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...

Students record scientific observations in a science journal.  In this season lesson, students make observations about each of the seasons and record in their journals.  Students record organisms response to seasonal changes...

Young scholars participate in an outdoor activity in which they make direct but safe observations of the Sun. Students use a solar cell and voltmeter apparatus to collect data on the amount of DC voltage produced by the solar cell...

Young scholars investigate student homes.  In this insect homes lesson plan,students observe insect homes. Young scholars visit a campsite and gather information about  insect homes. Students examine and record an insect home...

Students observe a variety of sounds which can be heard within their schoolyard habitat by sitting quietly by themselves for five minutes, listening, and then recording the sounds around them by drawing them.

Students view web sites about Birding. They explore how to identify species using a bird's silhouette, posture, size, flight patterns and habitat. They practice birdwatching and notetaking in the outdoors.

Students explore maple syrup. In this natural resources lesson, students identify a maple tree in their neighborhood and observe the sap. Students sample maple products and create a graph of the taste-testing results.

Sixth graders observe and record data about humpback whales in Hawaii. In this humpback whale watching lesson, 6th graders watch the activity of whales from a Hawaiian beach. They record data about their behavior and complete a research...

Students become entomologists for a day. In this life science lesson, students go on an insect hunt and investigate insects and their homes. This leads to the creation of an insect by each student. Lesson includes a take-home activity...

Young scholars appreciate the natural environment.  In this "four L's" instructional activity, students  observe, reflect and appreciate unique ecosystems and how they help sustain life.  Young scholars create posters with...

Students participate in an after school program that promotes communicating with others, observing one's environment, how to take care of natural resources, making decisions and learning how to just have fun. They explore the world of...

Students investigate nearby forests and record their interactions with trees as well as wild life.  In this ecology lesson, students read the book, In the Woods: Who's Been Here?, and attend class observational field trips through...

Students demonstrate the greenhouse effect. They recognize that relatively small changes to our environment can stimulate significant climate changes. They determine that the "scientific method" is a process of testing hypotheses and...

Fourth graders construct a parachute using specified materials in a set amount of time. They observe a toy parachute attached to a toy man and discuss what makes him move slower or faster. Then in small groups they design, construct,...

Students participate in an after school program that promotes communications skills, hypothesizing, exploring, recording of data, leadership roles and making comparisons. They explore the world of insects, where they come from, how they...

Fifth graders create a flying wing from a pastry tray. In this flying wing lesson, 5th graders understand how the shape of the wind affects flight. Students compare the flying wing to the zanonia seed in nature. Students make changes in...

First graders participate in a simulation involving newspaper, food coloring, water, and more to observe the debarking process of producing wood. In this wood lesson plan, 1st graders also measure, and learn about reducing, reusing, and...

Students study wildlife and identify similarities and differences between their home and wild environments. In this wildlife lesson plan, students make connections between wildlife and wildlife habitats. Students then build...

First graders grow seeds in a mini terrarium. They compare the root systems, stems, leaves, and flowers of the different plants. They categorize the plants and discuss the basic functions of plant parts.

Students build mine-earthworm habitats to discover their niche in them. They make predictions about what the niche looks like in a week and draw a picture of it. Students notice the tunnels in the soil and how the sand and dirt are now...

Second graders examine compost piles and what invertebrates help decompose the organic matter.  In this compost invertebrates lesson students collect invertebrates found in a compost pile and examine them. 

In this tree identification lesson plan, 2nd graders read A Tree is Growing, discuss what makes up a forest, brainstorm characteristics of leaves, gather samples of leaves and examine their samples. Students will sort leaves and compare...

Students conduct toboggan time trials to investigate the variables that have the greatest effect on toboggan speed. In small groups, they develop a hypothesis to test and perform three trials on the toboggan run for each variable.

Your entire class works together to create an illustrated insect field guide. The intent is that they venture outside of the classroom, find a critter, and then research it using reference materials, insect books, and the Internet for...