University of Minnesota
Beautiful Brain: Do You See What I See?
Can art play tricks on your eyes, and can a still painting really appear to vibrate? The second lesson in a four-part series discusses the way our beautiful brains translate visual images. It highlights the style of optical art and...
University of Minnesota
Beautiful Brain: Strangest Dream
Do words change or add meaning or interest to a work of art? The final lesson in a four-part series on the beautiful brain as a work of art focuses on art analysis. Scholars write a story about exploring art from the inside. Reflections...
Curated OER
Plant Life Cycle
Fourth graders explore the plant life cycle. They discuss the sequence of events in the life cycle of the plant and illustrate how the life cycle never ends. Students explore the importance of water, sunlight, and nutrients during the...
Curated OER
Stomata
Students explore what the stoma does for a plant. In this botany lesson students complete a stomatal peel experiment and measure its densities.
Curated OER
Photosynthesis
Students are introduced to the process of photosynthesis. In groups, they test the effects of the lack of sunlight on plant leaves and compare the results with their hypothesis. They note the characteristics that plants and animals share...
Curated OER
Coral Polyp Party
Students complete a project where they label the parts of a coral polyp and discuss the differences between plants and animals. Students use marshmallows, sprinkles, toothpicks, and more to label their coral polyp.
Curated OER
How Does a Green Plant Grow?
Students examine how a seed grows, and design an experiment to explore this concept. They make predictions, conduct the experiment, record the results, and interpret the results.
Curated OER
Matching Flowers With Their Pollinators
Students match flowers to pollinators and construct models of
flowers to demonstrate why different kinds of flowers need different kinds of
pollinators. They use their flower models and the "Scientific Method Format" included in the...
Chymist
Batteries
Young scientists study the construction of a battery through experimentation. They engage in five experiments which combine to create a thorough study of the history of batteries beginning with a model of the first battery.
Community Resources for Science
A Whole New World of DNA and Proteins
Lead your young scientists into an exciting world as they participate in a role play and experiment focused on proteins and DNA. After researching the Central Dogma of Biology, individuals or groups participate in a classroom...
Curated OER
Understanding: Viruses
Learners review what they can recall about viruses. They are explained that they are going to work on a project in which they suggest a useful purpose of a virus. Students use print research materials and the Internet to add to their...
Curated OER
Why Plants Are Green
Young scholars discover the properties of chlorophyll in plants. In this plant biology lesson, students conduct an experiment to find where the chlorophyll in the plant is located. Young scholars are split into small groups and study...
Curated OER
DNA Extraction Lab
Students extract DNA and test for its presence from unroasted (raw) wheat germ using a prescribed procedure. They modify the procedure to provide a less expensive, easier method. They also extract DNA from different available plant,...
Curated OER
Feed Me, Seymour
Students work in small groups to create posters illustrating the major facts and functions of plant organs. Within their groups, they assume the role of specialists creating specialized posters pertaining to the different parts of plants.
Curated OER
Introduction to Algae
Students explore different types of algae found in both local regions of Salt Lake and different parts of the world. They discover different types of algae found in an ecosystem and the significance and function it serves.
Curated OER
The Path of Electrons
Students engage in an interactive "hot potato" demonstration to gain an appreciation for the flow of electrons through a circuit. They role play the different parts of a simple circuit and send small items representing electrons (paper...
Curated OER
Dating a Volcanic Eruption
Students discover the various ways in which tree rings can give information. After a brief disucssion of concentric tree rings, they use cross section cut outs of tree rings to identify the time and type of various naturally occuring...
Curated OER
Sugar and carbohydrates, protein, fat and water - that's what little plants are made of!
Students identify photosynthesis as the mechanism by which plants convert sunlight energy into a usable energy source for plant processes. They identify photosynthesis as the mechanism by which plants create a molecule that can be used...
Curated OER
REPRODUCTION
Students complete a variety of activities to study different concepts in Science. The activities are part of a layered curriculum. This is used to differentiate instruction and give a wide variety of assessment opportunities.
Curated OER
Using Microscopes
Young scholars do an experiment using a microscope. In this lesson, about cells, students examine different slides using a microscope. Young scholars look at an onion skin, cheek cells, and potato cells. In each of these, students find...
Curated OER
Unit on Developing a Basic Understanding of Plants
Fifth graders study the parts of a plant, their life cycles, and how to care for them in this unit.
Curated OER
Making a Brassica Model
Students apply skills they have learned to construct an accurate model of the Brassica and then work together on a group project. They analyze how the parts of a system go together, and how these parts depend on each other. Finally,...
Curated OER
Introduction to Nutrition and Gardening
Learners examine the different parts of a plant and each ones role. In this exploratory lesson students complete several activities including a game of charades.
Curated OER
COMPARE SOILS BY GROWING PLANTS
The student will identify the difference in the rate of plant growth in three soils that vary in organic matter.1. Obtain three to four flowerpots, different types of soil, a record chart, three to five beans for each pot, and water....