Curated OER
How Cell Phones Work
Fifth graders are introduced to the text, LITERACY LINE viewing the contents page. They review the definition of explanatory writing; discussing the features used and complete a KWL chart to identify what they already know about how a...
National Center for Case Study Teaching in Science
Cell Phone Use and Cancer
The cell phone you're using is making you deaf: news at 11:00. Oftentimes, the media uses fear tactics and other techniques to increase its audience base. In an intriguing look at the difference between scientific journals and...
Global Oneness Project
The Value of Ancient Traditions
Imagine having to give up cell phones, computers, and TV? What would be lost? What gained? An examination of the Drokpa, a nomadic people who live in the grasslands of Tibet, provides class members an opportunity to consider how access...
Curated OER
Out of This World
Fifth graders animate their own planets. In this solar system lesson, 5th graders use smartphones and the software, GoKnow Sketchy, to create images for presentations on their created planets that appear to be animated when played at a...
Curated OER
Batteries in Series
Eighth graders examine batteries in a series circuit and the associated voltage. They determine, through inquiry and problem solving, that the total voltage of batteries in a series is the sum of the voltage of each battery. They design...
Curated OER
Student Tracking
Here is an interesting instructional activity on satellite tracking. Learners use various tracking techniques to find out where they go on a daily basis, what the environmental conditions are, and what they are doing during their...
Curated OER
Fuel Cells
Students examine how fuel cells and combustion engines work. Using the internet, they research the positives and negatives of the various energy sources. In groups, they complete an experiment with a working fuel cell model and take a...
Curated OER
Need vs. Wants in Creating Sustainable Communities
Ninth graders create a T chart of their needs and wants. In this environmental science lesson, 9th graders brainstorm ideas on how to create a sustainable community. They decide what they would give up and keep to make the community...
Curated OER
Classroom Recycling Center
Students create, organize and advertise a recycling center in their classroom. Students brainstorm different items that could be recycled, including cell phones and printer cartridges. Various recycling stations are set up in the...
Curated OER
Classroom Recycling Center
Young scholars create, organize and advertise a recycling center in their classroom. Students brainstorm different items that could be recycled, including cell phones and printer cartridges. Various recycling stations are set up in the...
Curated OER
Com-Post With Us? Learn About Recycling While Having Fun
Students examine the importance of recycling to help the environment. In groups, they make a compost bin on the school grounds recording how the material changes from week to week. They collect other materials for recycling like cell...
Curated OER
Reel Projects
Students investigate projectile motion. In this projectile motion lesson, students investigate a website with an interactive lesson. Students view the changes in the projectile they see in the lesson. Students watch short video clips and...
Curated OER
The Path of Electrons
Students engage in an interactive "hot potato" demonstration to gain an appreciation for the flow of electrons through a circuit. They role play the different parts of a simple circuit and send small items representing electrons (paper...
Curated OER
Hurricane Katrina: Lara's Blog
In this Hurricane Katrina Worksheet, students choose the correct answer to each of the 8 multiple choice questions, using the information in Lara's Blog.
Curated OER
Looking at French Decorative Arts: The Science of Good Design
Learners examine the style of an 18th-century compound microscope and its case. In this scientific design lesson plan, students look at Jacques Caffieri's, "Compound Microscope and Case" before comparing the design to a modern...
Curated OER
Electronics: Wants or Needs?
Third graders determine how electronics negatively impact the environment. In this environmental lesson, 3rd graders read the article "Earth Friendly Waste Management", and identify how recycling impacts our environment. Students...
Curated OER
Robot Earth
Students construct a simple robotic energy transformer. In this space science lesson, students explain how energy is transformed from one form to another. They identify the different uses of robotic devices.
Curated OER
Charge-Coupled Devices (CCDs)
Students explore CCDs or Charge-Coupled Devices. In this digital devices lesson, students examine how CCDs are constructed, collect light, and create a digital signal.
Curated OER
Recycling Program
Middle schoolers develop and implement a recycling program in their school. Students work in groups to complete tasks in their student-created recycling program. They keep records of the items collected, the amount of money earned, and...
Curated OER
Observe Earth Day with Art Projects Made from Recycled Materials
Creative hands-on art project ideas that are easy on the earth and easy on a teacher’s budget.
Curated OER
Remote Sensing and Landsat Satellite Imagery
Students comprehend how satellites use remote sensing to produce images. They use supervised classification with Landsat images. Students recognize that the earth's surface has different basic land surfaces that reflect/emit different...