Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Thinking About Newton's 1st Law

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students discuss the lives of both Aristotle and Newton in order to bring important differences between the two to the forefront. They evaluate two statements about motion and use the ideas from the discussion to determine which...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Models of the Water Cycle

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students describe and review the stages in the water cycle. In groups, they build their own models of the water cycle and demonstrate where the water goes in a closed system. They answer discussion questions after the experiment to end...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Oh Panther

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students play a game that replicates the balance of prey and predators in an ecosystem. In this physical education lesson, students follow the instructions to play "Oh Panther!" Students collect data regarding the game and discuss the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Where's the Period in the Periodic Tables?

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students investigate the Periodic Table of Elements. The teacher is provided with the necessary background information to complete the lesson. Students practice matching the element symbol to its place on the chart.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Seesaws

For Teachers 4th - 12th
Students make direct comparisons between objects using balance and spring scales. They also are encouraged to estimate which object is heavier by holding the objects before using the balance scales. Comparing the masses of objects is the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Oil Spill

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders watch a video about the types of products made from oil or oil used as energy to produce the product. In groups, they identify the positive and negative aspects of oil and participate in various activities. They use the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

COMPARE SOILS BY GROWING PLANTS

For Teachers 6th - 8th
The student will identify the difference in the rate of plant growth in three soils that vary in organic matter.1. Obtain three to four flowerpots, different types of soil, a record chart, three to five beans for each pot, and water....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Panther Scavenger Hunt

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students research the Internet to fill out their scavenger hunt sheet.  For this research lesson students search the Internet for answers to the questions on the scavenger hunt worksheet. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Carbon for the World

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Students explore the presence of carbon in the world. In this environmental stewardship instructional activity, students discuss the carbon cycle after they read assigned textbook pages. Students also discuss biomass content in different...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Understanding Oxidation Numbers

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students review atomic numbers, positive and negative charges, and the periodic table. They examine the relationships among protons and electrons, location of various elements, electron energy levels, and oxidation numbers.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

HAPPY SOIL, SAD SOIL

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students will be able to identify the characteristics of healthy soil and unhealthy soil.Take the class outside to an area of thick grass near trees, if available. Compare the clothes people wear to the thin cover. Discuss the reasons...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Solids and Water

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Learners investigate mixtures made of water and familiar solid materials. They observe and discuss the changes that occur immediately and set the mixtures aside for a day. Finally, students observe the mixtures, note changes, and graph...
Worksheet
Curated OER

A Compound Problem

For Students 7th - 10th
In this compounds worksheet, students compare the differences between compounds and mixtures. This worksheet has 3 short answer questions.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Succession in the Classroom

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students investigate their environment by growing plants in class.  In this botany lesson, students discuss the lifespan of plants and animals and how they must be cared for continuously over time.  Students grow a plant in...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Climate and Temperature

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students explore what the soil temperature would be on the north and south sides of a building. In this temperature lesson, students hypothesize what the results will be using a thermometer and then after a week see what the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mystery Mollusc

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students investigate the different regions of our oceans by researching the Internet.  In this oceanography instructional activity, students discover the different jobs related to ocean research and examine their roles by reading...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Energy Resources Scavenger Hunt

For Students 6th - 8th
In this environment worksheet, learners complete each of the statements with its correct energy resource. They identify and name various types of plants and rocks. Students also identify and explain how fertilizer works and how it can be...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Spring Weather Crossword Puzzle

For Students 4th - 8th
In this spring weather activity instructional activity, students use the 24 clues to identify the words needed to complete the crossword puzzle
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Archaeology and Prehistoric Native Americans

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students study the terms paleontology and archaeology and examine how they can help us learn about prehistoric Native Iowans.  In this archaeology lesson students discuss these terms and view a video on Native Americans. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Avalanche!

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explain that when forces on an object are balanced, the motion of object does not change. They describe how an object changes its motion when forces on it are unbalanced. They plan and conduct a scientific investigation to test...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Reading Comprehension-Space

For Students 4th - 5th
For this comprehension worksheet, students read 5 short paragraphs about space, then complete a set of 4 related questions. Worksheet contains a link to additional activities.
Worksheet
Curated OER

Radiation from Space

For Students 9th - 12th
In this radiation worksheet, students review the different types of radiation waves that come from space and the different telescopes used to detect this radiation. This worksheet has 17 true or false questions.
Worksheet
Curated OER

Energy

For Students 9th - 12th
In this energy worksheet, students complete a crossword puzzle by determining the terms associated with the 20 given clues. Students review alternative forms of energy in this worksheet.
Lesson Planet Article
Curated OER

What's in a Brain?

For Teachers 4th - 9th
Bring the brain to life for your students with thought-provoking activities