Curated OER
Review of the Scientific Method
Students review the Scientific Method with a hands-on activity. Working with a partner, they hypothesize the number of water drops that fit on the heads side of a penny. They collect data and share their results with the remainder of...
Curated OER
Momentum and Energy
Middle schoolers study how to calculate momentum, kinetic, and potential energy. They apply each form of energy to real world situations including demonstrations, watching videos, and designing a Power Point presentation. They...
Curated OER
He Sees it in His Joy
Students research the importance of play. In this research lesson plan, students work in pairs and interview each other about their 'play history.' Students take data from the interview and shape it into a play history for the...
Agriculture in the Classroom
"Steer" Toward STEM: Careers in Animal Agriculture
Think like an engineer and an agricultural scientist over the course of 12 lessons in a STEM based unit. Young scientists take on the roles of animal physiologists, animal geneticists, agricultural engineers, animal nutritionists, and...
Purdue University
Exploring Whirligigs
What's that silly thing spinning in the wind? It's a whirligig! Explore wonderful windy whirligigs with a STEM-based unit that teaches the science and concepts behind these gigs. Scholars discover how gravity and air resistance...
Curated OER
Life Through a Microscope
In this microscope usage instructional activity, 7th graders complete an introduction packet that takes them through several lab activities that helps introduce and familiarize them with using the microscope.
Curated OER
The Guest Investigator Puzzle
Students conduct a brief astrophysics lab matching the EUVE spectra of various kinds of "mystery" stars with the spectra of known stars taken at Extreme Ultraviolet and optical wavelengths to determine their type.
Curated OER
"Attack A Cell, Any Cell" Disease Unit
Seventh graders use the Internet to gather information about a disease. They also discuss in groups how diseases are a worldwide problem and brainstorm ideas they can help. They create an informational packet on the disease they researched.
Curated OER
Solar
Students study solar energy. In this renewable energy lesson students complete several lab activities using different controls and variables.
Curated OER
M&M's and the Scientific Method
Sixth graders explore the scientific method by conducting an in class experiment. For this scientific averages lesson, 6th graders discuss the concept of the scientific method, and define the different mathematical averages, mean, median...
Curated OER
Scientific Notation II: The Mantissa
Practice converting a conventional number into scientific notation, and vice-versa. Using an applet, they perform the operations of multiplication and division on numbers expressed in scientific notation.
Cornell University
Renewable Resins and Composites
Merge chemistry with environmental science to study biodegradable materials. An engaging activity allows learners to experiment with different resin concentrations and composites. Through experimental tests, scholars test their creations...
Curated OER
Simple Machines
Here is an inventive plan that should get your young scientists excited! In it, groups of pupils test out the work done by six different simple machines. The machines are: the wedge, the lever, the inclined plane, the pulley, the screw,...
Curated OER
Scientific Notation III: Linear vs Exponential
Learners after investigating examples of exponential growth students have an intuitive feel for the concept of exponential growth of a system.
Curated OER
Speed
Students explore speed by calculating the average speed of several snowmobiles, and predicting which of them is the fastest. They watch a race to verify their calculations.
Curated OER
Materials for Teaching Modern Physics
A must-see for any physics teacher! You will find 217 pages of physics activities and worksheets that cover motion, electricity and magnetism, light, modern and quantum physics, and astronomy. Each activity comes with an answer key for...
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Lesson Plan: Successful Microwave Cooking
No need to be involved in a home economics or cooking courses to take advantage of this resource. Not only is there an explanation for how microwaves work but there are also tips for how to use the microwave, and cautions for what not to...
University of Washington
Using Modeling to Demonstrate Self-Assembly in Nanotechnology
Do polar opposites attract? After an introduction on the polarity of molecules, pupils are asked to design a self-assembling model using materials with different polarity. The challenge should motivate learners to develop a workable...
Curated OER
Getting the Oil Out
Young scholars discover ways of obtaining oil by participating in an experiment. In this natural resource activity, students identify diagrams of oil derricks and pumps in order to visualize how oil is retrieved from the earth. Young...
Curated OER
Scientific Notation I: The Exponent
Students manipulate and interpret large numbers expressed in the "exponent" format of scientific notation.
Curated OER
Simple Machines
Fifth graders observe six simple machines. Through student demonstration they define work and force and calculate the work done. They identify the utility of each of the six simple machines and how each one "exchanges" force for...
Curated OER
Measuring Snowfall
Students predict the amount of snowfall for the week and measure snowfall. In this measuring snowfall lesson plan, student use a precipitation gauge to measure the week's snowfall; and analyze the data to determine whether or not...
Curated OER
Evaporation
Students study the evaporation stage of the water cycle. In this water cycle lesson, students participate in an experiment to study the process of evaporation that uses jars and water. Students complete an observation worksheet for the...
Curated OER
Forces and Masses and Motion, Oh My!
Students explore how varying force and mass effect the motion of an object. In this motion lesson students participate in a class activity and demonstrations.