Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Nature Notes

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students spend some time outdoors and record their observations of abiotic conditions, geologic surroundings and living organisms. They reflect and write about the experience of being observant in nature.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Energy Activities

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students conduct a variety of experiments related to solar energy, heating, cooling, gravity, physical insulation and wind. They consider how the experiments relate to energy and the consumption of energy and then participate in a class...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Design your own Water Temperature Experiment

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students use Robolab sensors and software to design an experiment that incorporates the use of temperature probes. They conduct the experiment, complete a lab sheet, evaluate the results and then consider if their hypothesis requires...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Desert Xeriscaping

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders identify native species of desert vegetation, plan a xeriscape landscape, and recognize the importance of water conservation.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Animal Life Histories Derived From Morphology

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students learn the mechanisms of natural selection by deducing information from the physical appearance of the animal.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Get on the Hurricane Track...Prepare Yourself!

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Young scholars research hurricanes. Students explore the stages of hurricanes, the Weather Forecasting Center, and tracking of hurricanes. They analyze information and produce a public service announcement educating the public on...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Discovering the Mathematics of Sound

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Young scholars study the basic skills of algebraic manipulations. They practice the application of basic mathematics in science and determine the nature of good acoustics. They develop proposals for providing good acoustics and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Photosynthesis: An enlightening experience

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students observe the effect of light on plants. They illustrate the exchange of gases between the atmosphere and the plant. Students see that plants are part of many natural cycles. They investigate how green plants use the sun's energy...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Come Shine with Us: Floor Polish Testing and Industrial Science To Teach Critical Thinking

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers discover that science relates to everyday life and see testing procedures used in an industrial laboratory. Students compare various brands of household and industrial floor polishes for specific criteria.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Dynamics of Populations

For Teachers 10th
Tenth graders analyze the growth rate of different population. In this biology experiment, 10th graders identify the biotic and abiotic factors that limit population size. They create a poster to show their findings in class.
Worksheet
Curated OER

Intermediate Critical Reading - Photography

For Students 5th - 6th
Inform your class about the origins of photography with this short passage and accompanying questions. After reading a short informational text, leaners answer 3 questions about the content of the text. This resource could be used in a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

China: Dim Sum: The Giant Panda of China Lesson

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Students examine pictures of the giant and red pandas of China, discuss and chart the panda's habitat requirements and draw a panda in its habitat using the charted information as a guide.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Feeding the Birds

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students build bird feeders. In this aviary lesson, students build different types of bird feeders. This web page includes information on which type of feeder attracts which birds and what food to use with the certain feeder type.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Breaking it Down

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers will identify the factors that contribute to erosion and weathering. They will start by differentiating between chemical and mechanical weathering. They then apply what they learned by playing the online jeopardy game. Key...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Class Trip

For Teachers 3rd - 5th Standards
Mrs. Moore's class is trying to earn money for a trip to the science museum, but how much more do they need? Solve this problem with your own class as they develop their ability to model real-life situations algebraically. As an added...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Fortune Teller Fish

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners demonstrate how to create and test a hypothesis. They design an experiment and set up a variable, experimental group and control group.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Science: Leaf Study

For Teachers 1st
First graders go on a leaf-hunting expedition around the schoolyard. They determine from which trees they fell using identification cards. Students read several books about leaves and apply their artistic skills by using the collected...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Tsunami

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students examine what causes tsunamis and why they all behave differently.  In this tsunami lesson students complete a group activity after viewing a video. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Evolution Works

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students examine the term natural selection and what behavioral adaptations are.  For this evolution lesson students view videos about evolution and perform experiments that simulate populations that interplay between the forces of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Natural Resources and Transportation in the United States

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students study thematic maps (included with the instructional activity) to determine possible relationships. They develop three hypotheses about the relationship. Students choose one of their hypotheses to explain. The explanation is to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Are You Thirsty? The Effects of Pollution on Drinking Water

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Discuss the availability of clean, plentiful water and the causes of water pollution. In groups, sixth graders discuss problem-solving methods for keeping water clean. They explore the function of water treatment plants and perform...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Doctrine of Signatures

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Learners use the graphing calculator and the core equation: y=Ax^2+Bx+C where A = the acceleration of gravity/2, B = the initial velocity, and C = initial height above ground to graph parabolas for Earth and Mars. They experiment with...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Point of View and Scientific Truth

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers investigate the mystery of the "destructive force." They explore the concepts of natural phenomena. Students discuss the limited aspects of natural phenomena and the "whole truth" to generate new hypotheses that can be...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Make Sense of Nature

For Teachers 1st - 5th
Students participate in this program that heightens their awareness and curiosity of nature as well as their sense of adventure and exploring new surroundings. They identify and choose an object from nature after exploring it with other...