Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Classroom Activities: Mirror-Tracing Activity
What does it take to train your brain? Learners explore the question as they experiment with their own memory and motor skills. They attempt to trace an object using a mirror and then score their results over several trials. They then...
University of Minnesota
Motor Learning and Memory
What do our brains have to do with reaction timing? Everything! In a hands-on learning activity, young scientists participate in four card activities that measure reaction timing. Each activity gets progressively more complex, and...
Curated OER
Move it Like An Animal
Students investigate how animals move. In this animals instructional activity, students use pictures of animals and demonstrate how each of them moves from place to place.
Curated OER
Who Am I? - Locomotor Skills
Students discuss the meaning of the word locomotion and the different ways that they use locomotor skills.
Curated OER
Gross Motor Development
Fourth graders participate in a game reflecting the solar system, stars, and rockets. They simulate how space invaders move and hit stars and rockets. They discuss how scientists study the stars and planets.
Curated OER
Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down: Grasping the Idea of Evolution
Students compare their performance of a series of tasks using their thumb and fingers to their performance of the same tasks without the use of their thumb. They discuss the role of fine and gross motor skills and speculate on the role...
Curated OER
Monet's Magical Garden
Students study classic paintings by masters like Monet. In this art history lesson, students listen to the story Planting a Rainbow by Lois Ehlert and sing flower songs with the rest of their class. Students examine the painting The...
Curated OER
Nature Scavenger Hunt with Pedometers
Students integrate the study of plants/soil/rocks within a physical education classroom.
Curated OER
Effects of Water Pollution on Aquatic Organisms
Students investigate water pollution. They develop an understanding of the behavior of organisms, of the structure and properties of matter, and of natural and human induced hazards by conducting lab tests. They present their data...
Curated OER
Wonderful World of Dinosaurs
Second graders obtain information about the characteristics of diet, locomotion, behavior, habitat, and anatomy of five dinosaurs by observing the Wonderful World of Dinosaurs HyperStudio presentation. They complete a student worksheet.
Curated OER
Plant Science Activities
Students complete several plant life activities. In this botany instructional activity, students practice painting images that resemble plants they are familiar with as well as planting seeds outside of class. Students participate in a...
Curated OER
The Human Body
Explore the human body through hands-on activities. Young learners will trace their bodies and place cut out body organs in the proper place, print patterns using cut fruit, sing songs about good nutrition, and use their five senses...
Curated OER
Take a Hike!
Learners explore the benefits of staying active by going on a hike. In this physical education lesson, students discuss the concept of a hike, where a good place to hike is and what types of foods are necessary to stay nourished....
Curated OER
"I can move" but why?
Students analyze the movements they can do with their bones, muscles and joints. They explore, have discovery and review knowledge of movement. Students are asked to find their personal space.
Curated OER
Having Beary Much Fun with Core Knowledge
Students participate in a teddy bear themed unit to improve their social and reading skills along with other core knowledge subjects. In this social and reading skills lesson, students complete 8 units of activities to learn about social...
Curated OER
Cartoon Challenge
Students practice locomotor movements and space awareness while reinforcing knowledge of living and non-living things learned from the classroom.
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Animal Antics
Students start at a posted cone with the picture of an animal of your choice. They move as they perceive that animal to get to one of the other cones. Upon arriving at another cone they repeat the process until they have portrayed all...
Curated OER
Dolphins
Students explore sea life. In this cross curriculum fine arts, science, and P.E. "dolphins" lesson, students sing songs and play games about dolphins, perform water experiments, create mosaics, and use their five senses to explore sand...
Curated OER
Dinosaur Days
Students investigate the age of dinosaurs while examining the characteristics of three kinds of dinosaurs. They examine plant eaters, meat eaters, and flying dinosaurs while determining how to classify things. They rotate through centers...
Curated OER
Muscles
In this muscles worksheet, learners describe characteristics of the three types of muscle and the function of each. Then they describe the gross and microscopic anatomy of skeletal muscle. Students also describe the steps that occur in a...
Curated OER
Ladybugs
Students read books, learn about the letter l, and eat bug crackers all to learn about ladybugs. In this goldfish lesson plan, students also color pages and decorate ladybug cookies.