Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mineral Identification

For Teachers 7th - 9th
In this mineral identification lesson plan, students analyze 14 minerals and test their physical properties. They test the color, luster, streak, hardness and breakage of each mineral. Students answer 5 questions about the physical...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Great Rock Sort

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Students describe and sort rocks according to their physical properties. They listen to a story and discuss what they know about rocks, then work with a partner to discuss how their sample rocks differ from each other.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Collecting and Classifying Pollen

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students collect and analyze pollen from different species of plants. In small groups, they classify pollen according to shape, size and physical characteristics. They draw the basic anatomy of flowering plants and create a dichotomous...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Density and Mass

For Teachers 1st - 2nd
Students experiment to find which liquids are more dense.  In this density and mass instructional activity, students predict and then test objects to observe and measure their density. students observe which items sink and float....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Birds Around the Village

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Learners observe the physical characteristics of birds and identify birds found in their village. They describe characteristics, behaviors and habitats of local birds in this series of lessons.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Characteristics of Matter

For Teachers 1st - 5th
Students study matter. In this science lesson plan, students examine the relationships among gravity, weight, and mass, the metric measurement of distance and volume, and density and its application to physical properties.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Build a 3-d Plant Model

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders construct a three-dimensional model of a flowering plant. They examine the major plant parts and their basic functions. They demonstrate an understanding of the similarities and differences in the physical...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

OSAE Can You See

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students observe, speculate, analyze and evaluate conclusions about Mississippi River locations as well as illustrate their findings in drawings. They enhance themselves with their surroundings and landscape pictures at various places...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Solids and Water

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students investigate mixtures made of water and familiar solid materials. They observe and discuss the changes that occur immediately and set the mixtures aside for a day. Finally, students observe the mixtures, note changes, and graph...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Adaptations: Fit For Survival

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students track species using the Journey North project. They examine the meaning of physical and behavioral adaptation, migration, and identify adaptations that help the species they track survive.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Density: Float or Sink

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students discover density.  In this density lesson, students discover the properties of objects that allow them to float or sink in water.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Vocabulary Builder- Using Inspiration to Generate Lists of Descriptive Words

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students discover how to engage all their senses and powers of observation to effectively communicate and idea or emotion. Using Inspiration Software, they create a vocabulary web and practice using descriptive language to clarify and...
Lesson Plan
Cornell University

Mechanical Properties of Gummy Worms

For Students 9th - 12th
Learners won't have to squirm when asked the facts after completing an intriguing lab investigation! Hook young scholars on science by challenging them to verify Hooke's Law using a gummy worm. Measuring the length of the worm as they...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Physical Science: Festival of Bubbles

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Investigate bubbles through the use of scientific inquiry. Pupils blow bubbles using several methods and measure the resulting bubble print. Measurements are recorded on a data table and transferred to a bar graph. Results are discussed...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Physics Post-Lab

For Teachers K - 3rd
Students explore physics. In this science lesson, students discuss physics in their everyday lives. Students complete a physics worksheet.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Properties of Waves

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders observe and investigate wave properties and compare the properties of particles and waves. They fill a pie pan half full with water, place a toothpick in the center of the pie pan, then drop a marble into the pan and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Chemical Changes

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders observe two types of interactions in a sealed plastic bag. One bag contains baking soda and water, and the other baking soda and vinegar. They determine what evidence indicates that a chemical change is occurring.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Learning about air

For Teachers Pre-K - 1st
Students read a book and have a class discussion about the air around them. In this air lesson plan, students learn about properties of air, and discuss other gases they have observed.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Properties of Color

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders explore the properties of primary color and investigate what happens when primary colors are mixed. They listen to the story The Crayon Box That Talked and list the colors. They experiment mixing primary colors and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Slippery, Slippery Ice

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students investigate how salt affects ice by experimenting in class.  In this water properties lesson, students utilize a penny, salt and pans of ice to examine the sliding ability of a penny across a layer of ice.  Students...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Air and Its Characteristics

For Teachers 4th - 7th
Young scholars explore air through guided discovery. In this air lesson, students will observe three demonstrations about air. They will answer leading questions as they observe how air displaces and takes up space, how air has weight,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Superballs

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students mix two different solutions to become more familiar with molecules and polymers. In this chemistry instructional activity, students decide whether or not the reaction between two solutions is chemical or physical. Students then...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Solids, Liquids, and Gases

For Teachers 1st
First graders explore the properties of matter. In this states of matter lesson plan, 1st graders conduct scientific investigations that require them to mix, cool, and heat objects in order to observe changes in the properties of matter.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

No Creation-No Destruction--All in a Baggie

For Teachers 10th - 11th
Students investigate the concepts of conservation of mass and simple chemical reactions. Students complete lab experiments and record all observations as well as conduct experiments on their own to determine which reactions created...