Curated OER
The Ozone Layer
Young scholars examine the issue of ozone depletion. They define key vocabulary terms, take a pre-quiz, discuss the quiz questions and answers, read an article, and answer discussion questions.
Curated OER
A Whale of a Difference
Students research various perspectives on Japan's commercial whaling industry and formulate position papers representing these views. They read the Times article, Yuk! No More Stomach for Whales. Groups present their perspectives on...
Curated OER
Where's The Beef
Students create and conduct a survey in the community to evaluate the demographics of vegetarians in the community. They compile data, create graphs, calculate percentages, and draw conclusions about the survey data. Students create an...
Curated OER
Shedding New Light
Students consider why photographs in space might not show stars and research the importance of light in this phenomenon. They research other scientific processes related to light or its absence and create "How It Works" posters about them.
Curated OER
Mad About Madagascar
Learners read/discuss "On Madagascar, A Treasury of Fauna and Flora," examining the issues affecting the biodiversity of Madagascar. They present information on issues affecting Madagascar's ecology, and write policy statements on...
Curated OER
Use Or Abuse?
Learners explain the meaning of "use value" of nature's resources by researching and writing studenT books personifying an aspect of nature. They produce public service announcements regarding use value for their local community.
Curated OER
Fantastic Foods
Students explore the health benefits of dark chocolate. They research other foods which they consider to be both healthy and delicious for a "classroom pantry."
Curated OER
Discoveries of Titanic Proportions
Students analyze various statements on the moon. After reading an article, they discuss the findings about a new moon around Saturn. In groups, they re-create a press conference in which the new findings were released to the public. ...
Curated OER
Mission Makeover
Young scholars examine their prior knowledge of the space program. After reading an article, they explore the conclusions of the Columbia accident. In groups, they research various space programs and discover the scope of NASA. They...
Curated OER
Modeling the Change of Seasons
Students evaluate data to determine changes in length of day. They model the revolution of Earth around the sun to show changes in length of day and sun angle and illustrate how the sun angle affects the change of season.
Curated OER
Coming To Our Senses
Students participate in a hands-on experiment that illustrates how taste and smell are related. They create their own experiments to help them explore all five senses and the relationships between them.
Curated OER
I Wonder What the Manduca Life Cycle Looks Like
Students create their own insect, build a model of it and explain its life cycle.
Curated OER
Investigating Bean Pods and How They Grow
Third graders observe and create a record of seed growth over time. After planting a seed, 3rd graders record their observations of the seed's growth over a three week period. Upon conclusion of the experiment, they write a paragraph...
Curated OER
Race Toward a Cure
Students come to explain how the presence of a mutation in the BRCA-1 or BRCA-2 gene, along with another acquired sometime after birth, affect the chances developing breast cancer.
Curated OER
The Art of Adaptation
Students examine and discuss animal adaptation. They read an article about snakes, conduct research on ways animals adapt, develop a diagram, and write a short story written from the perspective of the animal they researched.
Curated OER
Flying Casanovas
Learners view a video clip on bowerbirds. They research and compare and contrast the different types of bowers created by them. They work together to answer questions on the birds behavior.
Curated OER
Levers: What Can Leverage Do For Me?
Students determine the identity of the three classes of levers while explaining how each works. They wait a video clip that shows uses for different types of levers and work as a class to write a KWL chart. Finally, they make a model fo...
Curated OER
Straight Talk On Tough Issues
Students engage in a lesson plan that is focused upon the concept of breast cancer and research is conducted using a variety of reference sources. They reflect upon how different people deal with the tragedy of cancer and then students...
Curated OER
How the Environment Affects Our Health
Ninth graders explore how the environment affects health. In this infectious disease lesson, 9th graders investigate what environmental situations cause infections diseases. Students study the symptoms, treatments, prevention, and...
Curated OER
Catching Some Rays
Sixth graders explore the tilt of Earth's axis. In this Earth lesson, 6th graders read a Greek mythology story explaining why there are seasons. Students build a sun-ray gathering tool from styrofoam, glue, thermometers, skewers, and...
Curated OER
Lone Wolves
Students examine the reasons why some people do not support the protection of the wolf on the Endangered Species list. After reading an article, they discuss the controversy of delisting the wolves. As a class, they debate this issue...
Curated OER
Stop that Germ!
Young scholars experiment with glitter to explain the importance of washing hands and how germs are distributed. After a lecture/demo, students perfom a simple experiment which clearly demonstrates how germs are spread.
Curated OER
Ancient Ones, the Study of the Anasazi
Young scholars explore relationships between man and nature. They examine the culture of the Anasazi and the importance of the natural resources around them. Students examine reasons for Anasazi people to leave this area.
Curated OER
Density Lab Activities
Young scholars participate in several density lab activities in order to clarify the misconceptions that solids sink and liquids float. Students work with triple beam balances to find mass of objects to calculate density.