solution?
Systematically diluting a full-strength sample of food coloring is meant to help earth scientists understand concentration in parts per million. While they will enjoy the lab exercise, it might be a challenge to help them relate it to...
Curated OER
Real-World Projects: Challenges from the Polymer Industry
Two scenarios are presented for chemistry detectives to decipher. Both require the use of an infrared spectrometer and focus on the examination of polymer materials. In the first, lumps in polyethylene bottles are analyzed. In the...
Curated OER
Clara Barton's House: Home of the American Red Cross
A fabulous lesson on the life of Clara Barton awaits your class. They describe how Clara Barton founded the American Red Cross, and the role it played in organizing help for those in need. Additionally, young historians explain how...
Curated OER
American Colonial Life in the Late 1700s: Distant Cousins
Students research how early colonists lived. They investigate late 17th century colonist's lives from Massachusetts and Delaware. Using their research, students write historical fiction in the form of friendly letters between the two...
Agriculture’s Lasting Heritage
Apples Around Us
Apple tasting launches an investigation of the story and travels of John Chapman, also known as Johnny Appleseed. After listening to his story, class members craft a summary of the tale, chart his journeys on a map, and sample different...
Intel
Forensics: Get a Clue
Although the methods are all scientific, forensic science was started by police officers rather than scientists, who relied on observation and common sense. Young detectives use many tools to solve crimes around the school in a...
Curated OER
What Do Soils Have to Do With Me?
In this identifying ways we use soils every day worksheet, students investigate their houses, home environment, clothing labels, and foods to see what was made from things grown in soils. Students write 5 short answers.
Curated OER
What a Character! Comparing Literary Adaptations
What do Robert Downey Jr., Basil Rathbone, Jeremy Brett, Fritz Weaver, Roger Moore, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Daffy Duck have in common? Why, it’s elementary, my dear Watson! They all have portrayed Sherlock Holmes. Literary detectives...
Mr. Roughton
Late Middle Ages Dossiers
Young detectives are given the "clues" to investigate whether King John should be remembered as a poor ruler of England, particularly in comparison in King Richard. They analyze historical informational texts and work in groups to...
PBS
Going Back In Time
History detectives eschew that time machine and follow the paper trail to go back in time to investigate an unfamiliar object. The goal is for class members to develop their skills as historical detectives.
Curated OER
Studying our Senses
Who would not want an opportunity to taste jellybeans in class? During this investigation, life science learners hold their noses as they take a taste test and find that our perception of flavor is connected with our sense of smell. In...
Roald Dahl
The Twits - The Twits Get the Shrinks
Turn readers into investigative journalists. The 11th and final lesson that accompanies The Twits by Roald Dahl asks the question "What happened to Mr. and Mrs. Twit?" The lesson uses mind maps and group discussion to help answer the...
PBS
Using Primary Sources: Nazi Spy Ring Busted
Spy games are not just for professionals anymore! Scholars use short video clips, primary documents, and photographs to investigate Nazi spies in America during World War II. The young detectives analyze the paranoia warfare can create...
PBS
African American History: Lunch Counter Closed
Young historians investigate and evaluate the effectiveness of the strategies the Civil Rights Movement used to end segregation in the United States. After watching an video interview with Carl Matthews and Bill Stevens who participated...