Curated OER
Minerals vs. Rocks
Fourth graders are introduced to the characteristics of a variety of minerals and rocks. As a class, they are shown rocks and minerals and asked to describe them as a geologist would. They work together to measure and record their...
Curated OER
As a Matter of Fact
Students rotate through various hands-on experiment stations to explore the concept and properties of different types of matter. They compare some properties of solids, liquids and gases and describe how matter changes from one state to...
Curated OER
Newton's Laws
Young scholars examine and discuss Newton's Laws and discover his contribution to physics. In groups, they participate in an experiment in which they much apply the Laws to the world around them. They describe contact and conservative...
Curated OER
Is Dilution the Solution To Pollution?
Students demonstrate the meaning of dilution and concentration and how pollution can affect the water that you drink. They perform an experiment to calculate the final concentration and dilution factor of solutions. They record the color...
Curated OER
Solids, Liquids, and Gases
Learners explore solids, liquids, and gasses and categorize and describe the three states of matter. For this chemistry lesson, students categorize items as solid, liquid, or gas based on the definitions given by the teacher. Learners...
Curated OER
Fatty Food
Students explore nutrition by participating in a balanced diet activity. For this eating habits lesson, students analyze their own diets and discuss the foods they have eaten that day. Students utilize grocery bags, scissors, Ziploc bags...
Curated OER
For Creative Minds
Students study pictures of plants, animals, and minerals. Students classify the pictures into the three groups. In this rock identification lesson, students complete a rock finding lab experiment by finding, cleaning, identifying, and...
Curated OER
Acid Rain and pH
Students study acidic and alkaline balance. In this acid and pH levels instructional activity, students read information about pH, the formation of acid rain and its impact on environments. Students then complete an experiment to...
Curated OER
Where Are the Dinosaurs?
Students explore what the dinosaurs were like. In this dinosaur lesson plan, the teacher peaks student curiosity about dinosaurs. This lesson plan would be a great starting point for a dinosaur unit since it primarily engages student...
Curated OER
Remember the Egg!
Young scholars investigate how to see, describe and draw faint or subtle features on an object which is thought of by most people as having a smooth, featureless surface. The exercise is important to reinforce skills in making...
Curated OER
Science Show
Learners research topics. They teach a lesson based on their chosen topic to other students.
Curated OER
Using Science Skills to Investigate Japanese Quail
Sixth graders explore Japanese Quail. They generate and record scientific questions about the quail. Students gather information from various sources and record their data. They compose an inquiry report and include it in a portfolio.
Curated OER
A Climate Conundrum
After viewing a video and reading an article about the threatened turtles and tortises in The Amazon River area, collaborative groups create a poster or presentation about how we can help them. Several links to other related lesson plans...
Curated OER
Friends on the Farm
Young farmers explore the world of farm animals. They are introduced to a variety of animals, what their role is, how many legs they have, and what sounds they make. Worksheets and websites embedded in the plan are used to carry it out....
Curated OER
Human Genetics Lesson
Youngsters are assigned the task of interviewing a family member or a neighbor and asking them about any genetic disorders that are present in their family history. They pretend that they are about to have a baby that is carrying a...
Cornell University
Discovering Enzymes
Explore the function of enzymes through a series of lab investigations. Learners use household enzymes such as hydrogen peroxide to model the role of enzymes. The enzymes break down proteins with and without a catalyst.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Understanding the Epidemiologic Triangle through Infectious Disease
Introduce infectious diseases and the epidemiologic triangle. A helpful resource describes the agent, host, and environment from the three vertices as well as the time factor, which is in the middle. Scholars complete a simple...
Curated OER
Fossil Find
Students investigate the practice of digging for fossils. They participate in a mock dig of fossils using real bones and other artifacts. Then students dig through sand in order to go through the simulation. Students make observations...
Curated OER
Can You Crack Them?
Students test the strength of the arch in eggs. Then form hypothesis for how to increase their strength.
Curated OER
Who Turned the Lights Out?
Students discover the life cycle of butterfly by observing its growth from egg to caterpillar and the formation of its chrysalis. Students conduct an experiment in which they design housing for the chrysalises which are either in full...
Curated OER
Water Quality and Temperature
Young scholars are led through three activities to explore the effect of temperature fluctuations on the growth and survival of aquatic plants, clams, and shrimp eggs.
Curated OER
Simple Machines
Fourth graders examine a machine and how its parts work together. In this simple machines lesson, 4th graders work in groups to study different gadgets, analyze how the parts of the gadget work and draw sketches of the gadget. Students...
Curated OER
Pond Life
Students recognize the habitats of animals that live near or in a pond. In this pond lesson, students examine pond water and look for pond organisms. Students observe organisms with a loupe and complete a worksheet.
University of Washington
Toothpick Fish
With colored toothpicks representing genes, youngsters practice passing them through generations of fish and learn about heredity. Consider this as an introductory activity since it does not represent recessive genes with lowercase...