If tap water is more acidic than ocean water, why are we so concerned about ocean acidification? The third installment of a 23-part NOAA Enrichment in Marine sciences and Oceanography (NEMO) program focuses on carbon dioxide levels in...

A thorough and engaging slideshow presentation discusses all things computer, from artificial intelligence programs to text messaging lingo. Computer science students will get a kick out of the examples for ELIZA, Otto Jesperson's...

How does examining an ice core tell us about weather? Learners set up and explore fake ice cores made of sugar, salt, and ash to represent historical snowfall and volcanic eruptions. From their setups, scholars determine what caused the...

Build learning by breaking atoms! Young scientists study the way energy changes with a hands-on activity. As they roll steel marbles down a ramp, learners test the hypothesis that kinetic energy does not go away with friction...

Students explain the importance of having a control when setting up an experiment.

Young scholars investigate the Law of Conservation of Energy and the relationship between heat and temperature. In this heat energy and chemical changes instructional activity, students observe a candle heating a paper cup of water and...

For this lab design and lab skills worksheet, students answer questions about experimental design including finding variables, determining controls, and graphing data. They answer questions about microscopy and label the parts of a...

Students investigate a scientific phenomena. In this scientific investigation lesson plan, students hypothesize why water rises around a lit candle sitting in a pie tin of water as it is covered. They reflect on questions raised during...

Learners investigate the question: "How does a hot air balloon work?" They build small hot air balloons ans then lauch them. Students discuss how they think a hot air balloon floats. Pupils are introduced to the use of models as a...

Students investigate the physical, chemical and biological parameters necessary to establish an ecological baseline. Establishing an ecological baseline not only shows the ecological characteristics of a creek but makes the possible...

Students explore how historians construct a story out of fragments of the past; a discussion of nineteenth century poetry and art leads students to connect art and literature to their place in time.

Young scholars identify what factors effect global warming and how the greenhouse effect occurs.  In this environmental lesson plan students view videos then complete an experiment using a terrarium to observe greenhouse gas.

Students examine composition of dirty bomb and its possible effects on a city, and investigate simulations of such an event; students use computational and problem solving skills to assess damage and prepare report proposing solution to...

In this airplane worksheet, students compare the mass of an airplane to the mass of a paper clip airplane to see if the mass determines the best flight. Students complete 5 trials for each.

In this angle of movement and speed worksheet, students determine at which angle a car will travel the fastest. They test 12 different angles on a toy car and determine from their data which angle is the best for speed.

Students place different subspecies of a CA salamander are placed on grid map of CA according to where samples were collected. Then discuss patterns of their distribution, their likely evolutionary relationships, and probable sequence of...

Students investigate how to design and build items with a focus on structural strength as an engineer would. They complete a truss-building project as a final assessment.

Fourth graders examine the artifacts obtained from an excavated Siouan village site. They make inferences about the people who once lived there based on the artifacts and complete a Research Team Report.

Students experiment with seeds and germination. In this natural science activity, students discuss the stages of germination. Students engage in a 4 part hands on science activity to view the process of germination.

Students participate in an environmental clean-up activity. In this environmental lesson, students travel to a local beach. Working in small teams, students collect trash from the local beach. Returning to school, students sort the trash...

Seventh graders examine a teacher-created database and identify specific variables and develop hypothesis statements as to their possible effect. They create a summary statement either proving or disproving their hypothesis.

Students investigate the basic survival needs of both hornworms and humans. They compare and contrast the them by making a class list.

Environmental health students read about an outbreak of aflatoxin poisoning with the intent to examine the stages of an epidemiologic investigation. As they read the case study, they identify where the outbreak occurred, form a...

Students are taught how to format and enter data into an Excel spreadsheet. They make a graph and interpret graphed data. Students discuss possible impacts of water chestnut invasion. They graph data on water chestnut. Students report...