Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary
Ingenious: Franklin Assembles a Scientific Community
Few Americans have heard of the burgeoning scientific community known as the America Philosophical society, started by none other than Benjamin Franklin. With inquiry, research, and discussion, high schoolers come to understand their...
Mathematics Vision Project
Quadratic Functions
Inquiry-based learning and investigations form the basis of a deep understanding of quadratic functions in a very thorough unit plan. Learners develop recursive and closed methods for representing real-life situations,...
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The Commission of Inquiry
Students explore the role and functions of a commission of inquiry and participate in a democratic debate.
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Using Science Skills to Investigate Japanese Quail
Sixth graders explore Japanese Quail. They generate and record scientific questions about the quail. Students gather information from various sources and record their data. They compose an inquiry report and include it in a portfolio.
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Marine Biology Lesson on Understanding the Dynamics of the Reef Ecosystem
Students compare data from a healty and unhealthy reef ecosystem. In this marine biology lesson, students identify which sample is stressed. They formulate a hypothesis on why the reef is stressed and support their hypothesis with proven...
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ToxMystery Lesson Plan 1: Introduction to Common Household Chemical Hazards
Learners participate in ToxMystery, a computer game, where they discover potential environmental health hazards in rooms of a common household. In this lesson on household safety, students first brainstorm possible hazards in the...
Curated OER
This Lesson Is a Breeze, So Don't Blow It!
Students conduct an experiment to show that air is all around us and that wind is the movement of air. They construct a weather vane to determine which direction the wind is blowing.
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Musical Coat Hangers
In this sound conductors lesson, students use a metal and a plastic coat hanger to determine how sound travels through each and which is more effective.
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The Scientific Method Beyond High School
Students identify the different steps in the scientific method. In this biology lesson, students design an experiment given certain materials. They formulate conclusion and write a detailed lab report.
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If Peter Pan Can Fly, Why Can't I?
Students redesign a human, using data in research, so that s/he can fly. In this flying lesson, students examine the characteristics and adaptations of groups of animals that can fly. Using this research, students work...
Curated OER
Have a Ball with Bernoulli II
Third graders explore the work of Daniel Bernoulli through experiment and background information. In this Bernoulli lesson plan, 3rd graders participate in air pressure experiments. Students record their observations of...
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Boomerangs Keep Coming Back
Students investigate the flight of paper boomerangs. For this flight lesson, students examine the flight variables of paper boomerangs, which they make, by investigating the concepts of lift and drag. They examine what happens when an...
Curated OER
Principles of Flight: Gyrocopter and the Scientific Method
Students explore the concept of the scientific method. In this investigative lesson, students investigate which direction the blades will spin on a gyrocopter. Student will practice using the scientific method to complete the investigation.
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Communications
Students incorporate different disciplines into this lesson. In this science lesson, students investigate the use of communicating without words, and how it is different than communicating with words. They discuss the pros and cons of...
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Acid or Base? Toxie's on the Case
Students recognize the difference between acids and bases. In this ToxMystery activity, students play a computer game and experiment to find the difference between acids and bases. Students use litmus paper to determine if...
Curated OER
An Uplifting Experience
Fifth graders conduct flight experiments. For this uplifting experience lesson, 5th graders build an airfoil and place in a variety of conditions to observe the results of lift and force in flight, as well as angle of attack....
Curated OER
Air Is All Around Us!
Students design an instrument to show that air is all around. For this air lesson plan, students research, construct, and present a design that proves that air is all around, even though they can't see it or touch it. A teacher and...
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The Mystery of the Missing Hummingbirds
Students record scientific observations in a science journal. In this season lesson plan, students make observations about each of the seasons and record in their journals. Students record organisms response to seasonal...
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The Tree Detective - Basic Dendrology
Students identify tree species by their leaf characteristics. In this dendrology lesson, students learn leaf vocabulary and collect leaves. They identify the leaves using the leaf characteristics and the vocabulary that they learned.
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Soil Treasure Hunt
Students explore the concept of soil and decomposition. In this soil and decomposition lesson plan, students investigate bags of soil. Students then learn how animals and other organisms help in the decomposition process.
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Water Wonders
Students explore hydrology concepts. In this environment and biology lesson, students identify and describe macroinvertebrates using a variety of pictures and resources. Students observe and write about a classroom aquarium in which...
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Cloud Fun
Students observe cumulus clouds. In this weather lesson, students go outside to look at cumulus clouds and observe what the weather is like when they find these types of clouds. They create a cumulus cloud in an art project and complete...
Curated OER
The Colors of Seasons
Students observe each season and and mark the colors they see. In this colors of the seasons lessons, students read The Mystery of the Missing Hummingbirds and compare their results and note variations of colors in the different...
Curated OER
Wonder Underground
Learners classify and record objects they find "underground." In this observation lesson plan, students dig into bins filled with soil and encounter various objects such as bark, twigs, etc. Learners classify their findings.