Students create and observe coacervates. In this origin of life lesson, students create coacervates by mixing carbohydrate and protein solutions. They observe the life-like qualities of the structures and discuss the origin of life.

Students view objects of various sizes from several viewing distances to discover that their visual field is limited. They record what they see and compare their observations with classmates. They conduct more structured experiments.

Students investigate the process of hydroponic agriculture. They grow beans in different hydroponic solutions, compare results and graph their observations.

Fourth graders study food chains, producers, consumers, and decomposers. They play a food chain game and create food chain mobiles or posters. They take a nature hike around the school and observe various parts of a food chain.

Young scholars observe how sound waves would look and behave if we could see them. They determine ways the model is accurate and inaccurate based on actual sound waves.

Young scholars observe a picture containing patterns of animal tracks, infer what might have happened based upon the pattern of tracks, and write a story describing what might have happened.

Middle schoolers observe and evaluate evidence of Alaska Native cultural symbols and artifacts. They research historical data from a variety of primary resources, including the Harriman expedition journals, related web sites, oral...

First graders ponder the question of how plants help their lives. They observe and compare properties of several different plants. Differentiate between living organisms and nonliving objects.

Students observe the water cycle and experiment with cleaning water. For this hands-on hydrology lesson based on a Magic School Bus book, students conduct two experiments to see the how water moves through the water cycle and then they...

Students investigate the uses of pesticides and the pros and cons of their use. In this pesticides lesson, students observe simulations of the three classes of pesticides and the effects or actions each has. Students answer 3 follow up...

In this wood products lesson, students walk to a forest near their school where they sit by themselves for a few minutes and quietly observe their surroundings. Students brainstorm wood or wood by products, discuss everything we get from...

Young scholars observe, measure, and record the properties in making objects stick together using science tools. In this science lesson, students explore with their senses while mixing flour and water. Additionally, young scholars share...

Second graders explore biology. In this life cycle lesson, 2nd graders act out the stages a caterpillar goes through to become a butterfly. They spend days prior to this lesson observing caterpillars they have collected and developing...

Students examine their role in polluting the environment and discuss the importance of recycling. In groups, they place earthworms into compost piles to observe why they are considered natural recyclers. They also practice sorting a...

First graders investigate plants and leaves by taking nature walks and researching the Internet. They examine the similarities and differences in the plants and leaves. They create their own leaves at an interactive Internet site and...

Learners analyze photographs to understand life on a plantation.  In this vanished occupations instructional activity, students examine why iron plantations were created and what natural resources were needed to make iron. Learners...

Sixth graders explain how soil and plants effect contaminated water in nature.  In this filtration lesson plan, 6th graders work in groups to test biofiltration units. Students determine which biofiltration units work best and how...

Students conduct Internet research on a variety of ant species and their habitats. They have an opportunity to observe ants in their environment. Areas of interest might include ant identification, colony life, the ant life cycle, and...

Students observe first hand what it is like to be the prey and what he or she must do to blend in and make themselves less noticeable. They participate in a variety of hands-on activities which help them explain how insects hide...

Students grow duckweed, observe what happens when an organism population is allowed to grow without predation or competition, view videos about invasive species, and develop a proposal for controlling the growth of an invasive species in...

Students observe the rocks and stones used to build and carve monuments during a field trip.

Students conduct a hands-on experiment growing crystals to demonstrate the nature of science as inquiry. They discuss and test variables that affect crystal growth. They research mineral crystallization and mineral formation on the...

Students observe pictures of plants and forests. They observe their own plants in a plot of land especially for them. They are to identify the plants in the photographs they saw.

Students are introduced to how the process of evolution works. As a class, they review the characteristics of natural selection and how those with advantageous traits reproduce and survive. To test this theory of natural selection,...