Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Current Interactions

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers design an experiment to see how wind, temperature, and salinity work together to influence ocean currents and present it in a report format. They explain to their classmates how experiment findings relate to ocean currents.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ammonium Nitrate - Heat of Solution

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Young scholars quantify the relationship between temperature, energy and heat and define an endothermic reaction. They measure the energy change caused by dissolving one mole of ammonium nitrate in water.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Estimating Altitude of Water Cloud Base

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students conduct an experiment to determine dew point and use a formula to detemine altitude. They construct a chart and predict what altitude clouds would form, given the dew point on the ground.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Life In Extreme Environments

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students work together to design and participate in experiments to determine the rate rotifers eat. After completing their experiments, they record and analyze their data and identify any challenges faced during the procedure. They...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Convection Currents

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students explain and understand the circulation of air in the atmosphere. They identify that energy can be carried from one place to another by heat flow or by waves, including water, light and sound waves, or by moving objects. ...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Vibrations

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders use rubber bands, textbooks, pencils, rulers and yo-yos to experiment with the concept of vibrations. They observe changes in pitch according to the speed of vibrations and record their observations in a journal.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Charles’s Law

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students describe the relationship between temperature and volume. In this chemistry lesson, students perform an experiment and record their their results. They use Charles' law to explain their observations.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Electrical motors

For Teachers K - 5th
Students investigate and experiement with a 9-volt motor. They will use the connecting wire and battery pack to discover fans.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Big Meltdown

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Young scholars work together to develop a container to keep an ice cube in a solid state. They identify the three stages of matter and test different materials for this experiment. They share their results with the class.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water, Water Everywhere!

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Learners brainstorm on ways they use water, and where water comes from. They view video, Down the Drain, to gain specific facts about water use, properties of water, problems of water and the water cycle. They perform a lab activity...
Lesson Plan
NASA

Soda Straw Rockets

For Teachers K - 6th Standards
Three, two, one, blast off to a better understanding of force and motion with this exciting science lesson! Beginning with a discussion about rockets and gravity, young scientists go on to complete a series of worksheets about net...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Chlorophyll

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Learners explain the importance of chlorophyll in plants. For this biology lesson, students extract chlorophyll from different plant sources using chromatography. They discover the different factors needed for photosynthesis to take place.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Design a Bobsled

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Learners apply their knowledge of friction, drag, mass and gravity as they design, build, and test mini-bobsleds.
Lesson Planet Article
Curated OER

Engineering Lessons Adapted for Special Education

For Teachers 7th - 10th
Modifying engineering lessons from NASA makes them accessible to a wider variety of learners.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Earth's Atmosphere and Temperature

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students describe and compare the layers of the atmosphere. They explain how to measure the temperature of the atmosphere and discover what causes the atmosphere to heat up in some places more than in others.
Unit Plan
Columbus City Schools

Photosynthesis and Respiration

For Teachers 7th Standards
Thirty percent of the world's oxygen is produced by rainforests found throughout the world. Seventh grade learners explore the processes of photosynthesis and respiration through 10 days of labs, manipulatives, and discussions. They...
Lesson Plan
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1
University of Colorado

Can Photosynthesis Occur at Saturn?

For Students 6th - 8th Standards
In the 19th activity of 22, learners determine if distance from a light source affects photosynthesis. Participants capture oxygen in straws and find that the amount of water the gas displaces is proportional to the rate of photosynthesis.
Lesson Plan
1
1
University of Colorado

Rings and Things

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Galileo first observed Saturn's rings in 1610. Through the use of a flashlight and baby powder, classes see how they can observe the rings of the outer planets from far away. Another demonstration shows how these rings, made of ice and...
Lesson Plan
Discovery Education

Drive it Green

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Explore and brainstorm innovations for cars with a STEM activity that asks scholars to weigh different options when considering when buying a car. They research the fuel efficiency and carbon emissions for various options, and then...
Lab Resource
Colorado State University

Why Do Clouds Form in the Afternoon?

For Teachers 6th - 12th
The stability of the atmosphere changes on a daily basis. A kinesthetic lesson models how the stability of the air changes as it's warmed by the sun. Learners connect their models to the changing air currents and movement of warm and...
Unit Plan
NASA

Marsbound! Mission to the Red Planet

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
It's time to go to Mars. Using the provided cards and mat, groups design a mission to Mars. The cards contain information about the different components of the launch and warn about a few mishaps that might occur along the way.
Activity
Discovery Education

Smoke on the Water

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
How do clouds form? Learners demonstrate the formation of clouds and the water cycle by testing four different setups in a plastic bottle. They identify the key components of a cloud to help them understand the process of cloud...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Create a Cloud in a Jar (Hands-on Version)

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine the conditions necessary for cloud formation.  In this clouds lesson students complete an activity that shows them atmospheric pressure.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Getting into Shape

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Young scholars identify 3-D geometric shapes through different pieces of artwork. They examine and identify segments and angles. Students act out shapes and create a piece of artwork. Additional cross curriculum activities are listed.