Lesson Plan
Space Awareness

The Big Meltdown

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Explore the world (our world) of melting ice caps. Why are these caps melting? What is the effect of melting ice caps? Dive into the ever-present issue of global warming with a resource that has learners looking at data and participating...
Lesson Plan
NOAA

Off Base

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
How does carbon dioxide affect the world's oceans? The final installment in a series of six lessons has pupils research ocean acidification, then conduct an experiment to witness the delicate balance that exists in our seas. Materials...
Lesson Plan
Polar Trec

Plankton Parents

For Teachers 3rd - 12th Standards
Plankton are so abundant in the ocean they outweigh all of the animals in the sea. In this three day activity, groups discuss and become familiar with plankton, capture females, and look for egg production on day three. 
Lab Resource
Colorado State University

Do Cities Affect the Weather? (Making a Cloud in a Bottle)

For Teachers 6th - 12th
The dynamics of a city can have a drastic effect on the weather. A hands-on lesson asks learners to build a model to illustrate how city pollution provides a nucleus for condensation. The greater the pollution, the greater chance for...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Hot and Cold Colors

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students examine how temperature effects changes in materials. In this physical science lesson, students use food coloring and cups of water of varying temperatures to observe the effects temperature has on matter. Students predict and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Speedy Succession

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders investigate how a pond ecosystem can change into a prairie or grassland ecosystem. They observe a small pond ecosystem in a two liter soda bottle, and examine and record changes over a two-week period of time on a worksheet.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Seasoning the School Year

For Teachers K - 2nd
Learners observe the changes a class tree goes through as the seasons change and record observations in journals. They investigate changes in the weather, changes in the length of the day, and how that affects people. They create...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Awesome Adaptations!

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders explore biology by researching animal characteristics. In this adaptation lesson, 2nd graders identify the history of several animals and research the changes that have occurred to their anatomy over thousands of years....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Race the Track! Super Slope (Lesson One)

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders utilize basic physics concepts to calculate speed of an object set in motion from various heights. In this basic physics lesson, 5th graders make observations, calculations, record data, and conclusions throughout experiment.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Amazing Apple

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students analyze an apple. In this lesson plan about developing inquiry skills, students do an experiment with an apple. Students make several observations about the apple. Students answer questions to help them improve and practice...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Living Earth-Glaciers

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students investigate glaciers. In this earth science lesson, students use sandy ice cubes to observe how glaciers change the land. Students list forces that cause changes in the Earth's surface.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mountain Barriers

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers examine geographical change. In this mountain barriers instructional activity, students conduct an experiment to discover how mountains affect surrounding land.  Middle schoolers draw conclusions on how change in...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

String Telephones and Musical Straws

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders investigate pitches of sound.  In this physical science lesson, 4th graders participate in two activities that help them explore pitch--one activity has them working with string telephones and the amount of tension...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Non-Newtonian Fluids

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Students will use water, cornstarch, eggs, and more to explore the different states of matter. They will make observations of an unknown substance called "Oobleck" and test its liquid and solid properties. This would be a great lesson to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Life Means Water Environment

For Teachers 8th - 10th
Learners investigate pH levels in bodies of water and experiment with acid/base reactions. In this water and pH lesson, students observe changes in pH levels of a sample solution and observe a Bronsted-Lowry reaction. Learners...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Extendable Bonko

For Teachers 1st - 6th
Students create musical instruments to see how the length effects the pitch. In this Bonko activity, students use various size tubes to create a Bonko. Students experiment to observe the difference in the pitch.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Managing Heat

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders perform various experiments to show the flow of energy that causes heat. For this heat lesson, 3rd graders understand how heat is transferred or trapped. Students use the scientific method and critical thinking skills to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Activity #7 Apple Color Change

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students compare the different rates of reaction between an apple covered with vitamin C and an apple with no vitamin C. They compare the different rates of reaction between an apple placed in the sun and one not exposed to the sun. ...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The More Things Change...

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Pupils participate in a mock town hall meeting after researching issues relating to fishing rights. After reading The Lorax, they discuss the importance of conserving natural resources. In partners, they write a story of their own...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Seeds of Change

For Teachers K - 5th
Learners recognize, compare and contrast physical characterisics of seeds, identify parts of a peanut seed, and observe and record the growth rate and habits of a variety of seeds.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Structural Changes in a Protein

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students observe and manipulate the structure of a protein. They form an alpha helix, a beta sheet, and add disulfide bonds. They create a multimeric protein and compare their location with other students.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

New Sights and Sounds: Inventions That Changed A Century

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students analyze the role and impact of technological innovation in the late 19th and early 20th century. They evaluate manuscripts, sound recordings, and motion pictures to construct historical meaning. Students observe the connections...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Continuity and Change

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Young scholars identify those freedoms most important to them and identify characteristics of a "good" rule. They then develop "good" rules for the world and identify how decisions or rules made today might affect the future.
Worksheet
Curated OER

Dance Challenge: Calculate and Compare Speed by Measuring a Series of Dance Movements

For Students 6th - 8th
Really neat! Kids choreograph a dance phrase and then measure the distance and speed of the phrase using a timer and a meter stick. They collect the data on a table which they use to determine an average. A series of observation and...