Tech Museum of Innovation
Seed Dispersal
Engineering challenges are not just man-made ... nature has its own set of them. A hands-on STEM activity has groups designing a seed dispersal system. Each group can only use one sheet of paper — a tough task!
Curated OER
Field Guide to Schoolyard Insects and Their Relatives
Sometimes all you need to complete your perfect lesson plan is an awesome hands-on learning experience. Here is an extension activity that is sure to excite your learners. They'll head outside to observe the local insect community. When...
Curated OER
17 - Cells
The first of three pages in this handout provides a brief history of our understanding of the cell. It also differentiates between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. The second is a collection of true and false, multiple choice, and short...
Curated OER
Comparing Mitosis with Meiosis
Life science learners view an online animated mini textbook comparing two types of cell division. Working in groups, they use a digital microscope to capture images of cells in different stages of mitosis and meiosis. Then they create an...
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Tropical Forest Food Chain
Learners explore the interdependence of the animals and plants in tropical rainforests. They explore the importance of conserving biodiversity and tropical food chains. They create a tropical forest food chain and identify species that...
Curated OER
Cells
Young scholars explore the cell and cell processes. They create "cytoplasm", make a model of the cell and its organelles, and simulate the osmosis and the diffusion of materials into and out of the cell.
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Introduction to Ocean Grazers
Students explore biology by creating a poster with classmates. In this oceanography lesson, students identify the importance of coral reefs to the ocean's ecology and examine a food web of ocean animals. Students define a list of...
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Garden of Eden
Students view a video clip about animals and their habitats. They work together to discuss how different animals adapt to their environments. They create a new habitat for a specific animal and draw new adaptations for them.
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Zoo Habitat Design
Students design a zoo habitat for an animals. In this zoo habitat lesson, students develop an idea for a zoo habitat that would meet the needs of a specific animal. They solve problems that might be encountered by using their knowledge...
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Genetics and Heredity: The Next Generation
Tenth graders work in teams to order events of DNA transcription and translation protein synthesis. In the second instructional activity, they put the steps of mitosis and meiosis in order using a concept map poster. They use modeling...
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Classification of the Nearby Trees
Third graders practice using classification techniques to identify local trees. In this plant life instructional activity, 3rd graders discuss how trees differ from other plants and what characteristics are unique to trees alone....
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Building a Terrarium System
Young scholars create their own terrariums. In this ecological model instructional activity, students create terrariums using soil, seeds, pebbles, and two liter bottles. Young scholars compare the elements of a...
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Lipids: Fats and Oils
A fantastic presentation with great images should improve student understanding of lipids and their involvement in the body. The chemistry of different fats, phospholipids, and steroids are explained. Additionally, the specific...
Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Seed Dispersal in Tropical Forests
How do seeds get around? It's not like plants can control seed dispersal—or can they? Dig deeper into the amazing mechanisms of seed dispersal observed in tropical plants through interactives, a video, and plenty of hands-on data...
Curated OER
Understanding Dialect as Used by Mark Twain
A reading of Mark Twain’s The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County not only offers pupils an opportunity to practice their listening skills but also provides them with examples of dialectic speech. This is the gol’derndest lesson...
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Cell-ebrations in Science
Young scholars recognize that all living things are made up of cell and that they cannot easily be seen by the naked eye. Students become familiar with the use of microscopes as a tool for investigation.
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The Inside of an Apple
Students review the life cycle of apples before they study information about the inside of apples. They work in small groups to color and identify the parts of the inside of an apple. Finally, they use real apples to have an hands on...
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Flipbook Succession
Young scholars review succession charts for their native area before going to an outside site to view the changes. At the site, they follow the transect line and observe the changes in the plant life. They draw the changes on note cards...
Curated OER
2D Concept Visualization: Cell Organelles Presentation
Students create simple 2D concept driven visualizations of cells and cell organelles and organize them into an effective presentation.
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Wild Flower Project
Students photograph as many different kinds of wild flowers that they see around their school. In this wild flower lesson plan, students take different pictures of wild flowers after identifying their characteristics and coming up with a...
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Water Pollution Hot-Spots
Students complete internet research in small groups to identify types of water pollution, spotlight water pollution hot-spots, and design a plan for water prevention.
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Cells And Their Parts
High schoolers investigate different types and their parts. They differentiate prokaryote and eukaryote cells and create a venn diagram displaying differences or similarities. Students write ten similes related to the cells and parts of...
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Genetics
Students explain the difference between dominant and recessive genes, identify what causes differences in the traits of parents and their offspring, and explain how sex is determined. They will also improve their reading and...
Curated OER
Food Webs
Students research what food is eaten by the following organisms: penguins leopard seals, krill, elephant seals, petrels, albatross, fur seals, squid, insects and grass. They make a food web using the data they have gathered.