Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Energy of Light

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Pupils discuss different ways engineers use light. In this engineering lesson, students are introduced to the properties of light and the way light is used. They view a demonstration of light waves using a slinky, and practice using...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Reading the River

For Teachers 5th - 8th
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...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mitosis And the Cell Cycle

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Students determine the approximate time a cell spends in each phase of mitosis by counting cells in each phase from a prepared slide. They use a few simple calculations to estimate how long cells spend in each cycle in the body.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Science and Art Museum

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Imagine each one of your learners on task and interested in scientific material. Learners investigate science related art by creating a small museum! Using digital cameras, pupils photograph different scientific actions that look...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Do Cells Reproduce?

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Beginning biologists prepare a sugar solution for yeast cells to live in, and divide it into two different jars. Samples from each jar are viewed with a microscope, and then one jar is placed in a warm environment and the other a cold...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Infection Wars

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Students observe blood cells under a microscope and make drawings of their observations. They write and act out a short play starring blood cells, antibodies and bacteria to demonstrate fighting infection.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Investigating Mitosis in Allium Root Tip Squash

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Preparing the root tip samples is the most challenging part of the mitosis-viewing lab found here, but the directions help ensure you have everything you need. There is no worksheet included; however, there is a sample data table....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Science: Microcosms in the Biosphere

For Teachers 6th - 8th
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...
Lesson Plan
Nuffield Foundation

A Closer Look at Blood

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Here is a lab that has teenage scientists examining samples of their own blood under a microscope. Learners carefully prepare slides, then make detailed observations and identifying different types of cells using a key. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Where Are the Bugs?

For Teachers 6th - 7th
Students trap, collect and identify arthropods in a newly created desert tortoise preserve area over a period of one school year. They determine the rate at which various arthropods take up residence in the newly landscaped area. Data is...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

DNA Structure and Extraction

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students see DNA as a physical building block of organisms and comprehend the basic structure of DNA and the specific components in its structure. They can explain the specific nature of base-pair matching in DNA and that DNA bases form...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What is the Rock Cycle and Its Processes?

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Geology beginners examine three different rock samples and determine their origin by their characteristics. By making and recording observations, they become familiar with features of igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rock types....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mature Forest Mime

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Learners come to understand vocabulary words through pantomime. For this vocabulary lesson, students first review several vocabulary words and their meaning, then they work in groups to pantomime the definitions.
Lesson Plan
Green Learning

Build Your Own Biogas Generator

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Where this is not exactly a lesson plan, it is a terrific outline of how to generate biogas from an animal manure sample. If you are up for the challenge, the generator can be built by your class as a concluding project at the end of an...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Garden In a Glove

For Teachers K - 5th
Students investigate the concept of seeds and how they can germinate. They obtain seeds and isolate them in a rubber glove before transplanting them into the ground. The lesson includes a graphic organizer for observations or information.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Bacteria

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners study the advantages and disadvantages of bacteria.  In this bacteria lesson students draw and label the different types of bacteria.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Life in a Drop of Water

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars examine the structure, function, and characteristics of microscopic organisms that inhabit freshwater through collection of water samples and observation through microscopes.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mold Investigations

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students observe mold growth on bread. In this mold growth lesson, students place bread in various locations and in various conditions to investigate how location, moisture, temperature, and other variable impact the growth of mold on...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Cell (Biology)

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers conduct a series of activities to explore the nature of cells. In this biology lesson, students observe plant and animal cells under the microscope and compare them. They differentiate osmosis and diffusion.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What is Sand?

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Learners complete a sand analysis project.  In this sand grains lesson, students learn background information on how sand is formed and what sand grains are made of.  Learners are given bags of sand and use them to complete a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Germs and Preventing Illness: An Inner and Outer

For Teachers 1st
First graders looks at germs through a microscope and identify two that can make us sick. They compare their mouth before and after they brush their teeth and practice proper hand washing techniques. They study the impact of Edward...
Lesson Plan
Pennsylvania Department of Education

Animal Classes and Their Ecosystems

For Teachers 4th - 6th
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...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mountain Pine Beetle

For Teachers 1st - 7th
Young scholars identify the different parts of a tree. In this biology lesson, students investigate how mountain pine beetles kill trees. They examine the beetles' anatomy using a microscope.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Plasmolysis in Elodea Plant Cells

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers microscopically observe various subcellular components. They determine the effects of different salt solutions on Elodea plant cells. Students explain the major function of a cell membrane and describe its structure.