Ninth graders complete an experiment to determine the pH values of a variety of common household substances. They use red cabbage to find the indicator colors of the pH range. They complete a data table that includes a prediction and...

Students analyze data on debt and write an equation. In this statistics lesson, students are given data from different time periods, and are asked to graph and analyze the data. They work in groups, and are assigned different parts of...

Students plot the earthquake epicenter data on the base map of the North Atlantic ocean floor using different symbols or colors to characterize different values.

After a brief discussion on earthquakes, make a makeshift seismograph to record the shaking of the table that it sits upon. While the background information will be useful to you as a teacher, the seismograph does not seem like it would...

Twelfth graders list ideas to create a wellness fair. They form student committees to organize times for each class to participate in the fair. Students assist in setting up the fair by putting up tables for the exhibitors, preparing...

Third graders select a recipe and compare prices for ingredients at two different stores. They select the best place to buy the ingredients and answer questions about the process. They include their data on a spreadsheet related to their...

Seventh graders identify a political cartoon and analyze a pre-Revolutionary War political cartoon. In this political cartoon lesson, 7th graders discuss cartoons and the historical beginnings of American politics using a PowerPoint...

Students study fractions. In this equivalent fractions lesson, students utilize fraction strips to enhance their understanding of equivalent fractions. They watch a demonstration and then work independently with their own set of fraction...

Students experiment with graphing. In this graphing introduction lesson, students complete four activities: 1) a bar graph based on class birthdays 2) an estimation graph of the raisins in raisin bread 3) another estimation example with...

Students make observations about mealworms using hand lenses, rulers, and cotton swabs. Students complete their own mealworm observation chart, then they share their observations with the class. This is one station out of five in an...

New Horizons began its journey to Pluto in 2006. Ten years later, it continues its mission. In that time, scholars have surely grown, but how much more will they grow by the time New Horizons reaches its destination? Find out with an...

Tune in! Young scientists use an AM radio at home to monitor solar output. The long-term project would be ideal in a flipped classroom or as an out-of-class project. 

If the Greenland ice sheet melted, sea levels would rise by about 20 ft; if the Antarctic ice sheet melted, sea levels would rise by 200 ft. Scholars explore ice melting through the analysis of different ice samples, clean and dirty ice....

How do you create a map of the ocean floor without getting wet? Middle school oceanographers discover the process of bathymetric mapping in the third installment in a five-part series of lessons designed for seventh and eighth graders....

Here is a resource with a descriptive approach to explaining the scientific method. It's simple, but effective for both introduction and reinforcement of this concept. 

Scholars learn to create scatter plots and investigate any relationships that exists between the variables with a instructional activity that also show them that statistical relationships do not necessarily indicate a...

Plant growth experiments offer rich, cross-curricular learning opportunities that can really excite and engage young learners. In this series, children work in pairs planting, measuring, and comparing the height of bean plants in order...

Investigate the maximum power output of a photovoltaic panel with a lesson that introduces the class to the maximum power point. Individuals learn how to determine the maximum power point of a solar panel by using Ohm's law and the power...

How do scientists identify which elements originate from meteorites? Scholars learn about a sample of material found in a remote location, analyzing the sample to determine if it might be from Earth or not. They study elements, isotopes,...

Tune in for savings! Scholars investigate pricing schemes for two different online music download sites. After comparing the two, they determine the numbers of songs for which each site would be cheaper.

A penny saved is a penny earned! Scholars research the different ways to save money over a lifetime. They investigate the Rule of 72, compound interest, and sub-prime loans to gain an understanding of how banks aid in the saving process....

Cell size is limited by the surface area to volume ratio, but why is this true? Scholars measure the surface area and volume of cubes before placing them into liquid. After a set amount of time, they measure the uptake by diffusion for...

Everyone's a winner. Scholars analyze a spinner with five unequal sections, three of which represent winning a toy car and the other two represent winning a toy truck. They conduct an experiment to estimate the number of toy cars and...

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...