Chicago Botanic Garden
Nature Walk and Ecosystem Introduction
A food web has no organism higher than a tertiary consumer because there wouldn't be enough energy left to sustain them. The fourth installment in a seven-part series begins with a nature walk to get pupils thinking about their...
Curated OER
Early Presidents
Students are introduced to the lives and contributions of the first seven presidents of the United States. They, in groups, conduct further research on one of these president and his political platform and design a presentation for the...
Curated OER
Why Transition?
Help your class transition into better writers with this lesson, which guides them through the process of adding transitions to increase sentence fluency and organization. The activity is designed for a classroom with a SMART board, but...
Curated OER
Make a Solar Oven
Students build a solar oven. In this Science lesson plan, students construct a functional solar oven. Students design the oven and explain the energy concepts involved.
Curated OER
Inspire a Life of Reading
Making letters out of goop, sight word bingo, tic-tac-toe vowels. Download this packet loaded with activities designed to engage beginning readers. Although designed for adults, many of the activities are appropriate for any...
Early Childhood Learning and Knowlege Center
My Body My Senses
In a comprehensive unit of activities, learners explore the five senses. Youngsters discover the many different body parts and their functions that allow humans to have sense of sight, touch, smell, taste, and hearing. The best way to...
EduGAINs
Go H2O! Investigating Residential Water Systems
Before your learners excuse themselves to get a drink at the water fountain, prompt them to think about where that water comes from. A middle school science lesson encourages groups to research their community's source of drinking water,...
Teach Engineering
Magnetic Fluids
Teams work as material engineers to create ferrofluids, whose shape is influenced by magnetic fields. The activity, which is the fourth in the six-part series, has the teams create magnetic ink and use it to write, testing it with a...
NOAA
Community Ecology and Sampling
Seamounts in the Coral and Tasman Seas are home to more than 850 different species. Groups explore hydrothermal vents, researching the organisms found there and their energy source. They also learn about seamounts, exploring their unique...
Biology Junction
Plasma Membrane – Gateway to the Cell
Just as skin covers your body limiting what can go in and out, plasma membranes cover cells to do the same. Scholars begin with a presentation that gives overview of the structure and function of plasma membranes. Then, they learn how...
Curated OER
History's Thermometers
Ancient coral beds give scientists clues to past ocean temperatures in much the same way that tree rings indicate historical weather conditions. High school scientists examine coral oxygen isotope ratios and plot the data as a function...
Curated OER
Collaborative Discussion: Common Core Basics for Back-to-School
Listening may be the most important skill of all for Common Core collaborative speaking standards. Prepare yourself for a class experience that boosts listening and speaking skills, with a great article. Attached lessons, excellent...
Curated OER
Stem Cell Development
Like a fresh canvas, stem cells can turn into almost anything. In a comprehensive instructional activity, high school biologists use clay to build a 3-D model of cell division and the processes that occur during the first 14 days of...
Tech Museum of Innovation
Seed Dispersal
Engineering challenges are not just man-made ... nature has its own set of them. A hands-on STEM activity has groups designing a seed dispersal system. Each group can only use one sheet of paper — a tough task!
Curated OER
Exploring Louisiana's Land Down Under - The World of Kate Chopin's The Awakening.
Visit 19th century Grand Isle, Cheniere Caminada, and New Orleans! Meet the inhabitants, learn about their history and culture, and view landmarks and industries! After reading Kate Chopin’s The Awakening, class groups research the...
Curated OER
Checking Sources For Accuracy
Middle schoolers will paraphrase a resource without plagiarizing. Then rewrite after reading text. They then evaluate the site or reference they are using for accuracy. In the end, they complete a note-taking organizer.
Curated OER
What Are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Conforming?
Dive into Arthur Miller’s The Crucible and determine what it means to conform in society, and discuss as a group with the thoughts and plans available in these documents. Included are multiple activities and brain targets that form the...
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Development Balances Cell Growth and Death
Cells demonstrate a life cycle like other living things, but what if death was no longer part of the cycle? Learn about the important balance requiring death to continue functioning. An online interactive introduces a group of scientists...
Curated OER
Laparoscopy Tissue Biopsy
Students describe the anatomy and physiology of a selected organ. They identify the major artery and vein that delivers blood to and from the selected organ and construct an accurate scaled 3D model of a selected organ.
Curated OER
Skeletal System
Young scholars discuss the need for humans to have a skeletal system and what would happen if we did not have bones. In this skeletal system lesson, students label each bone in the human skeletal system as a group, and then...
Curated OER
Beaks To Survive
Students discuss and identify the types of adaptations that are made by different organisms in order for them to survive. In groups, they describe the features of beaks and discuss how it affects their chances for survival. They share...
Curated OER
Wacky Water Critters
Learners visit a local creek or stream. They collect water samples from the creek and observe and sort the "water critters" they find in the sample, observing smaller organisms under a microscope if necessary. They identify each organism...
Curated OER
Life Cycles
Using computers, Students work in small groups and progress through the roles of Explorer, Researcher, Designer, and Evaluator as they study the life cycle of plants, insects, butterflies and frogs.
Curated OER
Bodyworks
Pupils study about the different parts of their body and the names of bones as well. They gain an understanding of the function about the parts. Students follow along as the teacher guides them and points out various parts and their...