Curated OER
Leaf Pack Study
Students conduct an experiment using leaf packs. In this leaf lesson students complete an activity in groups and complete a handout.
Curated OER
The Science of Forensics
Students examine the importance of details in evidence gathering, as well as the relationship between chemistry, physics and biology. For this forensics lesson students divide into groups and look at fingerprints and fill out an...
Curated OER
Fighting Invisible Enemies
Students examine antibiotics, what they do and what things were like before we had them. In this antibiotics lesson students research bacteria and antibiotics then as a group prepare a written report.
Curated OER
Inventions- The Impact
Students discuss the impact of certain inventions. In this technology lesson, students research Thomas Edison and the light bulb on the Internet and discuss how the invention impacted society. Students create their own simple inventions.
Curated OER
Drugged Out Daphnia
Ninth graders participate in experiments to investigate the the effects of nicotine, caffeine, aspirin, alcohol, and sleeping pills on the heart rates of Daphina. They describe the relationships between common drugs and heart rates....
Curated OER
Reading the River
In collaborative groups, young ecologists measure the temperature, pH, and dissolved oxygen for three different freshwater samples. They examine each sample with a microscope and record observations on the microorganisms in the pond...
Curated OER
Science: Microcosms in the Biosphere
In a series of lessons, examine the impact on humans by microcosms in the biosphere. Among the plans structured for students with different abilities and learning styles, are activities describing the symbiotic relationship, drawing the...
Curated OER
Life in a Drop of Water
Students examine the structure, function, and characteristics of microscopic organisms that inhabit freshwater through collection of water samples and observation through microscopes.
Curated OER
The Science and Technology of Food
Students examine the guidelines the United States Department of Agriculture places on food. In groups, they create a list of the foods they consume and discuss the political and environmental implications of purchasing the food. They...
Curated OER
Daphina Science, The Method of Investigation
Students determine what causes a reaction in a species of Daphnia. In this ecology based instructional activity, students are in a hands on project to demonstrate a controlled experiment with data collections. Students...
Curated OER
Theater Game: "The Good, the Bad, and the Bountiful"
Students play a game to demonstrate the detrimental effects of an algal bloom on the environment. In this microorganism lesson plan, students discuss microbes and algae. They dramatize the effects of an algal bloom using a role-playing...
Curated OER
CSI Podcasts
Students investigate crime scene scenarios to meet standards. In this crime scene scenario lesson, students gather background information during the first week. They investigate topics such as mammals, genetics, bacteria, or fungi. They...
Curated OER
Plant Pollination
Students investigate methods of pollination for various flowers. In this plant biology lesson, students learn the parts of a flower and form a hypothesis about the method of pollination for the flower. They determine the validity of...
Curated OER
Photovoltaics and Solar Energy
Students experiment with photovoltaic cells and determine the energy use of their appliances. In this renewable energy instructional activity, students calculate the energy emitted by a photovoltaic cell through an inquiry-based lab....
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Plankton / Phytoplankton
Students discuss the importance of plankton in the ocean ecosystem. In this biology activity, students identify the different types plankton by observing them under the microscope. They explain how plankton population affect global climate.
Curated OER
Crime Scene Investigation: Hair Analysis Lab
Learners participate in a hair analysis lab. Using a digital microscope, students compare and contrast hair samples. They determine if the hair samples are human or animal. After completing lab results sheets, learners share their...
Curated OER
Scientific Notation
Students explore the concept of expressing numbers in scientific notation. In this scientific notation lesson, students understand the importance of using scientific notation by finding real world examples where scientific notation is...
Curated OER
Pond Water
Students explore a creek environment. They make observations, identify the living and nonliving factors in the environment and collect a plankton sample to take back to the classroom. In addition, they look at plankton under a microscope.
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Where Are The Dinosaurs?
Young scholars study what happened to the dinosaurs and possible causes of extinction. In this investigative lesson plan students create dinosaur eggs.
Curated OER
Wetland Transects
Students lay out transect lines beside a local stream or river. There they record species of plants and insects living around the stream. By doing so, students explore how to use transect sampling techniques, use a variety of methods to...
Pennsylvania Department of Education
Animal Classes and Their Ecosystems
Students explore animal characteristics by participating in an environment identification activity. In this animal habitat lesson, students discuss a range of different wild life and the ecosystems that they are a part of. Students view...
Curated OER
Classification of Cerealites
Students create a dichotomous key. In this categorizing lesson, students create a dichotomous key for different types of cereal. Students classify the cereal into groups such as flakes and cereal with holes. Students discuss their...
Curated OER
Characteristics of Energy
Fourth graders view a video and create a KWL to identify energy sources. In this energy sources lesson, 4th graders explore the meaning of energy, kinetic energy, potential energy, thermal energy, radiant energy, and electrical energy....
Pennsylvania Department of Education
Light the Bulb!
Third graders investigate electrical circuits and how light bulbs are powered. In this electricity and power instructional activity, 3rd graders study the vocabulary necessary which includes the different types of circuits, electrical...