University of Colorado
Space Travel Guide
Neptune takes 164.8 Earth years to travel around the sun. In the fifth of 22 lessons, young scientists create a travel guide to a planet in our solar system. They provide tips for others on what to bring, what they see, and their...
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Desert Plant Detectives
Learners examine and categorize plants in their own schoolyard desert garden and then observe other plant areas of their schoolyard.
Prince William Network
The Incredible Journey
Divide your school gym into breeding grounds and non-breeding grounds so that your zoologists can play a game simulating the seasonal migration of shorebirds. Players pick one of the included game cards and follow its directions, which...
National Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network
Noodling Around: Powers of Ten
How many noodles long is your classroom? Find out when engineers of all ages explore measurement through the use of pool noodles. With the noodles pre-cut to certain metric lengths, the activities could be used to introduce the metric...
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Teaching About Simple Machines
Students identify six different simple machines. They investigate the difference between the ideal and actual mechanical advantage. Students calculate the actual mechanical advantage for several simple machines.
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The Hudson's Ups and Downs
Even rivers have tides. Older elementary schoolers will discuss the Hudson River and how weather, water craft, and the ocean cause tidal fluctuation. They will examine a series of line graphs that depict tidal fluctuation, then analyze...
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Bones
Fifth graders observe real bones and models to learn about the structure and function of the skeletal system. For this skeletal system lesson, 5th graders manipulate objects and models of bones. They handle real bones and determine the...
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Water and Ice
Students investigate how water changes state. In this water activity, students observe, measure, and describe water as it changes state. This activity includes extensions which can be accessed via the provided web links.
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Separation of a Complex Mixture
Students develop a method to separate different types of mixtures. In this chemistry activity, students model the steps in the scientific method. They perform the experiment and analyze data.
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The Differences Between the Earth and the Moon
Fifth graders identify the physical characteristics of the Earth and compare them to the physical characteristics of the moon. They produce a chart with Microsoft Excel to record the physical characteristics of both the Earth and the moon.
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Attract or Repel?
Students explain why some objects attract and some do not. In this physics lesson, students investigate the magnetic properties of objects using CEENBoT. They give some important applications of magnets.
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Human Anatomy - How Do We Move?
Fifth graders discover how blood moves around the body. In this circulatory system lesson, 5th graders feel their pulse before and after exercise. Students count their heart rate. Students use the scientific method to record...
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The Skeletal System
Young scholars research the skeletal system. In this anatomy lesson plan, students measure their bodies to find the approximate length of their bones. They draw and cut out each of the bones and then attach them using brads or glue.
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Human Anatomy- How Do We Move?
Students examine the muscular system. In this muscular system lesson, students first draw a realistic representation of their leg or arm bones. Students do several activities to attach these bones to "joints" with string to simulate...
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Air Engine - Air Races
Students conduct an experiment about air volume, density, and pressure. In this air lesson, students discuss air, and how it moves. They make predictions about what will happen during the balloon and string experiment. They document the...
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Seed Germination
Young scholars germinate a Mung Bean seed. In this seed lesson students conduct an experiment germinating a Mung Bean. They apply three different treatments to the seeds: dry, moist, and underwater incubation.
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Temperate Forest : Pacific Spirit Field Trip
Students examine nurse logs with hand lenses and identify animals. In this ecosystem lesson, students gain understanding of the rainforest by studying nurse logs. Students become familiar with vocabulary through their study...
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Food Webs and Making Miniature Ecosystems
Students model a food web and create a miniature ecosystem. In this animal interactions lesson, students engage in a role playing game which simulates a food web. Students then build miniature ecosystems using pop bottles, snails, plants...
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Human Anatomy- How Do We Move?
Students explore the human anatomy. In this respiratory system lesson plan, students conduct an experiment to simulate the capacity of human lungs.
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Human Anatomy -- How Do We Move?
Students create a model of the digestive system. In this human anatomy lesson the students examine features of the digestive system. The students perform an experiment.
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Water Quality: Water Filtration
Students build a water filtration system. For this water quality lesson, students work in groups to construct water filtration units that can purify contaminated water. This lesson is part of a larger unit on water quality.
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Worm Composting
Second graders discuss worm composting. In this decomposition lesson, 2nd graders look at the anatomy of the worm and how it eats food. They have their own worm bin and review what foods can and can not be given to the worms for...
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Dirty Decomposers
Students explore the ecosystem by conducting a ziploc bag experiment. In this recycling lesson, students identify decomposer organisms in our environment and how they speed up the recycling process. Students utilize a ziploc plastic bag,...
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Exercise for the Heart
Second graders discuss and understand relationship between physical activity and healthy heart, describe long-term effects of daily physical activity on heart,
and set personal goals for daily participation in physical activities that...