Curated OER
Immersion Presents Monterey Bay
Students study Monterey Bay. In this Monterey Bay instructional activity, students create a model of upwelling around Monterey Bay. Students simulate surface water movement relative to prevailing winds.
Curated OER
The Shape of Things
Pupils study the natural incubation of hens and the important characteristics of the egg shell. They perform experiments to test the strength of the dome shape of an egg and prove that an eggshell has pores to allow air to pass. ...
Curated OER
Antarctica I
Learners explore exploring and expiditions then simlate their own on campus. They divide into small "expedition groups." Have each team report back to the class about their expeditions, using written, oral, or videotaped presentations.
Curated OER
Determination of Overall Water Quality Using a Quantitative Macroinvertebrate Survey
Students examine water samples from a local stream. They identify various types of macroinvertebrates found in that water ecosystem and perform a quantitative macroinvertebrate survey to determine the stream's water quality.
Exploratorium
Pixels, Pictures, and Phones
Take a real close look at your phone screen. What do you see? Here's an activity that provides guidance on how to look at a smart phone screen in order to see the pixels and to see how the phone creates colors and motion on the...
TryEngineering
What is a Nanometer?
Exactly how small is a nanometer? Scholars investigate the scale of a nanometer by measuring classroom objects and converting these measurements to nanometers.
Cornell University
The Science of Snowflakes
Who can grow the best crystals? Challenge class members to develop strategies for enhancing growth in the crystals. Through a lab investigation, learners study the properties of crystals and test the effectiveness of different...
Teach Engineering
Grow Your Own Algae!
Develop a model of a wastewater treatment center. The last activity of the unit has pupils mix a lake water sample into a tank of water containing fertilizers. Over time, the algae from the lake water grows and removes the nutrient-rich...
Teach Engineering
Are We Alone?
Find an answer to the age-old debate of whether life exists on Mars. Groups determine criteria to help look for signs of life on Mars. The activity has the class simulate testing Martian soil samples for signs of life before drawing...
Cornell University
Study Soil
What's in soil? Young scientists study the pH levels of soil from their school yard. They observe the land and area the soil came from to decide if location has anything to do with acidity level.
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Genes Get Shuffled When Chromosomes Exchange Pieces
Some genes link to others that have implications for inheritance. A set of resources lead pupils through the history of this discovery. They explain how chromosomes recombine and which parts are more susceptible to this linkage....
Curated OER
Find the Speed of a Protist
Students identify protists under a microscope, and using a stopwatch calculate the speed of a protist from a pond water sample. They use distance and time to identify the speed of a protist, and create a distance versus time graph to...
Curated OER
Critters in the Classroom
Students investigate with sea urchins. In this ocean habitat lesson, students observe sea urchins and other ocean grazers. Students work with lab equipment to examine the anatomy of these creatures.
Curated OER
Activities of the Immune System (Activity 1)
Students cut an apple in half and cover half with plastic wrap. They place drops of liquid on each half and discover how our skin protects us. They answer discussion questions to end the lesson.
Curated OER
Cell Cycle Portfolio
Students work together in groups to complete various stations on the cycles of cells. Individually, they keep their completed work in a folder after following specific instructions on how to complete each experiment. They use the...
Curated OER
Classification of an Echinoderm
Students study starfish through dissection. In this biology lesson plan, students explore the lives of starfish as they view a slide show, observe parts of echinoderms, and compare the classification of the starfish with other...
Curated OER
River Reflections
Sixth graders create podcasts and video public service announcements. In this environmental advocacy lesson, 6th graders study the local watershed and become advocates for their local environment. In the process, they create podcasts and...
Curated OER
Pyrites
Students examine the mineral pyrite and discover the differences between it and gold. In this mineral instructional activity students identify minerals using their common properties.
Curated OER
Seeing Cells
Sixth graders study living cells and their functioning units. In this cell instructional activity students color cell diagrams, answer questions and discuss the differences between plant and animal cells.
Curated OER
Biological Sampling Device Using a Sea Perch
Students construct plankton nets to be towed and collect specimens to be examined and analyzed in the classroom. They develop research skills through collection of an aquatic sample. They write lab reports after interpreting, identifying...
Curated OER
Exploring Food with Senses
Young scholars explore properties of fruits and vegetables using their five senses. In this sensory activity instructional activity, students study fruit and vegetables through a microscope, using their sense of touch as they are...
Curated OER
Wacky Water Critters
Students visit a local creek or stream. They collect water samples from the creek and observe and sort the "water critters" they find in the sample, observing smaller organisms under a microscope if necessary. They identify each organism...
Curated OER
Naked to the Eye
Sixth graders conduct a variety of experiments that enable them to investigate bacteria. They use microscopes, prepared slides, video, moldy bread and pond water to observe types of bacteria and how bacteria interacts with the...
Curated OER
Viewing Bateria
High schoolers use microscopes to observe E. coli bacateria on prepared slides and in a live culture. They use micro-slide viewers to observe the shapes of various bacteria and the structures within the bacterial cell. Students make an...