Curated OER
SOIL
Second graders name the various materials that comprise soil, including weathered rock and other organic matter; and explain that soils differ in their color, texture, capacity to retain water, and ability to support the growth of many...
Curated OER
Bug Hunt
Students strengthen observational skills by searching for insects in their home and classroom. In this observation lesson, students use magnifying glasses to classify what kinds of bugs were found. Students then create a bar graph to...
Virginia Department of Education
Weather Patterns and Seasonal Changes
Get your class outside to observe their surroundings with a lesson highlighting weather patterns and seasonal changes. First, learners take a weather walk to survey how the weather affects animals, people, plants, and trees during...
Curated OER
Drawing From Nature
Students observe similarities and differences of natural objects. In this observation instructional activity, students use a magnifying glass to identify the details of objects.
Cornell University
Sun or Water? or Both?
Over the course of 10 days, young scientists observe their cups of seed and soil—one that gets sun and water and one that gets no sun and only water. Then they reflect on the results of the experiment to determine if their hypothesis was...
Curated OER
Clearly Classified
Learners investigate plants and insects. In this science classification lesson, students create separate categories for insects and plants by characteristics. Learners discover scientific names of insects.
Curated OER
How Does Climate Affect Plant Growth?
First graders compare plant samples obtained from two different sites to explore how climate affects plants.
Curated OER
Classifying Monocot And Dicot Plants
Sixth graders identify the parts of a flower, and tell the difference between monocots and dicots. They group plant by leaf types and characteristics placing the information in table form on the computer.
Curated OER
The Rock Cycle
Third graders, in groups, examine soil samples with magnifying glasses. They discuss the living and non-living things they find in their soild samples.
Curated OER
Sumptuous Sprouting Seeds!
Third graders investigate the wonderful and wondrous world of plants. They examine the inside of a seed, explore the different parts of a seed, plant their own seeds, watch them sprout and then eat them! They describe, using their...
Curated OER
Clearly Classified
Young scholars review the classification system for living organisms and apply it the classification of insects and flowers in the still life by Ambrosius Bosschaert. They create a chart classifying the animals and plants in the painting...
Curated OER
Structure of Seeds and Effects of Fertilizer on Plant Growth
Investigate the structure of seeds and the effects of fertilizer on the growth of plants. Young scientists observe a peanut and determine if it is a monocot or dicot plant. They plant seeds and make varying solutions of fertilizer, then...
Curated OER
Sedimentary Rocks
Fourth graders discuss the basic properties of rocks, the processes
involved in the formation of soils, and the needs of plants provided by soil. They write descriptions in their Science journal and identify and discuss each type of...
Curated OER
Microorganisms: Good Guys or Bad Guys?
Learners discover the role microorganisms play in our lives. In this decomposition lesson, students examine decaying foods and plants in order to analyze the different bacteria that grows. Learners discuss the good and bad of...
Curated OER
Cleansing, Sparkling Koos
Students explore the importance of water conservation and investigate how plants clean water.
Curated OER
Inside A seed
Learners examine the inside of a seed to see the beginnings of a plant. They identify the elements that plants need to grow and survive. They grow their seeds in the classroom.
Curated OER
Forest Ecosystem Field Trip
Students investigate the environment by participating in a class field trip. In this botany lesson, students attend a field trip through their local park or forest while listening to a nature guide. Students practice using their 5 senses...
University of Hawaiʻi
Taxonomy and Me!
Taxonomy is the study of organisms and how you phylum. Three biology activities are included, helping scholars understand four of the six kingdoms, specifically Protista, Plantae, Fungi, and Animalia. Scholars observe and classify in...
Curated OER
Get to The Root of It!
Students study a real plant to explore its parts. They discover the function of the plant parts which they diagram and label.
Curated OER
Germination: Name that Seed
Learners investigate seeds, flowers and germinating seeds. In this germination lesson plan, students observe a stalk of corn, a corn seed, Gladiolas and glass jars containing germinating sees and plants. Learners answer 8 questions...
Curated OER
Seed Socks
Young scholars explore how seeds travel. In this seed disbursement lesson, students head outside in their bare socks. Young scholars walk around then before going inside they take the socks off and examine what their socks picked up. As...
Curated OER
Watermelon Graphing
Students discover bar graphs. For this primary math lesson plan, students identify the parts of watermelon seeds and other seeds. Students learn the proper names and common names which refer to the parts of the seeds as they create a bar...
Curated OER
LOOKING AT LAWNS
Students investigate the importance of plants to animals by exploring their own schoolyard. They record relevant observations, findings, and measurements, using written language, drawings, charts, and graphs. They describe ways in...
Curated OER
Investigating Bean Pods and How They Grow
Third graders observe and create a record of seed growth over time. After planting a seed, 3rd graders record their observations of the seed's growth over a three week period. Upon conclusion of the experiment, they write a paragraph...