Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Examining Pond Life

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students collect and examine microscopic life from a local pond. For this biology lesson, students examine local pond water, searching for protozoa, with the use of a microscope. Students identify the various life forms in their slides...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Plant and Animal Cells - Are they Different?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students observe the similarities and differences between plant and animal cells. In this cell activity, students use microscopes to observe self prepared slides of animal and plant cells.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Living Organisms as Indicators of Pollutants in Fresh Water Ecosystems

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students observe the effects of pollution on living organisms. For this pollution lesson plan, students observe fresh water Hydra and look at their structures and movement. They place samples of pond and lake water on the Hydra and...
Unit Plan
Columbus City Schools

Let’s Get Theoretical About Cells

For Teachers 6th Standards
Get up close and personal with cells in a hands-on journey to discover what makes up living things. Scholars learn valuable microscope skills, delve into the Modern Cell Theory, and gain insight into how cells reproduce. The included lab...
Activity
Teach Engineering

Grow Your Own Algae!

For Teachers 7th - 10th Standards
Develop a model of a wastewater treatment center. The last activity of the unit has pupils mix a lake water sample into a tank of water containing fertilizers. Over time, the algae from the lake water grows and removes the nutrient-rich...
Activity
Colorado State University

Why Can Warm Air "Hold" More Moisture than Cold Air?—Vapor Pressure Exercise

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Does it feel a little humid in here? Learners assume the role of water vapor in the atmosphere as they explore the differences between warm and cold air. They roll dice to determine their level of energy, which determines if they...
Activity
NOAA

Toxic! Or Is It?

For Students 3rd - 5th
Super scientists tests the toxicity of water using radish seed bioassays. Over the course of five days, scholars observe the germination process of several radish seeds, looking closely at their roots to determine the level of toxins...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Life in a Drop of Water

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars examine the structure, function, and characteristics of microscopic organisms that inhabit freshwater through collection of water samples and observation through microscopes.
Worksheet
Curated OER

Microscope Mania Unit Review

For Students 9th - 12th
In this microscope worksheet, students complete a crossword puzzle given twenty three hints about the parts of a microscope, the magnification of a microscope and the types of microscopes.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Pond Water Survey

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students identify and describe various organisms living in a pond water environment. They describe the characteristics of living things. Students compare and contrast organisms created by asexual reproduction and sexual reproduction....
Worksheet
Curated OER

Microscope Basics

For Students 9th - 12th
In this microscope worksheet, high schoolers label the parts of a microscope, they calculate the powers of magnification for each lens on the scope and they answer questions about making a wet mount slide.
Activity
Curated OER

The Water Drop Project

For Teachers 10th
Students discover the microorganisms that live in water. They study the structures and life functions of protists and recognize the similarities between them and multicellular organisms.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Microscope Basics

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students examine a microscope and learn its parts.  In this microscope lesson students study the different parts of the microscope and see the differences in the adjustments then make their own wet slide. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water Quality Monitoring

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Learners study the water quality of a stream in their area, by measuring the temperature, pH, alkalinity and conductivity. They integrate biology with earth science when using the microscope to study the living organisms in the water.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Microscopes and Telescopes

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students analyze a microscope and study what they do.  In this investigative lesson students study how microscopes were first invented, and how ray diagrams are used in conjunction. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Microscopes and Crystals

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars observe crystals under the microscope. For this science lesson, students compare how the crystal look like using their eyes, hand lens and microscope. They identify the type of crystal based on the amount of light they...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

History and Development of the Microscope

For Teachers 9th - 12th
In this microscope worksheet, students review how microscopes work and how early scientists figured out how microscopes could help them with their discoveries. This worksheet has 3 fill in the blank and 7 short answer questions.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Is Your Water Clean?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students conduct tests of water samples from different sources, such as a local river, tap water, and an irrigation ditch. After determining which pollutants are present in each sample, students hypothesize the possible sources of the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Daily Survival Requirements of Water

For Teachers K - 3rd
Learners will use inquiry science to complete an investigation. They create hypotheses predicting the changes water undergoes in becoming ice and determine how much ice needs to be melted to create one 8 oz. glass of water.
PPT
Curated OER

Marine Fisheries Management

For Teachers 10th - Higher Ed
The many aspects to consider in Marine Fisheries are covered in this very detailed PowerPoint.  There are a large number of slides dealing with both the conditions to consider and terms regarding fisheries. It also covers the laws,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Microfishing

For Teachers 4th - 12th
Students use a simple method to collect living microorganisms from natural and/or artificial environments and develop skills in microscopy, observation, drawing, speculation, hypothesizing, oral presentation, and raising questions.
Lesson Plan
University of California

Plankton

For Teachers 4th - 12th
Plankton: so much more than just a SpongeBob character. Three different activities have kids looking at both phytoplankton and zooplankton in pictures, as well as collecting their own samples (depending on your access to a saltwater...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Comparing Microscopic Organisms in Fresh and Polluted Water: An Invitation To Inquiry

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Pupils have the opportunity to develop and formulate ideas and explanations through the scientific standard of inquiry. They identify organisms by using an identification key for specific aquatic geographical area.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Pond 2: Life in a Drop of Pond Water

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Learners observe organisms found in pond water with a microscope. In groups, they discuss how single-celled organisms satisfy their needs for food, water and air. They compare and contrast the needs of macroscopic and microscopic...