Space Awareness
Climate Zones
The climate at the equator is hotter than the climate at the poles, but why? The lesson goes in depth, explaining how the angles of illumination relate to the heating rate at different latitudes and seasons. Scholars use a strong lamp,...
Poetry4kids
Creativity Exercise - Describe the Sky
Scholars stretch their writing muscles with an exercise that asks them to describe the sky using similes and metaphors.
Space Awareness
The Big Meltdown
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...
NOAA
Off Base
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...
Colorado State University
Do Cities Affect the Weather? (Making a Cloud in a Bottle)
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...
Polar Trec
Plankton Parents
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.
Curated OER
Hot and Cold Colors
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...
Curated OER
Speedy Succession
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.
Curated OER
Seasoning the School Year
Students 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...
Curated OER
Race the Track! Super Slope (Lesson One)
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.
Curated OER
Awesome Adaptations!
Second graders explore biology by researching animal characteristics. In this adaptation instructional activity, 2nd graders identify the history of several animals and research the changes that have occurred to their anatomy over...
Curated OER
The Amazing Apple
Learners analyze an apple. In this lesson about developing inquiry skills, students do an experiment with an apple. Learners make several observations about the apple. Students answer questions to help them improve and practice their...
Curated OER
The Living Earth-Glaciers
Learners investigate glaciers. In this earth science lesson, students use sandy ice cubes to observe how glaciers change the land. Learners list forces that cause changes in the Earth's surface.
Curated OER
Mountain Barriers
Students examine geographical change. For this mountain barriers lesson, students conduct an experiment to discover how mountains affect surrounding land. Students draw conclusions on how change in land affects plant and animal life.
Curated OER
String Telephones and Musical Straws
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...
Curated OER
Non-Newtonian Fluids
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...
Curated OER
Life Means Water Environment
Students 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. Students...
Curated OER
Extendable Bonko
Students create musical instruments to see how the length effects the pitch. For this Bonko activity, students use various size tubes to create a Bonko. Students experiment to observe the difference in the pitch.
Curated OER
Managing Heat
Third graders perform various experiments to show the flow of energy that causes heat. In this heat lesson, 3rd graders understand how heat is transferred or trapped. Students use the scientific method and critical thinking skills to...
Curated OER
Activity #7 Apple Color Change
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. ...
Curated OER
The More Things Change...
Students 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...
Curated OER
Seeds of Change
Students 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.
Curated OER
Structural Changes in a Protein
Young scholars 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.
Curated OER
New Sights and Sounds: Inventions That Changed A Century
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...