Pennsylvania Department of Education
The Digestive System
Fourth graders simulate how the digestive system works. In this hands-on simulation, 4th graders complete six group activities that help students visualize how our body breaks down food into nutrients.
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Philanthropy, Volunteering And Service: the Historical Connections Lesson 2: Hunger Hurts
Students investigate the effects of hunger on a personal and community level. They examine how philanthropy can help alleviate hunger issues in the world and in their own community. They look at the available services using Internet...
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What Plants Need in Order to Survive and Grow: Light
Students conduct an experiment to evaluate whether plants need light to survive and grow. They observe and gather data about plant responses to different growth regimes, analyze the data, and make conclusions about basic plant needs.
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What Plants Need in Order to Survive and Grow: Soil
Students conduct an experiment to evaluate whether plants need soil to survive and grow. They plant two seeds, one with soil and one without, make predictions, and record and analyze the seed germination results on a worksheet.
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How do living and non-living structures affect coral reef habitats?
Students create model coral reefs showing surface area and including examples of communities. In this coral reef lesson, students research and explore the functions or benefits from a coral reef. Students design a benthic...
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Vermicomposting
First graders investigate composting. For this biology lesson, 1st graders identify ways to use garbage as fertilizer. Students examine soil and compost matter as well as the role of worms in the dirt.
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Fable of the Fainting Goat
Second graders explore animal life by reading children stories in class. In this goat fable lesson, 2nd graders read several books which describe the different myths and folklore about goats. Students identify the needs of living animals...
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My Little Seed House
Second graders explore plant life by participating in a germination activity. In this botany lesson, 2nd graders read several books about seed germination including Sunflower House and Tiny Seed. Students identify the necessary elements...
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Cows, Worms and Compost
Third graders explore agriculture by viewing a PowerPoint presentation in class. In this animal relationship lesson, 3rd graders identify the types of farm animals humans feed on and their dependency on such small insects like worms....
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What's in the Soil?
Fourth graders examine soil to find its contents, and how much water and air they can measure. In this soil composition lesson, 4th graders perform three experiments and record their results. In one experiment they examine...
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Frozen, Canned or Fresh?
Young scholars compare spinach. In this Science lesson, students construct an experiment to test fresh, frozen, and canned spinach taste and texture. Young scholars record their findings in charts and graphs.
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Inside the Egg, Hatching Chickens
Students explore how an egg becomes fertilized. In this biology lesson, students "candle" a variety of eggs in order to determine which ones have been fertilized and which ones haven't. Student use paper plates to create a graphic on the...
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Sweet Science: How Sugar Molecules are Manipulated in Candy Making
Students investigate how heat affect sugar solutions. In this science instructional activity, students compare the sweetness of different types of sugars. They research the development of sugar and create a timeline.
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Soil pH & Plants
Students investigate the pH of the soil in which different plants grow. They design and carry out an experiment to determine the factors that affect the growth of a population of plants, identifying and controlling major variables...
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Helping People Who Are Hungry
Students discuss the concept of hunger. In this hunger lesson, students discuss the book, The Story of Stone Soup. Student then brainstorm a possible service project ideas and create plans to carry out their service project.
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River Venture
For this food web worksheet, students color 4 animals and put them in the correct spot on a food web. They answer 3 related short answer questions.
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Identifying Food Nutrients
High schoolers pretend they are a food-quality tester. They develop a kit to test food for sugars, starches, proteins and lipids. They answer questions to complete the lesson plan.
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How Cells Duplicate and Why Where Something Can Go Wrong
Seventh graders explore the function of a cell and cell division. In this investigative lesson students construct a 3-D model of a DNA molecule.
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The Human Body
Students make life-size models of their bodies by having a partner trace them. They glue the basic body parts in the proper places and decorate them with hair, and facial features.
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Ecology and the Conservation of Natural Resources Lesson 2
Students compare and contrast abiotic and biotic factors. They discuss how these factors effect ecosystems. They answer questions to complete the activity.
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Peanut Butter Broccoli
Fifth graders explore food production by viewing DNA presentations. For this genetic engineering lesson, 5th graders discuss the foods they typically eat at home and how many common foods are engineered in a way that can produce a bigger...
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Algae Experiments
Students describe the characteristics of algae. In this biology lesson, students perform a series of experiment to explore algae. They investigate the basic things algae need to survive.
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Chemistry And The Nitrogen Cycle
Students investigate the factors that compose the nitrogen cycle. The harmful effects of acid rain and ozone depletion are also discussed in the lesson. Students define the nutrient that is often limiting to plant growth through...
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Insects Around Us
Students fill out worksheets about insects and how they are helpful to our world. For this insects lesson plan, students learn about flower parts and insects that pollinate them.