Curated OER
Science: Reading a Compass
Students demonstrate how to take bearings using a compass. In pairs, they select objects in the classroom then write down its first initial and bearing. They exchange papers and try to disciver their partner's object.
Teach Engineering
Hurricanes
When a levee fails, it means disaster. Introduce your class to hurricanes and the technologies used to help protect against them. The included presentation provides background information using Hurricane Katrina as a reference.
Teach Engineering
Maximum Power Point
Investigate the maximum power output of a photovoltaic panel with a instructional activity that introduces the class to the maximum power point. Individuals learn how to determine the maximum power point of a solar panel by using Ohm's...
Teach Engineering
Bridging the Gaps
The London Bridge should not have fallen down. And here's why. After a brief history of bridges and the three main types, class members are introduce to the concepts of tension and compression, the two main forces acting upon bridges.
Curated OER
Butterflies: Fly into Science
Engage young learners with these great interdisciplinary lesson ideas for teaching about butterflies!
Curated OER
Tornadoes (Safeside)
Students investigate and demonstrate the science behind the development of tornadoes.
Curated OER
Go With the Energy Flow
Students explore energy and nutrient flow. In this science instructional activity, students diagram the flow of energy through food chains and food webs. Students discuss the importance of energy flow in Earth's ecosystems.
Teach Engineering
Fairly Fundamental Facts About Forces and Structures
Don't twist and turn looking for a resource. The first installment of a six-part series teaches young engineers about the five fundamental forces of compression, tension, shear, bending, and torsion. These forces help explain different...
Curated OER
Making & Breaking : The Rock Cycle
Students examine the rock cycle and how rocks can change over time. For this geotechnical engineering lesson students draw a diagram of the rock cycle.
Curated OER
State Your Position
Students practice using a global positioning system. They discuss the use of celestial objects as navigation points and its problems. They list the advantages and disadvantages of GPS as well.
Curated OER
Rock Solid
Students investigate the three types of material stress related to rocks. They watch a PowerPoint Presentation, view an online animation of the three types of rock stress, identify the various types of rocks, answer true or false...
Curated OER
Designing Windmills
Students study mechanical engineering and how it plays a part in the creation of windmills. They design and test their own windmills using various materials and sail designs.
Curated OER
Spring Has Sprung
Spring lesson plan ideas can allow students and teachers a chance to use the outdoors as a classroom and a source of study topics.
Curated OER
Oil Spill
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.
Curated OER
Dissecting Owl Pellets
Students explore owl pellets. In this animal science activity, students use owl pellet dissection kits to dissect one owl pellet. Students use a magnifying glass to identify the foods that the owl ate.
Curated OER
Let's Take a Rock Apart!
Students examine a crushed rock and sort the minerals they find in that rock by color and other properties.
Curated OER
Geography: Water, Water Everywhere
Young scholars discuss flooding and its causes. They view a Powerpoint presentation about floods and prevention methods. After creating a model with clay and pans, they investigate river behavior in various terrains with different...
Curated OER
Where Am I: Navigation and Satellites
Students explore the concept of triangulation that is used in navigation satellites and global positioning systems designed by engineers. They determine ways these technologies can help people determine their position or the location of...
Curated OER
What is Lightning?
Young scholars experiment with electricity to understand lightning. In this lightning lesson, students show how static electricity causes lightning. Young scholars discuss questions about their experiment and gather important facts....
Curated OER
How Probable is It?
Students explore probability. In this probability instructional activity, students look at videos and websites where they discover probability facts that can be used in situations. They determine the probability of different events.
Curated OER
Heat Absorption and Radiation
Students experiment with the concepts of absorption and reflection of radiant energy.
Curated OER
Ocean Life
Students explore the topics of ocean water salinity, ocean life zones, marine life classification, and ocean food chains. They observe demonstrations, conduct experiments, complete quizzes and handouts, and analyze key vocabulary.
California Academy of Science
A Day inthe Life of a San Francisco Native Animal
Although the lesson is specifically about the San Francisco Bay area, it's good enough to be adapted to any local region. Children research what the landscape in San Francisco was like prior to settlement, they consider the types of...
Curated OER
Celsius Tells Temperature, Too
Second graders become aware that thermometer liquids expand or contract as temperature affects them.