Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Transportation in Plants

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students investigate how plants transport water and nutrients through the plant. For this transportation in plants lesson plan, students use glass tubing, celery stalks, food coloring and leaves from plants to observe adhesion and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Nature's Recycling Program

For Teachers 6th - 7th
Students identify what materials make up compost. In this science of recycling lesson, students explain the benefits of composting determine how compost is a good plant fertilizer.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Stations of Light

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Student groups rotate through four stations to examine light energy behavior: refraction, magnification, prisms and polarization. They see how a beam of light is refracted (bent) through various transparent mediums. Young scholars...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Viewing Bacteria

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students investigate the characteristics harmful and helpful bacteria and observe structures within the bacterial cells. They use micro-slide viewers to observe the shapes of various bacteria and the structures within the bacterial cell.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Classification of Cerealites

For Teachers 6th - 8th
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...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Simulating the Greenhouse Effect in a Terrarium

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students identify what factors effect global warming and how the greenhouse effect occurs.  In this environmental lesson students view videos then complete an experiment using a terrarium to observe greenhouse gas.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Producers -- Focus on Trees

For Teachers 1st - 4th
Students examine the needs of trees and plants. In this forest ecosystem lesson plan students use seedlings to investigate the basic necessities of plants. They discuss the consequences of these basic needs not being met.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Discovering the Wetlands!

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Learners name wetland plant and animal life.  In this ecosystem lesson students go birdwatching and interpret native plants through art. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) with Powdery Mildew Fungi

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore a specific method of identifying fungi, using a written key and an illustrated key. Powdery mildew fungi can be identified to genus by the morphology (appearance) of the sexual stage (cleistothecia).
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Comparison of Normal vs Mutant Zebra Fish Embryos

For Teachers 1st - 2nd
Students observe and study mutations. In this mutations lesson, students work in groups to complete observation tables of various mutations of the zebra fish embryos. Groups give presentations about their observations.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Postcard to Mom

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students research the stages a lobster larvae passes through. in this lobster lesson, students pretend as if they are the lobster larvae and write a postcard to their lobster mother describing the changes they have been through. There...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Cell Cycle, Mitosis and Meiosis

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders describe the processes involved in mitosis and meiosis. In this life science lesson, 7th graders create chromosome models using strings and beads. They play a jeopardy team game at the end of the unit to review concepts...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Photovoltaics and Solar Energy

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students experiment with photovoltaic cells and determine the energy use of their appliances. In this renewable energy lesson, students calculate the energy emitted by a photovoltaic cell through an inquiry-based lab. They keep track of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Biology: Understanding Cellular Organelles

For Teachers 9th - 11th
Students distinguish the differences between Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic cells. Using microscopes, they examine a variety of plant and animal cells. Working in groups, they draw and label plant and animal cells and show the mathematical...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Science: Bees: An Interdisciplinary Approach

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students investigate the world of bees and describe their characteristics. by identifying the bees' parts, they demonstrate how these parts function. In the lab, students dissect bees and view the various parts under microscopes. ...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Frogs

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students explore the external and internal structures of an amphibian and how frog anatomy compares to human anatomy. They collect pictures of a frog using a digital camera, create a web page, develop a PowerPoint presentation, and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Air Matters

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students research the affects that particulate matter has on the quality of our air and our health. Students analyze a streaming video on air pollution and complete an internet research assignment to find ways to reduce particulate...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Taking Estimation and Measurement Outside

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders gain a better understanding of visual distances and estimation. They actively practice using metric measurement and conversion. Students practice cooperative exploring and team building.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Crystal Painting

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students investigate crystalline solids. In this crystals lesson, students observe samples of natural crystals and compare and contrast each. They draw pictures with crayons and then paint over their picture using crystalline solids...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Now You See It, Now You Don't

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students explore organic and inorganic objects. In this environmental lesson students perform a composting experiment using flowers in different soils. Students record their observations.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Biodiversity of Ponds

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners study the biodiversity in pond water. In this biodiversity lesson plan, students observe 3 samples of pond water using a pond water identification sheet. They record their findings and identify the organisms they find, the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Falling Into Leaves

For Teachers K
Students investigate why leaves change color. In this chlorophyll lesson, students examine how chlorophyll effects the color changes in leaves. Students take pictures of changing leaves, and create a class quilt showing the changes of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Living Organisms as Indicators of Pollutants in Fresh Water Ecosystems

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students observe the effects of pollution on living organisms. For this pollution lesson plan, students observe fresh water Hydra and look at their structures and movement. They place samples of pond and lake water on the Hydra and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What's Covering You? and Why?

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Learners take a closer look at human skin. In this biology lesson plan, students describe the four functions of the skin as they complete a hands-on activity.