Students participate in a culminating activity for a unit on Energy and Simple Machines. They are challenged to incorporate simple machines in to a complex mechanical system. While designing and testing their machine they will also...

Young scholars investigate various methods that animals use to warm up in cold weather. They also explore the science principals involved. They then identify a human parallel, discuss what we can learn from nature, and create multimedia...

Students investigate how Newton's Third Law affects vehicle design. In this Newton's Third Law lesson, students use a web site to research Newton, his third law, and how to design a vehicle that uses a balloon for power. They sketch and...

Students are introduced to the design of Old Faithful Lodge at Yellowstone Park including its use of trusses. They work in groups and use straws and modeling clay to design and test a variety of building supports.

Eighth graders investigate the importance of an ecosystem by studying their own backyards.  In this environmental lesson, 8th graders examine a schoolyard or backyard by marking quadrants and recording any animal or plant findings...

Second graders grow a classroom garden that acts as a living laboratory for cross-curricular activities. In this classroom garden lesson plan, 2nd graders follow directions to build and plant a garden that is used to teach math, science,...

Students explore the causes of erosion and observe how different surfaces erode differently. They recognize erosion and predict what type of erosion caused it. In addition, they predict the outcomes of erosion on different materials.

Students, after researching and brainstorming about aquifers and locating aquifer maps of Texas, participate in the building of a model of an aquifer complete with a pumping station. They also answer a variety of questions at the...

Students investigate threats to our oceans by investigating items found on a beach.  In this environmental safety instructional activity, students examine several items found on a beach and identify them as natural, harmful, organic...

In this trees lesson, 4th graders read the book, A Tree is Growing and complete a KWL chart on how trees grow and how they are used. Students research the symbiotic relationship of humans and trees, create tree collages, plant a...

The students take a harbor cruise, photograph, and draw shore line features attending to evidence of human impact/consequences, and its cost on marine/land animal habitats vegetation, weather patterns, signs of erosion, and the water...

Students celebrate the great outdoors and the coming summer break by studying the natural world. In this seasons lesson, students engage in bark rubbing and operate a digital camera to capture outdoor imagery for a collage to help them...

Students observe tadpoles as they gradually change into adults.  In this amphibian biology lesson plan, students watch tadpoles in a tank in the classroom, keep a daily record of what they observe, and chart the growth development...

Young scholars analyze atmosphere and light. In this earth science lesson, students are introduced to an investigation about why the sky is blue. Young scholars complete a WebQuest to answer the question.

Tiny tree-huggers observe and examine various species of trees around campus. They use My First Field Guide to Trees to support their observations. Different tree projects are offered that can include using natural materials to make a...

Students determine the best habitat for spiders. In this spider lesson, students listen to a reading of Eric Carle's, The Very Busy Spider. They discuss the spider's habitat before visiting the schoolyard to look for spiders in their...

Students study the work and accomplishment of Galileo. In this physics lesson plan, students calculate the period of a pendulum's using a mathematical equation. They explain the different factors affecting its period.

Fourth graders describe the difference between minerals (composed of the same substance throughout) and rocks (composed of two or more minerals). They recognize that there are three classes of rocks: igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic

Students visit the zoo and study the koala bears. In this habitat instructional activity, students take a field trip to the zoo and examine the habitat of the koala bears. Students watch videos about koalas and consider the needs of...

Students explore biology by participating in a field trip. In this oceanography lesson plan, students define the survival characteristics of bottom dwelling creatures also known as ocean grazers. Students attend a class field trip to a...

Eighth graders explore global warming. In this Earth Science lesson plan, 8th graders will look for Harbingers and fingerprints for different areas. The students will identify an area at risk and they will then create a...

Students analyze Gregor Mendel's discovery of a process of biological evolution. They also explore how recessive and dominant traits are passed from one generation of living organisms to the next. This lesson involves environment...

Students experience the creativity, anticipation and peer review of obtaining a grant for scientific research at the poles. They work in cooperative groups to assess the dynamics of polar regions. Each student proposes an original...

Students experiment to determine information about kidney function. In this kidney function lesson, students use the scientific method to experiment with eggs, water, salt, sugar, and vegetable oil to simulate kidney function. They...