Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Toxicology 2: Finding the Toxic Dose

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars brainstorm with group partners to decide upon a chemical they would like to test, and outline a procedure for their investigation. They then present in groups their ideas to the rest of the class as well as the chemical...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

News-2 You Weekly Activities

For Teachers K - 12th
Students complete activities from a special education newspaper.  In this News-2 activity, students read the paper, play games, and complete worksheets. Subscription to newspaper is required.
Worksheet
Curated OER

Breaking News English: Dog-Washer Cleans Pets and Saves Cash

For Students 4th - 6th
For this ESL reading comprehension worksheet, students read or listen to the passage, then complete a wide variety of warm-up, before listening/reading, while listening/reading, after listening/reading, discussion, writing and homework...
Interactive
Rice University

Rice University: Web Adventures: Uncommon Scents

For Teachers 6th - 8th
An online game looking at household items contain toxic chemicals and evaluate how they affect our health.
Activity
PBS

Pbs Kids: Science Rocks: Air Lift

For Students 3rd - 8th
Through this experiment, students are challenged to lift a book (and other items) with just air. Requires simple household items, gallon-size, zipper-lock plastic bag, book, pencil, drinking straw, and tape.
Graphic
Brooklyn Museum

Brooklyn Museum: The Arts of Africa

For Students 9th - 10th
The Arts of Africa website lets you view objects from the Brooklyn Museum's collections of African art, including masks, ceremonial items, statues, jewelry, royal regalia, and household objects. With more than twenty audio tours that...
Activity
Exploratorium

Exploratorium:seasons/shadows: Investigate How Shadows Shift Throughout the Year

For Students 9th - 10th
Ancient Chacoans used shadows to tell daily time and seasons. Build a model that demonstrates the changes in Earth's tilt that affect the length of shadows relative to the sun that determines the seasons. The lesson plan uses everyday...
Activity
Science Buddies

Science Buddies: Where There Is Charge, There Can Be Sparks!

For Students 9th - 10th
In this short science project you will learn how to build a capacitor using common household items. By testing different charge cycles, you will work to discover how much charge is stored in a Leyden jar capacitor.
Interactive
University of Colorado

University of Colorado: Ph Et Interactive Simulations: Ramp: Forces and Motion

For Students 9th - 10th
Explore forces and motion as you push household objects up and down a ramp. Lower and raise the ramp to see how the angle of inclination affects the parallel forces.
Interactive
University of Colorado

University of Colorado: Ph Et Interactive Simulations: The Ramp

For Students 9th - 10th
Explore forces, energy, and work as you push household objects up and down a ramp. Lower and raise the ramp to see how the angle of inclination affects the parallel forces acting on the file cabinet. Graphs show forces, energy and work.
Activity
PBS

Pbs Kids: Design Squad: Build: 4 Wheel Balloon Car

For Students 3rd - 8th
Create your own 4-wheel balloon cars with simple household items and race them across the floor.
Activity
PBS

Pbs Kids: Design Squad: Build: Robo Wheel

For Students K - 1st
Make your own Robo Wheel to race or do freestyle tricks using simple household items like paper bowls, string, and rubber bands.
Website
Other

Illinois State Museum: At Home in the Heartland

For Students 9th - 10th
Wonderful site that takes you on a tour of the history of Illinois! You are treated to pictures of such things as early prairie household objects and stories of early settlers - and much, much, more!
Website
Other

Illinois State Museum: At Home in the Heartland

For Students 9th - 10th
Wonderful site that takes you on a tour of the history of Illinois! You are treated to pictures of such things as early prairie household objects and stories of early settlers - and much, much, more!
Activity
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Light Your Way

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
When there is a power failure, or when we go outside at night, we grab a flashlight so we can find our way. What happens inside a flashlight that makes the bulb light up? Why do we need a switch to turn on a flashlight? Have you ever...
Activity
PBS

Pbs Kids: Dragonfly Tv Try This!

For Students Pre-K - 1st
A collection of simple experiments your students will enjoy! Each activity only requires a few household items, and will certainly spark the creativity in young scientists!
Activity
Technovation

Curiosity Machine: Challenge: Build a Blooming Flower

For Students Pre-K - 1st
Can you create a blooming flower that would attract pollinators? This Curiosity Machine project challenges students to make this flower using common household items. Site includes a place for students to document their process as well as...
Activity
Technovation

Curiosity Machine: Challenges: Design a Wind Up Mars Rover

For Students Pre-K - 1st
Using common household items, students are challenged to build a Mars rover that can travel using elastic energy. Site includes a lesson plan, tips, and a place for students to document their design process.
Activity
Technovation

Curiosity Machine: Challenges: Engineer a Space Tool

For Students Pre-K - 1st
Using common household items, make a tool that an astronaut could use to pick up an object in space. This site also includes tips, lesson plans, and a place for students to document their engineering design process.
Activity
Technovation

Curiosity Machine: Challenges: Build a 3 D Object Out of Tetrahedra

For Students Pre-K - 1st
Can you build a 3-D object out of tetrahedra that is as big as you are? With this challenge, students will be using common household items to build their tetrahedra structure. Site contains the challenge, tips, a lesson plan, and a place...
Activity
Technovation

Curiosity Machine: Challenges: Balance a Dinosaur

For Students Pre-K - 1st
Using common household items, students are challenged to build a dinosaur at least 6" tall that can balance on two legs using counterbalances. This website contains the challenge, tips, a lesson plan, and a place for students to document...
Activity
Education.com

Education.com: Design Challenge: Making a Bottle Rocket

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
[Free Registration/Login Required] In this design challenge, your child will be asked to create a bottle rocket using typical household items. The list of materials includes everything they will need to create and launch a rocket, and we...
Website
Other

Great Lakes Recycle: Recycled Products Showcase

For Students 9th - 10th
This Great Lakes Recycle site allows you see pictures and descriptions of many items created from recycled goods.
Activity
Other

Siemens Science Day: Physical Science: Recycled Again!

For Students 9th - 10th
Students will discover how to separate recycled goods by completing this hands-on science activity. Learn how physical properties are used to sort recyclable materials.