Activity
Teach Engineering

Kidney Stone Crystallization

For Students 9th - 12th
No one likes kidney stones, but they are very interesting to learn about. The last installment of a three-part unit has learners experiment with different chemicals to see which one inhibits the growth of calcium oxalate crystals (which...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Bug's Eye View

For Teachers K - 5th
Investigate the life of bugs and how they interact with the environment in this integrated science and language arts lesson. Young scientists construct mini environments in cages in order to make observations. This data forms the basis...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sensational Seaweed

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students compare kelp and land plants. In this sea plant lesson, students look at the role of algae in aquatic environments. They research the properties of kelp and explore seaweed. 
Activity
National Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network

Lines on Paper - Laser Box

For Teachers 9th - Higher Ed
See what you cannot see by getting a little creative. An intriguing lesson has learners use lasers to explore X-ray diffraction. Given a box with unknown structures, they shine a laser through the box and interpret the results....
Lesson Plan
California Academy of Science

Carbon Cycle Role Play

For Teachers 3rd - 12th Standards
Anytime you make concepts clear with role playing or hands-on experience, it's a win for the whole class. Ping-Pong balls are used to represent carbon in a carbon cycle role-play activity. In small groups, children first discuss what...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Nature of Salt

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students record information from the periodic table for sodium and chloride. They determine whether salts are molecular or ionic compounds, along with sodium chloride's molecular weight, and relative weights
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Habitat Assessment

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders demonstrate the effects of varying environmental components on plants and animals: chemical, physical and biological characteristics of a habitat. They find chemical, physical and biological characteristics of the lake at...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Particulate Observation

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Pupils examine samples of common dust from their homes and school under a microscope. Students describe their samples including the location from where they were collected, and compare their samples to make hypotheses about their findings.
Organizer
Curated OER

How Does Matter Look Up Close?

For Students 1st - 3rd
In this matter worksheet, students complete a graphic organizer by identifying tools that are used to magnify objects too small to see with just their eyes.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Microscopy Exercises

For Teachers 2nd - 7th
Students explore organisms and botany by utilizing microscopes. In this microscopic research lesson plan, students define many plant and organism related vocabulary terms such as conifers, moss and spores. Students view spores and other...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Energy of Life in Zebrafish

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Pupils study the stages of development of an unknown organism. For this zebrafish lesson, students examine and collect data as they use microscopes to view a zebrafish embryo.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Let's Learn About Lettuce

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students learn more about lettuce. In this agriculture lesson, students listen to their instructor lecture about the history of lettuce. Students then participate in an activity that requires them to compare and contrast iceberg lettuce...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Butterfly Round-Up

For Teachers 2nd - Higher Ed
Students classify the characteristics of butterflies and moths moths. For this life cycle lesson, students identify butterflies and moths common in the state of Iowa as well as their characteristics.  Students then learn the proper...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Coordination

For Students 9th - 12th
Multiple choice, fill-in-the-blank, short answer, and matching questions are all here in a multi-page learning exercise or quiz. While the formatting leaves a little to be desired, it would take just a few minutes to change the handout...
Lesson Plan
Biology Corner

Cell Theory Rap

For Teachers 7th - 12th
All that this will link you to is a rap about cell theory and organelles. Use it as an example for a creative assignment in your biology class. Divide the class into groups and assign them a topic for which they write and perform a skit,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Cell Theory, Plant And Animal Cell Comparison

For Teachers 10th
Tenth graders study plant and animal cells.  In this investigative lesson students draw their own animal cells and label them. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Comparative Embryology Using Japanese Medaka Fish

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers conduct an experiment to control the breeding of Japanese Medaka fish. They collect the fertilized eggs and view and record the fish's embryological development daily to compare the stages to human development.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Using A Winogradsky Column to Analyze Microbial Communities

For Teachers 4th - 11th
Students use easily obtained materials to study ecological succession in a microbiological community. They collect water samples from outdoor sources in plastic bottles to observe and record changes.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Powdery Mildew Fungi: Classification and Ecology

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students use a written key or illustrated key to identify fungi on plant leaves into its genus based on sexual or asexual reproduction, host range diversity, and host-parasite relationships.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Relationships and Biodiversity

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students examine diversity on the planet and the differences within a species.  In this investigative lesson students complete a lab that allows students to better understand the relatedness between plants. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Effects of ATP and Ions on Rabbit Psoas Muscle

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Young scholars prepare single strands of muscle cell. They microscopically examine muscle cells and identify bands of darker and lighter proteins. They predict, observe, describe and quantify the effects of ions and ATP.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Dry Forest: Flowers

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Learners explore botany by examining diagrams. In this plant reproduction lesson, students define a list of plant vocabulary terms and identify plant anatomy from a diagram. Learners complete several plant activity worksheets and study...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Soybean Science

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders explore food science by participating in a cooking activity. In this soybean oil lesson plan, 4th graders listen as the teacher gives them a background on soybeans and their use by humans today. Students grind soybeans and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Understanding Cell Division

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers collect and describe cells from an onion root tip which are undergoing the stages of cell division. They use a ProScope USB microscope to identify and compare cells in five phases of mitosis.