Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Too Hot? Gotta Vent!

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students study deep sea exploration and underwater geology, specifically hydrothermal sea vents. They create digital video projects of their own to demonstrate their knowledge, illustrating the discoveries of the explorers of the ocean's...
Lesson Plan
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Magnificent Microscopes

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students use a microscope in a series of activities that are designed to help them explore the "invisible world" and make meaningful microscopic discoveries and learn the importance of the microscope as a tool in science and research.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY IN SOCIETY

For Teachers 12th - Higher Ed
Students research scientific discoveries and technological innovations. They organize discoveries and innovations in life, environmental, physical, earth and space science categories. They analyze impact of selected discoveries and...
Lesson Plan
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Investigating DNA

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers engage in a variety of activities designed to facilitate the understanding of DNA. Activities include preparing human chromosome spreads, separating a mixture of dyes using gel electrophoresis and extracting DNA from onion...
Lesson Plan
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Lewis and Clark and Native Americans, Part III

For Teachers All
Student will identify and describe the values and practices of Native American tribes with which the Corps of Discovery interacted, Highlight the contributions these tribes made to the Corps of Discovery's efforts, and examine the...
Lesson Plan
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Exploration of Mars

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers explore the three-phase strategy used by NASA for scientific exploration. In this space science lesson, students research past missions to Mars. They share their discoveries and create a timeline as a class.
Lesson Plan
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Journey to the Unknown

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students explore the ocean depths. In this scenario based lesson, students pretend they are on a submarine in an unknown part of the ocean. By using clues the class discusses and determines where they are in the ocean. They follow up...
Lesson Plan
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Lewis and Clark: Prized Possessions

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students consider the role of Sacagawea as part of the Corps of Discovery. In this Lewis and Clark expedition lesson, students discover details about Sacagawea's wampum belt and then create their own wampum belts using their computer and...
Lesson Plan
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Living and Nonliving

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students use their senses to record and collect data. In How Do I Classify Things in My World?, students practice classifying objects as living or nonliving. In Is it Real Or Pretend?, students group objects as real or pretend. In What...
Lesson Plan
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Capturing Watershed Experiences

For Teachers 6th - 7th
Young scholars observe organisms found in the water. In this activity on organisms, students collect water from local streams and tributaries in order to study the organisms found in the water. As a culminating activity, young scholars...
Lesson Plan
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Weather in Your City

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students observe weather conditions of a particular city. Multiple intelligences are explored within this lesson. They locate their particular city on a United States map. Each student writes about their discoveries in his/her journal...
Lesson Plan
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Stargazers

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students discuss the light spectrum and light waves as well as how the properties of light and color have contributed to important discoveries about properties of the universe. They research the term redshift and the redshift phenomenon...
Lesson Plan
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Dinosaurs In Argentina

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners study the fossils in Argentina and why it is a good place to find them.  In this dinosaurs activity students learn about the recent dinosaur excavations. 
Lesson Plan
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Biotechnology and The Chocolate Milk Cow

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students discuss new discoveries that have resulted from the use of recombinant DNA technology and otehr biotechnology. In groups, they create a transgenic cow capable of producing chocolate-flavored milk.
Lesson Plan
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We Are All In This Together

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students complete a variety of activities centering around insects. In this insects education lesson, students read People by Peter Spier and discuss the similarities and differences among people. Students gather and explore materials...
Lesson Plan
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Exploring Alaska's Seamounts - Volcanoes, Plates, and Chains

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students examine the formation of seamounts in the Gulf of Alaska. In this seamount instructional activity, student focus on how the Axial-Cobb-Eikelberg-Patton chain was formed. They learn the associated vocabulary, and watch a teacher...
Lesson Plan
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Polar Energy

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students define and read an article on polar energy.  In this polar energy lesson, students answer questions about the article.  Students participate in activities related to isotopes, half-life and radiocarbon.  Students...
Lesson Plan
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Strange New Planet

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students simulate different spacecraft missions using materials provided. In this space science lesson, students observe and record a planetary model's features from a distance. They relate this activity to scientists' space exploration...
Lesson Plan
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Cooking Up the Scientific Method

For Teachers 1st
First graders identify the different steps of the scientific method. In this life science instructional activity, 1st graders apply this method when conducting a series of hands-on activities. They collect data and write observations in...
Lesson Plan
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Who Was Charles Darwin?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars complete two activities to study Charles Darwin's Theory of Natural Selection. They read Darwin's journal from the voyage of the Beagle and look at the scientific ideas that influenced the development of his theory.
Lesson Plan
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Pilgrims: The First Americans

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders become familar with the pilgrims and first Thanksgiving through essays about important people of the time.  In this Thanksgiving lesson, 5th graders choose an important figure from the time of the Pilgrims and write a...
Lesson Plan
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Mystery : Structure of the Atom-A Case for Indirect Evidence

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students investigate the structure of the atom through hands on activities. For this atomic structure lesson, students perform 4 activities showing indirect evidence of the structure of the atom and the parts of the atom. They also list...
Lesson Plan
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Forces of Nature: The Challenges of River Travel

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Students examine how river travel affected the Lewis and Clark expedition. They define gravity, slope, and velocity, conduct a river formations experiment, complete an activity sheet, and watch a video about Lewis and Clark.
Lesson Plan
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Discovering the Breakdown

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders investigate diseases of the respiratory system. In this respiratory system lesson, 5th graders research, using a variety of sources, the common diseases this system. They determine the causes of a breakdown in the system...