Pennsylvania Department of Education
Plant and Animal Adaptations
Fourth graders identify behavioral and structural adaptations to plant and animal life. In this unit overview, 4th graders discuss the importance of variation and adaptation in a species survival. This is a unit overview and does not...
Curated OER
The Great Spider Debate
Students study about the survival and hunting strategies of several different kinds of spiders. They also be introduced to scientific classification of spiders and write a brief report about one of the spider families they observe.
Curated OER
Important Rivers of the World
Third graders become familiar with names of the different parts of a river, define and locate drainage basins, locate six of the continents and explore the major rivers on each one, conduct research on a river of their choice.
Curated OER
Insects
Students work in groups to investigate the concept of insects. They participate in a variety of activities that include the gathering of samples and making observations like identifying different body parts. The lesson plan integrates...
Curated OER
Tracking the Weather Using Technology
Fourth graders explore the use of technology to monitor and forecast weather. They investigate the different types of weather monitoring and forecast tools. Students interpret radar images and discuss the traditional types of weather...
Curated OER
Predator Prey Population Links
Fifth graders relate population of animals to its available food supply. They participate in an experiment and gather information. They use the data to draw conclusions.
Curated OER
The Lepidoptera Project
Pupils are introduced to Scientific Inquiry and discover how to design an experiment that answers critical questions using butterflies as the topic. They design experiments that compare the number of species of butterflies in a vacant,...
Curated OER
"Tri-County" Project--Ground Water
Learners explore data on some of the landforms in Nebraska to distinguish between porous and nonpremeable soils. The state's groundwater is investigated.
Curated OER
"Tri-County" Project--Ogallala Aquifer
Students explore the Ogallala Aquifer in the state of Nebraska. The signs of pollution found are examined and the data classified.
Curated OER
"Tri-County" Project--Rivers Lakes Reservoirs
Students examine data about the rivers, lakes, and reservoirs in the state of Nebraska. An understanding of the political implications of boundaries is developed.
Curated OER
Tri-County Project: Precipitation
Learners examine and research the annual rainfall in Nebraska. They create a map of the annual rainfall in Nebraska and use the map to develop explanations of settlement.
Curated OER
Global Warming – More or Less
Eighth graders identify the factors that contribute to global warming. In this earth science lesson plan, 8th graders evaluate the impact of global warming on the planet. They discuss their views within the group.
Curated OER
Make Way for Wild Migrants
Learners discuss the threats facing migratory species and track the seasonal journeys of wildlife in real space and in cyberspace. Once they have gathered information from several sources, they create a portfolio to share with others...
Curated OER
Murals, Memories, and Making Art
Fourth grade reading students study art works by famous artists. They use various tools for learning about the artist, and they present their information by writing and speaking about the artist. They also create artwork in the style of...
Curated OER
Unit on Henry David Thoreau
Students investigate the writings of Thoreau in order to better comprehend his impact on American Literature and unique writing style. Working to evaluate the different pieces of writing, they read the essays in order to create their own...
Curated OER
Violets, Daffodils, Roses and Thorn
Fourth graders complete a variety of exercises and activities surrounding the scientific and artistic properties of the parts and processes of a plant/flower.
Pyro Innovations
Get into Shape
Shapes are so fun! Little ones explore, identify, and create shapes using tangrams or pattern blocks. The activity is intended to stimulate critical thinking while engaging learners through play and shape identification. Each child will...
Curated OER
Comparing Hares and Rabbits
Sixth graders research and investigate the Arctic hare and the snowshoe hare, and the order hares and rabbits. They explore an animal website and compare/contrast the two animals, recording their data on a chart.
Curated OER
Observation and Stimulation of bioluminescence and chemiluminescence
Students are introduced to chemical reactions, reaction rates, chemiluminescence, fluorescence and bioluminescence. They use glow sticks are used to demonstrate the effect of temperature on the rates of chemical reactions. Pupils recall...
Curated OER
Rock Solid
Students investigate the three types of material stress related to rocks. They watch a PowerPoint Presentation, view an online animation of the three types of rock stress, identify the various types of rocks, answer true or false...
Curated OER
Toothpick Fish
Students experiment with genes and environment for a population of "Toothpick Fish."
Curated OER
Butterfly 2: A Butterfly's Home
Young scholars determine which environmental characteristics make up a favorable butterfly habitat.
Curated OER
Fertilizer Frenzy
Ninth graders design and conduct an experiment. They evaluate other's experiments. Students describe relationships between biological systems and the environmental contaminants. They work as a team to solve a problem.
Sociology Central
Functionalist View of the Family
Any social science class studying functionalism and family may benefit from these eight pages of background information and activities. It does not include specific learning objectives, assessments, or rubrics, but it is a great source...