Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Science-Observation Skill Builders

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Pupils explore observation while making connections between observation skills and careers (like how farmers observe the weather). They view a variety of nature photographs on the computer and practice their observation skills by...
Lesson Plan
ReadWriteThink

Webcams in the Classroom: Animal Inquiry and Observation

For Teachers 3rd - 5th Standards
Boost observational skills with an inquiry-based lesson that takes scholars on a virtual field trip. With help from webcams, learners observe animals in a zoo or aquarium. Observations go into a journal and a discussion is held to review...
Activity
Howard Hughes Medical Institute

Gorongosa: Making Observations Activity

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
Do you have young scientists wanting to make new discoveries rather than just completing the same experiments? Young scientists use their observational skills to identify animals and patterns in animal behavior. Through tracking...
Lab Resource
Royal Society of Chemistry

Observing Chemical Changes—Microscale Chemistry

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
Want to add a wow factor to your current chemical changes lesson plan? Try a microscale experiment with colorful precipitates! Partnered learners conduct 10 single displacement reactions and record their observations.
Lesson Plan
Howard Hughes Medical Institute

Lesson 7: Observations Across Habitats

For Teachers 9th - 12th
How are animals in separate but nearby habitats related? Ecology scholars compare the animal inhabitants of the Gorongosa National Park in part seven of an eight-part series. Learners study photos from two different habitats, then...
Activity
Cornell University

Celebrate Urban Birds

For Students 3rd - 8th
Set up a 50x50 square foot area in a space at school and choose three days to go outside and observe the birds seen in a 10 minute span. The activity has learners tapping into their observation skills and creates awareness of the birds...
Lesson Plan
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Chicago Botanic Garden

Recognizing Change (Observation vs. Inference)

For Teachers 5th - 6th Standards
What is the difference between making inferences and making observations? Young climatologists refer to a PowerPoint to make observations on each slide. They record their observations in a provided worksheet before drawing a...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Can You Bag It?

For Students 3rd - 4th
Put your class's observational skills to the test with a science experiment about paper and plastic bags. After reading some background knowledge about the materials in plastic grocery bags, third graders interpret a chart to answer a...
Worksheet
Freeology

Nature Observations Journal

For Students 4th - 6th Standards
A journal template makes observing nature a breeze. Super scientists identify an interesting object in nature, draw it, list its details, and compose a written descriptions of their artwork. 
Lesson Plan
1
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Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction

Using Our Senses to Observe

For Teachers Pre-K - 1st
Look around and explore. Little ones use their five senses with some day-to-day activities designed to guide observation and apply STEM strategies. Young scientists learn through comparing/contrasting and...
Lesson Plan
Nuffield Foundation

Observing Earthworm Locomotion

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
One acre of land can contain more than a million earthworms. Scholars collect earthworms to observe their movements. Once placed on paper, the sound of movement often fascinates pupils. When placed on glass, the earthworm is unable to...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Observation and Inference

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
Assess your young scientists' understanding of the difference between observation and inference with this 20-question multiple choice quiz. It reviews a variety of physics and astronomy concepts, such as solar eclipses and sunspots, the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Close Observation: Coins

For Teachers 2nd
Integrate math, science, and speaking/listening with a collaborative hands-on activity. Each group works with a single penny, examining it with the naked eye and recording observations. Repeat using magnifying glasses. Then repeat with a...
Unit Plan
Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Amazing Birds

For Teachers K - 4th
What's so amazing about birds? Find out just how amazing birds are with a physics of animal behavior unit created by Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Have learners explore and tap into their observational skills and notice how birds fly, what...
Lesson Plan
Omaha Zoo

I Like to Move It

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
What do lemurs do best? They move! Lemurs like to jump, run, hop, and climb and it's your class's job to document seven fun lemur behaviors. The class starts by discussing why lemurs are considered primates, and then they isolate seven...
Lesson Plan
California Academy of Science

What's on a Penny?

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
As a lesson on scientific observation, have your class investigate the features of a penny and a nickel. Working in pairs, they practice writing detailed descriptions using their senses and a ruler to gather information. This is an...
Lesson Plan
Centers for Ocean Sciences

Ocean and Great Lakes Literacy: Principle 1

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
Is your current lesson plan for salt and freshwater literacy leaving you high and dry? If so, dive into part one of a seven-part series that explores the physical features of Earth's salt and freshwater sources. Junior hydrologists...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Observation Skills

For Teachers 1st
First graders observe a spider and write sentences about what they see the spider doing. In this writing lesson plan, 1st graders draw what they see, then make an edible spider out of marshmallows and twizzlers. A fun, delicious lesson...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What Makes Shadows? Observing and Drawing Shadows

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Students make accurate drawings of a classmate's shadow. They note position of the sun in the sky. They identify a connection between the direction of the shadow and the location of the sun. They observe changes in shadows over time.
Lesson Plan
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Workforce Solutions

On the Job

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Four lessons spotlight a variety of professions while boosting listening and observational skills and making inferences. Lesson one challenges pupils to group cards based on a commonality then justify the relationship they see....
Activity
Science Education Resource Center

Compare and Contrast deciduous and evergreen tree leaves to aid in tree identification

For Teachers K - 2nd Standards
Boost observational skills and get to know the difference between deciduous, coniferous, and evergreen trees with a lesson that challenges scholars to compare, contrast, identify, sort, and draw their findings.   
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Observations and Procedures

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Young scientists critique the breakdown of detailed observations. They discover the importance of writing down experimental procedures. There are some guided discussion questions at the end of the resource.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Observation Challenge

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders, in groups, use observation skills at 12 stations and describe what they see.
Lesson Plan
Howard Hughes Medical Institute

Human Feet Are Strange

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Feet are neat! So, if you've already walked the path of examining animal footprints with your class, put them in the shoes of early humans! A well-designed activity incorporates video, discussion, and hands-on learning to demonstrate how...

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