Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Presidential Trading Cards

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Learners research the Internet to collect data about the US Presidents. They use the data that they collect along with available technology to produce trading cards and brochures using keyboarding skills, text boxes, acquiring photos,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Teaching about the Effect of Photosynthesis and

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers demonstrate the effects of photosynthesis and respiration. They decide which variables to analyze in a microcosm study. They produce a written paper, oral presentation, poster, or multi-media presentation
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Watershed Quest

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Learners examine their connection to local watersheds. They describe the water cycle and list species living in their local watershed. They also draw a map of their community.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ecological Succession in Pond Water Cultures

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students collect samples of pond water, dried grass, and soil in a jar. They predict the order of ecological succession in their pond water cultures. They compare their expected results with their observed results.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Aphids and Ladybirds

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers record observations of ladybird beetles and aphids. They develop questions concerning the behavior of ladybird beetles and aphids that are testable by a classroom experimentation. Students develop an investigation.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Insect Monitoring

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students practice the scientific method in the classroom, either in preparation or as a substitution for real-world field experience. They examine a simulated biodiversity research situation, using a "mini-plot" or sampling square...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Big Enough?

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Learners explore the concept of density and buoyancy. In this physics lesson, students discover the different factors that affect an object's density and buoyancy in water. Learners conduct several investigations to further...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Walk in the Woods

For Teachers 11th - Higher Ed
Students observe an environment, ask questions about what they observe. and design experiments to answer one question they came up with in this upper-level High School or college lesson. The lesson requires an outdoor exploration or...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Breaking the Food Chain

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students investigate the food chain. They brainstorm questions about the human food chain and explain what would happen to living things in the food chain if organisms or resources were removed. They role-play situations in which the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Carbon Dioxide Heats It Up

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students design an investigation to test whether vegetation in an area helps regulate the ambient air temperature. They make comparisons between the investigation and global changes in climate. In groups, they present their findings to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Your Expedition of Discovery

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students study GPS and see how it is used to determine points on the Earths surface.  In this expedition lesson students use GPS to find given coordinates. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Create a Non-native/Invasion Species

For Teachers 5th - 9th
Students view a video about non-native/invasion species. They create a non-native/invasion species that they think would have an impact on farming, industry, recreation, or water in the local environment.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Down By the River

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students examine how watersheds work and determine the difference between point and nonpoint source pollution. They research management practices to reduce pollution and investigate how everyone can participate in reducing water pollution.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sound Pictures

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers examine the components of a sonar system. In this physical science lesson students explain how multibeam and sidescan sonar systems are useful to ocean explorers.  High schoolers simulate sonar operations in an...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Wildland/Urban Interface Dilemma

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students examine all sides of the issues surrounding wildland fire. Groups assume the roles of different people who must decide what to do about a fictitious wildfire. They have a discussion to analyze the issue. A good, real life lesson!
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ions in the Environment

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students explain the importance of the five main biogeochemical cycles. In this chemistry lesson, students discuss how ions are transported in the environment. They design an experiment to collect data on eutrophication.
Lesson Plan
BSCS Science Learning

Bscs: Frog Eat Frog World

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Using maps and graphs of large data sets collected in FrogWatch, learners will determine the range, preferred land cover, and proximity to water of the American bullfrog to figure out the bullfrog's requirements for food, water, and...
Lesson Plan
BSCS Science Learning

Bscs: Frog Symphony

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This inquiry focuses on analyzing spatial and temporal data for frog calls to determine the best time of day and location to hear a symphony of frogs. Click on the link for teaching guides and handouts.
Lesson Plan
Center for Innovation in Engineering and Science Education, Stevens Institute of Technology

Ciese Collaborative Projects: Bucket Buddies: Environmental Study

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Bucket Buddies is an opportunity for students to participate in a world-wide environmental study. By identifying organisms in pond water, participating classes can compare their findings, and look for relationships in data. In addition...
Lesson Plan
BSCS Science Learning

Bscs: Restoring Oyster Reefs

For Teachers 9th - 10th
After learning about the role of oysters in an estuary ecosystem and a population decline that oysters have faced over time from overharvesting and pollution, learners work with data to determine where are ideal sites for restoring...
Lesson Plan
BSCS Science Learning

Bscs: Restoring Oyster Reefs

For Teachers 9th - 10th
After learning about the role of oysters in an estuary ecosystem and a population decline that oysters have faced over time from overharvesting and pollution, students work with data to determine where are ideal sites for restoring...