Curated OER
Reflect and Refract
Young scholars explore light. For this properties of light lesson, students define the terms refract, reflect, and diffract after listening to the teacher's description. Young scholars listen to the book Light Magic and observe a spoon...
Curated OER
Basic Needs of Living Things-Lesson Three
Fourth graders explore the interconnectedness of organisms in the environment and examine how different organisms obtain their basic needs. They discuss a frog's habitat and what is found in it. Students discuss the processes of...
Curated OER
Hydrology: Flood Mitigation
Twelfth graders discuss the different factors that can contribute to major floods. In this ecology lesson, 12th graders analyze collected rainfall data. They complete a scavenger hunt after the lesson.
Curated OER
Hydrology: Flood Mitigation
Twelfth graders discuss the factors that affect flooding. In this environmental science lesson, 12th graders analyze rainfall data about flooding. They complete a scavenger hunt worksheet using the internet.
K12 Reader
Measuring Temperature
Fahrenheit? Celsius? What's the difference, and where did these two temperature scales originate? Your pupils will learn all about these topics by reading the passage included here. After reading, individuals respond to five questions...
Colorado State University
What Is a "Model"?
Model the transfer of energy during a typical 24-hour period. Young scholars use a game-like approach to learning the patterns of heat transfer through the day and night. Groups of four exchange different tokens as the energy...
University of California
Hot! Hot! Hot!
Calories are not tiny creatures that sew your clothes tighter every night, but what are they? A science lesson, presented at multiple levels, has learners experiment with heat, heat transfer, and graph the function over time....
Science Geek
Equilibrium and Le Chatelier's Principle
Time to shake up the status quo with a presentation that describes Le Chatlier's Principle and has pupils examine situations in which equilibrium is upset. Four examples show different stresses to the reaction and the resulting shift.
Space Awareness
The Thermal Layers of Oceans
How much does the sun heat up a lake or ocean? Scholars use a cup and a strong lamp to investigate the heat transfer and thermal layers in the ocean to come up with the answer. They collect data and graph it in order to better understand...
National Gardening Association
Migration Mishaps
Elementary ecologists pretend to be migratory hummingbirds. They fly between wintering and nesting grounds, trying to reach a habitat haven. In a musical-chair fashion, some birds will miss out, and are removed from the game. To further...
K12 Reader
Waves and Currents
Waves, currents, crests, and troughs. Using information provided in an article about waves and currents, readers define terms used to describe how energy travels.
Colorado State University
Can Boiling Make Something Freeze?
Use boiling as an avenue for freezing. Young scholars watch as liquid nitrogen removes heat from the ingredients for ice cream. As this happens, the nitrogen boils and the ice cream freezes—all in the same container. A little science magic!
Curated OER
Permafrost: Permanently Frozen Ground
Young scholars explore permafrost. In this 3 states of matter lesson, students identify characteristics of solids and liquids. Young scholars observe water and soil melting and freezing at various temperatures. Students...
Curated OER
Starch Yer Thinkin' About Corn Products
Seventh graders study the parts of corn and explore the role of starch. In this corn products lesson students prepare a model of water and stones.
Curated OER
The Solar System: Why do we Explore?
Third graders act as scientists. In this property discovery lesson, 3rd graders explore the substance "Oobleck" (cornstarch, water, food coloring). They work in groups to investigate the substance and make observations as a scientist...
Curated OER
Comparison of Different Methods for Determining Stream Flow at a Stream Site
Students make measurements and calculations to determine the stream flow of an outdoor stream site. In this stream characteristics lesson, students travel to a field site to construct a transect across a stream and measure the...
Curated OER
Landforms in a Tub
Fifth graders use common household items to build landforms and simulate weathering and erosion.
Curated OER
Science: How Tall Are Plants
First graders investigate plant growth and examine what factors contribute to plant growth. They keep a class chart of plant growth and write about and illustrate their conclusions.
Curated OER
Performance-based Assessments for AC circuit Competencies
In this electronics worksheet, students predict the behavior of 51 circuits and compare their prediction with actual values. They make the necessary corrections when values don't match.
Curated OER
The Same but Different Part II
Third graders experiment with beakers of water and balloons to measure the volume of the gas in the balloon. They determine ways to change the volume of air in the balloon which changes its size but not its physical state. By heating the...
Curated OER
Physical Habitat of a Stream
Students measure in metric units and use a stopwatch, calculator. They collect data with minimal instructions after the initial pre-activity briefing, then record data in the data sheets provided.
Curated OER
Meteorology (Condensation)
Second graders define condensation and evaporation. They identify and describe the steps in the water cycle. They ask questions to end the lesson.
Curated OER
Plop! Plop! Fizz! Fizz!
Fourth graders study physical and chemical weathering. They explain how the processes of weathering and erosion change and move materials that become soil. They create a K-W-L chart to show what they know and list what else they would...
Curated OER
Shake, Rattle and Roll
Students compare the weathering of materials. in this weathering lesson, students experiment with the chemical and physical weathering of different materials. Students use salt and water as an example of how weathering occurs.