Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Heat: Mini Unit

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students experiment with heat. In this physical science lesson, students engage in hands-on activities to develop concepts related to heat. Students offer explanations for their observations using given vocabulary.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Marble Madness

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students determine the velocity of a marble rolling down the incline. In this physics activity, students identify the independent and dependent variables in the experiment. They construct and analyze a graph.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Kitchen Chemistry

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders examine both physical and chemical changes, and how to identify the difference between the two. They observe the changes that occur in butter when it is exposed to heat and cold, heat energy. In their notebooks, they write...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Chemistry E3 Lesson Plan

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders perform a series of experiment to investigate heat transfer and phase changes. For this physical science lesson, 9th graders identify and calculate the different subatomic particles. They explain the importance of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Microscope Investigation

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students explore physical science by participating in a science examination. In this microscope tutorial lesson plan, students read the book The Naked Eye and discuss the purpose for using a microscope in the field of science. Students...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What is Matter?

For Teachers 3rd - 9th
Learners create a definition of matter. In this physical science lesson, students work in pairs to sort items printed on cards into several categories (matter, non-matter, and unsure) and agree on a definition of matter.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

States of Matter

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students explore the states of water. In this physical science instructional activity, students use ice and dry ice to observe the changes in the state of matter. Students record the results.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Alternative Energy

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students identify the five major alternative energy sources. In this physical science lesson, students assess the advantages and disadvantages for each type of energy. They complete a concept map using information they researched.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Making a Battery

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders make a battery. In this physical science lesson, 5th graders word in pairs make the battery. Students follow 4 steps to create the battery.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Matter and Energy

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students explore energy by completing a science worksheet in class. For this principles of matter lesson, students define the vocabulary terms force, gravity, nuclear, and electromagnetic before reading assigned text about energy....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Temperate Forest : Pacific Spirit Field Trip

For Teachers 1st - 2nd
Students examine nurse logs with hand lenses and identify animals.  In this ecosystem lesson, students gain understanding of the rainforest by studying nurse logs.  Students become familiar with vocabulary through their study...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Food Chain: what's for dinner?

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders identify where foods came from and sequence a food chain.  In this food chain lesson, 4th graders define vocabulary related to food chains and order a food chain. Students follow the energy of a food chain. Students...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What Does It Matter?

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Young scholars match definitions with vocabulary words and learn basic facts about matter. Then, they see how to determine the physical characteristics of matter. They determine the mass, volume, and density of objects using appropriate...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Properties of Matter

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders investigate how objects can be described, classified and compared by their composition. They recognize that the same material can exist in different states. Students verify that things can be done to materials to change...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Matter Unit

For Teachers 8th - 9th
Students create products from studying about matter that include: Make a "T" chart with matter and non matter items. Write a poem, song, or rap about matter. Five vocabulary words from the chapter must be included in the poem.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Model Storage Facility

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Students design a storage facility that can withstand extreme wind loads. In this physics activity, students decide how to build their facility considering budget constraints. They evaluate their design and present it to class.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduction to Earth Sun Relationships Incorporating P.E.

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders investigate space science by performing physical activities.  In this solar system instructional activity, 3rd graders perform a relay activitiy with their class in which they race between different "planets". ...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mass vs. Weight

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students explore physical science by conducting a measurement experiment. In this mass lesson, students identify the differences between mass and weight and define a list of other vocabulary terms. Students utilize electronic scales and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Marvelous World Of Magnets

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students research the concept of magnetism in order to increase understanding of the subject. By accessing information they could explain the concept with a written report used as an end product for assessment.
Lesson Plan
Cornell University

Friction

For Students 6th - 8th
Friction and gravity are always at odds! Learners complete a set of activities to explore the relationship between friction and gravity. Groups make conclusions about the factors that affect the amount and type of friction between surfaces.
Lesson Plan
Cornell University

Electroplating

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Silver pennies and copper nickels are made possible by applying some chemistry. Learners use electrolysis to coat a penny with zinc sulfate and a nickel with copper sulfate. Their investigation builds an understanding of electroplating...
Lesson Plan
Prince William Network

Migration Headache

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
During this game, kids become migratory shorebirds and fly among wintering, nesting, and stopover habitats. If they do not arrive at a suitable habitat on time, they do not survive. Catastrophic events are periodically introduced that...
Lesson Plan
LABScI

Taxonomy: Who is in My family?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Find similarities in seemingly unlike organisms. The second instructional activity in a series of 12 builds the concept of a taxonomy and explores the use of a dichotomous key. Learners begin in part one by attempting to group a set of...
Lesson Plan
Florida International University

Pipeline to the Coral Reefs

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Discover firsthand the effects of internal waves on coral reefs. Through a series of experiments, learners simulate internal waves and upwelling events as they make observations on the movement of water and other debris. They then...