Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Origin of Life: Alternative Views

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students explore the topics of faith and science as they relate to the origins of life. They consider the major points of Darwin's Theory of Evolution and brainstorm various explanations of how life began. Students investigate different...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Beach Comber

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Learners investigate threats to our oceans by investigating items found on a beach.  In this environmental safety lesson, students examine several items found on a beach and identify them as natural, harmful, organic or inorganic...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Natural Inquirer Ecosystem Article Lesson

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Young scholars discover new ways to preserve the ecosystem by completing graphic organizers.  In this environmental lesson, students read an article from the Natural Inquirer in small groups and fill out a graphic organizer based on...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Galileo and the Inevitability of Ideas

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students research Galileo's work and contributions to science. They make a timeline of Galileo's life, discuss the historical context for his book "Dialogue on the Two Chief World Systems" and examine his trial by the Inquisition for...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Call to Arms: Robotic Analogues for Human Structures

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Investigate deep sea discovery through the emerging technology being built.  In this physical science lesson, students analyze the different types of motion available in the human arm.  Students research educational websites...
Unit Plan
Los Angeles Unified School District

River Systems

For Teachers 6th Standards
Scholars must react to the ecosystems of a river. They use inquiry-based learning along with maps and visuals to better understand the impact of rivers on everyday life. To finish, they create final written projects and presentations. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water: Our Most Important Beverage

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders create a KWL chart about water. In this environmental science lesson plan, 3rd graders demonstrate how much water on Earth is usable. They act out the different stages of the water cycle.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water Wonders

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Students explore hydrology concepts. In this environment and biology lesson, students identify and describe macroinvertebrates using a variety of pictures and resources. Students observe and write about a classroom aquarium in which...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Elements for Disaster Reporting

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students identify the elements of natural disasters and gain an understanding on how the media influences people's responses to disasters. In this natural disaster lesson plan, students study the impact of natural disasters, and the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Is the Hudson River Too Salty to Drink?

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students explore reasons for varied salinity in bodies of water. In this geographical inquiry lesson plan, students use a variety of visual and written information including maps, data tables, and graphs, to form a hypothesis as to why...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What's the Connection?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explain hardground communities in the Gulf of Mexico. In this deep-sea ecosystem lesson plan, students investigate the connection between deep-sea ecosystems and petroleum deposits. They discuss the relationship between...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Bronze: Scientific Inquiry through Chinese Art

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students examine the use of bronze and porcelain in Chinese art and commerce through in-class activities, role play events, and small-group discussions in this exciting Social Studies/Arts lesson.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Paper: Scientific Inquiry Through Chinese Art

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students create replicas of Chinese hanging scrolls in an attempt to understand the technology behind the creation and use of paper in Ancient China. This three-day lesson includes enrichment ideas.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Wonder Underground

For Teachers K - 3rd
Students classify and record objects they find "underground." In this observation instructional activity, students dig into bins filled with soil and encounter various objects such as bark, twigs, etc. Students classify their findings.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Death On Board La Belle: Finding Clues from Old Bones

For Teachers 4th - 7th
Students practice analyzing skeletal remains for clues by using the Internet.  In this scientific investigation lesson, students research the La Belle shipwreck using the Internet and written materials, later completing a Skeletal...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Maintaining Plant Genebanks

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine the use, costs, and the need for plant gene banks. The rationale for gaining ownership over scientific information and the implications of the developing nations' reliance on biotechnology is explored in this lesson plan.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Economic Way of Thinking - About Everything

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students write their definitions of economics on index cards and revise them as the activity continues. They discuss the principles of economic reasoning and after completing a quiz, use economic reasoning to solve "real life" mysteries.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Much Water is Available in the Atmosphere for Precipitation?

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students explore the relationship between the amount of water in the atmosphere available for precipitation and the actual precipitation observed by satellite. They examine seasonal changes in precipitation. They practice using Internet...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Hero Or Zero?

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Learners investigate science and technology by reading a children's book.  In this reading comprehension lesson, students read the story Archibald Frisby and discuss the ways we use science and technology in everyday life....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

New Hampshire Unplugged

For Teachers K - 6th
Young historians explore how technology and science affected life in the state of New Hampshire. They define technology and give personal experiences of how technology affects people and how people have used technology. They compare the...
Lesson Plan
EngageNY

TASC Transition Curriculum: Workshop 15

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
What do a cheetah, Audi commercial, and air have in common? They're all topics of an engaging inquiry-based, hands-on workshop for educators about background knowledge, reading strategies, the CER model, and argumentative writing. The...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Relationships, Rules, and Responsibilities

For Teachers 1st
First graders identify jobs in the environment. In this social justice lesson, 1st graders describe rules to protect the environment and the roles specific jobs play. Students construct environmental rules for an imaginary town.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Adapting to Seasonal Changes in the Environment

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders discuss how plants and animals, including humans, adapt to climate and seasonal changes. They research the Colville people, and create dioramas that represent life during different seasons for Colville people.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Habitat Cards

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students discuss the relationship between a habitat and the environment. In groups, they use the internet to research the relationship between the animals and the habitat on their card. They present their information to the class to...