Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Wacky Weed Parts

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students view picture of weed and identify roots, stems, flowers, leaves, and seeds, describe function of each different weed part, and discuss how different parts of weed work together to benefit plant in its new environment.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Camouflage and Protective Coloration: A Model of Natural Selection

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars collect data and compare whether protective coloration or camouflage provides better biological fitness in a given environment. They simulate predator prey interactions of two different species and use gene frequencies to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

This Stuff Makes Me Sick

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students participate in a lab showing the effects of pesticides on Lumbriculus variegatus. Several extensions and variations are also included in this lesson including one which relates the experiment to how pesticides enter our drinking...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Biological Control of Purple Loosestrife

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars examine the role of Purple Loosestrife in Illinois and Indiana rivers. In groups, they collect a wide variety of plants in a wetland and raise beetles in a controlled environment. They introduce the loosestrife into the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

National Parks

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students create national park brochures on selected endangered animals using research information, hand-drawn pictures, and the Pages and KeyNote software programs. This lesson was written for a TAG classroom.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What Does Your "Homunculus" Look Like?

For Teachers 9th - 11th
Students determine the density of touch receptors in various parts of the body on the right hand side. They use collected data to draw a picture of the "homunculus" of an experimental subject.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Emerging Viruses

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students study the characteristics of living things and explore the characteristics of viruses including their structure, function, and reproductive cycles. They also explore the impact of viruses on human health by discussing common...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Solve the Mystery Photo

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students observe a mystery photo and use descriptive language to solve the mystery. In this descriptive language lesson, students use scientific observation to figure out a mystery photo. Students rationalize their thoughts with...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Internet Research: Methane and Waste

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Learners conduct Internet research to discover the causes of methane and how to implement a waste action plan. They answer worksheet questions as they search Websites. On the Eduzone site students find information on reducing their own...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Conductors and Insulators

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students describe safe practices that are appropriate to a range of situations and environments. They discuss how electricity runs through wires that are insulated so that it cannot escape and determine that you can get electrocuted if...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Trash We Pass

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students engage in a study of trash and how it is disposed of in the environment. They also research the impact of recycling and its effects upon the disposal amounts. Students calculate the advantages of recycling using real world...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water Cycle

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders explore the water cycle and place pictures of the water cycle in sequential order. They investigate a problem and determine if it is reasonable or not to believe that there is water in air to cause a puddle. ...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Desert Adaptations

For Students 5th - 10th
In this desert adaptations worksheet, students are given a water filled sponge which represents an animal. Students observe their "animal" for a 24 hour period and conserve the water in the sponge as best they can. They measure and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Characteristics of Living Things

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Student use the scientific method to experiment with worms. In this characteristics of living things lesson, students predict and examine the reactions of worms to dry and wet soil. Students share their findings.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Investigating Local Ecosystems

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students observe a local area for living organisms and their habitats.  In this local ecosystems lesson, students complete an online field journal.  Students share their findings and sort them into categories. Students visit a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Predicting the Growth of Microorganisms

For Teachers 9th - 11th
Students determine where microorganisms might be found around their school. In this scientific investigation lesson plan, students collect cultures from various locations and place these in petri dishes. They incubate the cultures to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Food Chains

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders study food chains, producers, consumers, and decomposers. They play a food chain game and create food chain mobiles or posters. They take a nature hike around the school and observe various parts of a food chain.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ecosystem Field Trip

For Teachers 1st - 2nd
Students investigate the different seeds and plants that are part of the Millcreek ecosystem. They take a field trip to the ecosystem and complete activities using the plants that are indigenous to the area.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Bird Buffet

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders investigate how birds use their beaks. In this agriculture lesson, 5th graders use tools to simulate how birds gather food with their beaks. They then draw conclusions about certain types of beaks and what types of food a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Oil Spill

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore an important role of environmental engineers by studying the Exxon Valdez oil spill. They experiment with different strategies in order to clean up their own manufactured oil spill.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

It's Really Heating Up in Here!

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students create and observe a greenhouse effect model and discuss the implications of global warming theory for engineers, themselves and the Earth. They discover that Global warming is becoming an increasing concern as we learn more...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Recycling

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers relate recycling to waste reduction. In this science lesson, students talk about the environment and how recycling certain natural resources actually saves on energy.  They also discuss what type of recycling causes...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

TE Lesson: Energy Transfer in Musical Instruments

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students study concepts of energy and energy transfer. They look at how these concepts apply to musical instruments. They study the law of conservation of energy. They use the concepts studied in the lesson to design a musical instrument.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Let's Heat Things Up!

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students build and evaluate simple models to understand the greenhouse effect. They explore the role of increased greenhouse gas concentration in global warming, and the implications of global warming theory for engineers, themselves...