Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Fossil Fuels, Who Needs Them

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders explore how electricity is created and distributed through alternative production methods. Students participate in hands-on activities, research, lecture based instruction, and CD ROM resources.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A River Runs Through It

For Teachers 8th - 10th
Young scholars solve an environmental problem on a local river. They use their knowledge of river ecology to develop an action plan. They use river-monitoring equipment to collect river- monitoring data, including biological, physical,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Chemical Reactions and Balancing Equations

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students perform various laboratory activities involving chemical reactions. They write balanced chemical equations for all reactions observed using computer software.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Forces and Energy Study Guide

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders use prior knowledge to create a tri-fold study guide using Microsoft Publisher (if available). They include real world examples that show balanced and unbalanced forces, kinetic and potential energy, and vocabulary. The...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Let's Take a Rock Apart

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Students take a crushed rock and sort the remains of the rock minerals into different categories based on the different properties. In this sorting lesson plan, students learn what makes up a rock and how to sort something into categories.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Discovering Planet X

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students investigate the movements of the planet Pluto. Students participate in a hands-on activity to record data similar to the movements of the planet Pluto. Students compare their data to that found on a website.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Learn to Build a Rocket in 5 Days or Your Money Back

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students discover the entire process that goes into designing a rocket for any customer. They study important factors such as supplies, ethics, deadlines and budgets. Also, students explore about the Engineering process, and recognize...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ammonium Nitrate - Efficient Fertilizers

For Teachers 11th - Higher Ed
Students study the chemistry of ammonium nitrate and consider the advantages and disadvantages of this compound. They compare different fertilizers and calculate the molar mass and percent nitrogen in the different fertilizers.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Discover the World of Machines

For Teachers K
Students participate in a project which incorporates science with reading, writing, social studies, and technology. Through several activities over a 15 day period, they explore the computer, digital camera, computer software programs...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Measure for Measure: Weight and Energy

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students study the friction of a particular sport.  In this weight and energy lesson students choose a sport and us the Internet to research it then present their findings to the class. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Deep Freeze

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students practice various sampling methods for retrieving data under water, ice, and soil. They use the sample material to make temperature measurements, chart contents, and draw their own conclusions as to what is happening in the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What Is Engineering Design

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students investigate the concepts related to the practice of designing and building large scale buildings. They conduct research using the internet and other resources in order to apply mathematics and architectural design principals in...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Keep It Hot

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students design and conduct an experiment to explore the insulating abilities of different materials for keeping a liquid in a paper cup warm. A small group of lab partners test four different materials: black paper, white paper,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sopay Water

For Teachers 10th
Tenth graders design and conduct an experiment to explore the use of several substances in removing soap from water. During this activity they work with a lab partner. They keep their own individual lab notes, after they finish, they...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Soiled Again

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students propose and perform an experiment using the scientific method. The purpose of the experiment is to discern some earth materials or combinations of earth materials that best increases the pH of "acid rain". From the results of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Making Good Decisions

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students examine the consequences of behaviors and what the concept of trade offs are.  In this good decision lesson students read an article and answer questions on making good decisions. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Junkyard Wars: Air Movers

For Teachers 6th - 11th
Students study Rube Goldberg machines.  In this investigative lesson students design and build a machine that uses several steps to move an aluminum can. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

3-D Magnetic Field

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students create a magnetic field.  In this investigative lesson students design their own magnetic field so that they can see how magnetism and electricity work.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Balloon Rocket

For Teachers K - 4th
Learners observe a balloon rocket and how it relates to Newton's Third Law of Motion. In this balloon rocket lesson plan, students make a balloon rocket out of balloons, clothespins, straw, fishing line, and duct tape.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Harvesting Oil from the Earth

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders research sources of fossil fuels especially oil while determining how scientists take core samples from an Earth model. They look at oil consumption and production in the US and throughout the world.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Fuel Mystery Dis-Solved

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Learners describe how temperature and surface area exposure affect the rate at which fuel is consumed. They explain why engineers want to know about the properties of a fuel when designing rockets. They create a bar graph of result data.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Kites: Patang - The Indian Fighter Kite

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students investigate the history of fighter kites and build their own.  In this aeronautics lesson, students discover how other countries utilize fighter kites and where they originated.  Students create their own fighter kites...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Root, Root, Root for the Nutrients

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Pupils observe the growth of a seed, predict what will happen when seeds are planted without soil, and conduct an experiment using a hydroponics system.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Salt Relief Map of Virginia

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders create a salt relief map of the four regions of Virginia. They indentify land forms and bodies of water, and summarize how they made their project.