NOAA
Climate, Weather…What’s the Difference?: Make an Electronic Temperature Sensor
What's the best way to record temperature over a long period of time? Scholars learn about collection of weather and temperature data by building thermistors in the fourth installment of the 10-part Discover Your Changing World series....
Curated OER
A New Phase In Town
Middle schoolers explore heat energy and how it is used to change the phase of matter, and discover that temperature does not increase or decrease until the phase change is complete. This extremely well-written plan is packed with great...
Curated OER
Amazon Rainforest Poster Project/Service Project
Students make efforts to save the rainforests. In this environmental stewardship lesson, students discuss facts about the resources of the rainforests. Students then create posters that encourage other to reduce their use of paper.
Curated OER
Astronomy and the Cold War: How the United States Used the Moon to Target the Soviet Union
Students examine how astronomical observations were used to help target sites in the Soviet Union during Cold War and why such targeting was needed. Students then make predictions and observations of same astronomical events for their...
Curated OER
Turtle Lesson
Students explore the five common turtles that are native to the eastern United States. They investigate each turtle's characteristics, environment, means of protection, eating habits, and show how they can help these turtles survive.
Curated OER
What Tree is That?
Students examine leaves and the trees in their neighborhood that they came from. In this ecology lesson, students read the book, I Can Name 50 Trees Today, and discuss how a tree goes from a forest to a wood shop. Students find a tree...
Curated OER
Introduction to Puberty
Students describe some of the common external changes associated with puberty. They are introduced to the topic by stating that often these classes are called sex education classes. Students asked: what have you heard about these...
Curated OER
Powerful Potato
Third graders make food. In this agriculture lesson, 3rd graders learn about the history of the potato. Students then plant potatoes, harvest them, and make french fries, potato salad or potato soup.
Physics LAB
Work and Energy Practice: Forces at Angles
In this work and energy learning exercise, students answer 9 questions about 6 diagrams showing forces at angles. Students find the work done on the objects, the power supplied by the forces, and they find the angle theta in the diagrams...
Curated OER
Sweet Twinkies, Density and Sugar Chomping Yeast: A Look at Physical and Chemical Reactions in the Kitchen
Students investigate matter. In this physical science lesson plan, students will learn about matter, physical states, and reactions. There are a series of four lab activities that will be conducted.
Curated OER
What's The Plan?
Students identify how the human activities in the state of Maryland have changed/ evolved over the last 50 years. They evaluate a land planning document and prepare a fictitious planning document for a given area of land.
Curated OER
At Home on the Range
Eighth graders explore rangeland uses in Utah. In this Utah rangeland instructional activity, 8th graders read background information on the purposes of rangeland. Students work in groups to create their own ranges using peat. Students...
Curated OER
The Brain and the Sense Organs - Lesson Plan
Students identify the five sense organs and state the uses of the five senses.
Curated OER
Determining the Age of Fossils
High schoolers examine the concept of radioactive dating. In this radioactive dating instructional activity, students investigate how to determine the ages of fossils and rocks as they learn about half-life radioactive decay.
Curated OER
The Human Body Systems - Lesson Plan
Students identify the following organ systems in the human body and state their functions: muscular, skeletal, circulatory, respiratory, digestive.
Curated OER
Energy Concepts - Lesson Plan
Learners state the different forms of energy; and observe the effects of energy changing from one form to another (other forms) in electrical appliances.
Curated OER
The Dairy Shoppe
Fifth graders research dairy farming and learn about dairy products as well as dairy processing. In this dairy lesson, 5th graders read background information about dairy farming and processing. Students discuss running a small business...
Curated OER
Density - To Float or Not to Float? That is the Question!
Students investigate how to find the density of fluids and solids using math. Students also learn how to find the density of regular and irregular shaped objects.
Curated OER
Interesting Insects
Students discover the characteristics of insects. They explore insects through cooperative learning, group projects, hands on activities, and poetry. They gain knowledge of insect life cycles, habitat, and physical characteristics.
Curated OER
Forest Stewardship
Students define the term forest stewardship and they identify good forest stewardship practices. They are asked:"Does anyone enjoy spending time in the woods?" Students identify techniques of practicing good forest stewardship (taking...
Curated OER
Bioregions of California
Learners map out the bioregions of California by examining the species and environment in different areas of the state. They use information and pictures from a PowerPoint presentation to complete a map handout and play a trivia game.
Curated OER
Looking Blue
Students participate in a research project that is exclusively using the internet. The author states that traditional labs are hard to conduct for a light lab. This one uses the internet with the intention that students can manipulate...
Curated OER
Baby Peanut Plants
Science is a subject ripe with opportunities to read informational text. Kids read to learn about peanuts! They read an informational passage, fill out two comprehension worksheets, and then conduct a lab experiment on a peanut. The...
Curated OER
Dark Days on the Prairie
Young scholars explore U.S. geography by researching agriculture. In this dust bowl lesson plan, students complete a cause and effect worksheet based upon the dust bowls that covered a large portion of Oklahoma and Texas in the early...