Curated OER
Scouting for Circuits
Fifth graders investigate electricity and how it used in a circuit to be useful energy. They also use this investigation in order to understand how energy can change forms and still be considered useful if put into the right form.
Curated OER
Powdery Mildew Fungi: Classification and Ecology
Students use a written key or illustrated key to identify fungi on plant leaves into its genus based on sexual or asexual reproduction, host range diversity, and host-parasite relationships.
Curated OER
Nanaotechnology: Small Science, BIG DEAL!
Students read an article that introduces them to the science and applications of nanotechnology. They discuss the the everyday examples of how nanotechnology is and can be used. In small groups, they observe and make inferences about...
Curated OER
The Effect of Automobile Exhaust on Hydra in an Environmental Chamber
Students study the structure and habitat of the hydra in this lab activity. Students determine if the hydra can be used as an indicator to detect pollution from automobile exhaust.
Curated OER
Relationships and Biodiversity
Students examine diversity on the planet and the differences within a species. In this investigative lesson students complete a lab that allows students to better understand the relatedness between plants.
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Examine an Ecosystem
Pupils examine an ecosystem and record what they see. For this ecosystem lesson students use a worksheet to help them identify the organisms in their ecosystem.
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How to Make a Kaleidoscope
Sixth graders create a kaleidoscope. In this light refraction lesson, 6th graders create a kaleidoscope to investigate the properties of light.
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The Human Cheek Cell
Students list the parts of cell theory and describe and define vocabulary. In this cell lesson students complete a handout that includes sketching a cell.
Curated OER
The Web of Life
Students participate in a game in which they discover the balance of life in the ocean. They identify different organisms that rely on different types of food. They answer questions to complete the instructional activity.
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Discover Science
Students practice scientific research skills. In this lesson plan about science, students gain experience with the following skills: comparison, observation, identification, and data gathering. Students will go from station to station...
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Bacterial Transformation
Students explore DNA recombination. In this biology lesson, students observe the growth of microscopic species. They predict the phenotype of the transformed colonies.
University of Minnesota
C. elegans and the Search for Extraterrestrial Life
Introduce the topic of astrobiology in a unit that's out of this world. Biology scholars examine the search for extraterrestrial life by culturing roundworms, a species that has been key in helping researchers understand the...
Polar Trec
Rings of Life
Individuals analyze tree rings to determine the health of an ecosystem. They then look at otoliths of fish, hard calcium carbonate structures located behind the brain, in the same manner.
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Wildlife Variety Show: Biodiversity In Illinois
Eighth graders write a short report in first person about any plant or animal found on a list of Illinois species. They become the character of the plant or animal and give a short report describing the plant or animal.
Curated OER
Plane Pretenders
Students examine simple machines evaluating a screw as an inclined plane. In this simple machines lesson, students use nuts and bolts and a microscopic vantage point to discover how to find an inclined plane. Students measure the...
Curated OER
Rocks
Fifth graders, while in the computer lab, investigate and study the composition and level of organization of objects and organisms and utilize technology to collect and store information collected. They explore, research and examine a...
Curated OER
The Strength of the Muscular System
Seventh graders investigate the strength of the muscular system. They explore voluntary and involuntary muscle movement and discuss the types of muscles: cardiac or heart, skeletal, and smooth. They visit stations to answer questions...
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Cell Factory
Learners examine the basic structures and functions of cells. They design and construct a factory cell model where each factory part corresponds to a cell part.
Curated OER
Water Retention and Soil Variation in Local Ecosystems
Students identify the differences in local soil types and the relationship between soil size and water retention. They are introduced to microenvironmental conditions in ecosystem sustainability.
Curated OER
What Do Bread and Beer Have in Common?
Students listen to an explanation of yeast cells and how they effect bread and beer. They discuss the ways alcohol affects the human body and participate in an indirect observation about cell respiration in yeast-molasses cultures.
Curated OER
You've Got to Be Cool to Make Igneous Rocks
Students describe how igneous rocks are formed, design a classification system to group igneous rocks and develop a controlled experiment to prove that the rate of cooling affects the size of the crystals.
Curated OER
The Ladder of Life
Students explain the concepts of what DNA is and where it is located in a cell, identify the two types of molecules that make up the rungs of a DNA molecule and identify the two types of Purine and Pyrimidine molecules
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Why Is My Bread Fuzzy?
Students explore the organisms that live on counters or surfaces in the classroom. In this mold experiment, students observe mold in different conditons. Students record their observations on a worksheet. Students understand how...
Curated OER
Magnify It!
Students view objects of various sizes from several viewing distances to discover that their visual field is limited. They record what they see and compare their observations with classmates. They conduct more structured experiments.