Curated OER
Diversity of Life: Geologic Time Scale
Students investigate the history of Earth by creating a geologic time scale. In this Earth History lesson, students practice sequencing events in their life as a way to get familiar with creating a time scale. Students...
Curated OER
Creating Coacervates
Students create and observe coacervates. In this origin of life lesson, students create coacervates by mixing carbohydrate and protein solutions. They observe the life-like qualities of the structures and discuss the origin of life.
Curated OER
Pond Life
Students explore pond ecosystems. In this living environment activity, students observe the local pond and identify the living things they find by drawing pictures. Students observe organisms that were found in the pond by using a...
Curated OER
Global Warming: Life in a Greenhouse
Students examine the evidence that scientists have used to support the existence of global warming and the greenhouse effect. How the concepts have been developed and evaluated form the focus of this lesson.
Curated OER
The Magic School Bus Takes a Dive
Young scholars learn along with Ms. Frizzle's class. In this Magic School Bus lesson plan, students find out how partners can help run a race just as Wanda learns that survival on the coral reef often depends on cooperation.
Curated OER
Teaching Science to English Language Learners
Use these hands on lesson plans to make science more accessible for English Language Learners in your classroom.
Curated OER
Seeds, Miraculous Seed
Learners investigate relationships between plants and animals and how living things change during their lives. In this life cycle instructional activity, students split different types of seeds apart to see the beginning life stages of...
Curated OER
Introduction to Restoration Lesson
Students explore how pollution and invasive plants disrupt the ecosystem. In this restoration lesson students list materials that pollute wetlands, how people can keep them clean and ways in which invasive plants establish.
Curated OER
Fossil Fuel Sources, Usage and Alternatives: What are the Options?
Students identify the different sources of fossil fuels. In this environmental science lesson, students research about how these impact our environment. They explore renewable energy sources that could replace fossil fuels.
Curated OER
Infectious Diseases: Hepatitis B and Tuberculosis
Students discover the different sources of pathogens that cause diseases. In this health science activity, students explore different ways to treat infections. They create a persuasive pamphlet on their position on vaccination.
Curated OER
Indianapolis 500 Unit-Science
Fourth graders access prior knowledge of simple machines to build a car. In this car design lesson, 4th graders create and race their cars. Students evaluate what was good and bad about their designs. Each car will incorporate a...
Curated OER
Sunflower Jigsaw
Students recognize and name the main parts of a flower. In this life science lesson, the teacher leads a discussion about the parts of a plant, then students color and cut out the parts of a planet, then glue the parts together...
Curated OER
Seed Dispersal
Students determine seed dispersal methods. For this life science lesson, students make predictions about how seeds might move, then look at seeds under micrographs or microscopes to analyze the seed coat and how this helps dispersal. ...
Curated OER
Tank Trials - Measuring Germination
Students observe and measure seed germination. In this life science lesson plan, students use 'tanks' to observe a set of seeds as they germinate and begin growing, make predictions, and record their data. Lesson includes background...
Curated OER
Seed Sorting
Learners examine and sort seeds. In this life science lesson, students make general observations of a tub of seeds, then develop sorting criteria for sorting the deeds. Lesson includes extension activities.
Curated OER
Eating Plants
Students identify parts of a plant. In this life science lesson, student groups locate the leaves and fruits on vegetables, then find the roots. Lesson includes extension activities and background teacher information.
Curated OER
Introduction to Seed Germination
Students explore seed germination. In this life science lesson plan, students start seeds in Petri dishes, then observe which ones germinate and make predictions.
Curated OER
Lost Ladybugs
Students study ladybugs. In this life science lesson, students collect ladybugs from the schoolyard and explore their characteristics. Students illustrate pictures of ladybugs.
Curated OER
Salmon in the Classroom
Students list the salmon life cycle stages in order. They draw a stream with the vegetation, animals, and water quality parameters that are necessary for salmon survival. Students explain the connection between animal morphology and...
Consortium for Ocean Science Exploration and Engagement (COSEE)
Understanding the Food Web
Building on prior knowledge of the pervious instructional activity in the series, pupils explain the previous instructional activity to each other. Then they write a simple guide for a young child to read on the same topic.
NOAA
Importance of Deep-Sea Ecosystems – Chemists with No Backbones
Marine invertebrates offer us many new options for developing pharmaceutical drugs, such as w-conotoxin MVIIA, which is extracted from the cone snail and is a potent painkiller. The lesson encourages scholars to research various types of...
Curated OER
Butterfly, Butterfly: Teaching Vocabulary
Kindergarteners practice new words through listening to and reading the science book Butterfly by Jenny Feely. The teacher will first choose words that are essential for understanding the text. Then, using pictures in the text,...
NOAA
Deep-Sea Ecosystems – Cool Corals
Young oceanographers research deep sea corals that thrive on chemosynthesis. The lesson plan focuses on the biology of the animal, preferred habitat, associations, and interactions.