Curated OER
Design a Running Shoe for a Triathlete
Learners examine the design and construction of athletic footwear. They analyze the magnitude and directions of forces on the foot and leg in different sports, interview people, and design a running shoe for a triathlete.
CK-12 Foundation
Sprinter
Why do sprinters wear spiked shoes? Scholars explore various styles of shoes and how they handle forces when running. Scholars adjust variables including shoe type, horizontal force, surface type, and normal force to determine which...
PBS
Print Hints
It would be a crime not to give the lesson a chance! An inquiry-based lesson has pupils assume the role of crime scene investigators as they make observations about shoe prints. They look for patterns in the prints such as distance and...
Curated OER
Dream Stream
Investigate the parts of a healthy stream to build content-specific vocabulary and ecological awareness. The class builds vocabulary and determines why clean water is important for trout. They design a shoe box to show what a clean...
NOAA
Prepare for the Storm!
Severe weather can occur with or without warning. Being prepared for any situation makes chances of survival that much greater. A brief activity suggests a list of items for an emergency book bag. The first page...
Curated OER
Designing Experiments - Procedures for Teachers
Students evaluate a hypothetical experimental design and attempt to improve upon it. In this scientific method lesson, students are presented with an experiment and are instructed to determine its flaws. They conduct their own...
Curated OER
Who Lives with Mallard?
Students color a picture of the habitat featuring mallard and other creatures, some of whom might be camouflaged or half-hidden. They discuss other forms of animal adaptation.
Science Matters
Earthquake Waves: Wave Notes
A multi-part lesson opens with a review of p waves and s waves. Then scholars use a simple s wave simulator to view the way the wave travels. Next, pupils use cups and various fluids to simulate p waves moving through different...
Curated OER
What's in a Brain?
Bring the brain to life for your students with thought-provoking activities
Curated OER
Dinosaur Tracks and Critical Thinking
Get your young scientists excited about geology through the study of dinosaur tracks! They will use their power of observation to learn how tracks are made and use critical thinking strategies to suggest a scenario in which they were...
DiscoverE
Oranges and Batteries
Orange you glad you can make circuits using fruit? Young electricians learn about electric circuits and electricity. As part of the lesson, they build a circuit with an orange and then with a banana.
Curated OER
Who lives with Mallard?
Students explore how all living things have needs that are obtained from their surroundings. They identify the surroundings where an animal or plant lives is its habitat. Students identify that a habitat is a community of living and...
Curated OER
Exploring Today's Technology
Second graders explore technology. In this science lesson, 2nd graders discuss various forms of technology. Students research technology that they use everyday and write a sentence about each one of the technologies.
Curated OER
The Hat We Wear
Students explore how they can use their skills to apply to the job industry. In this career choice instructional activity students participate in a discussion and an esteem builder exercise.
Curated OER
Sports Helmets and Impact Testing of Polymers
Students examine the importance of good quality safety gear. In this investigative lesson, students will tests various polymers, collect data, and analyze the data to determine which polymer is best for safety helmets. They will design a...
Curated OER
Soil, the Forgotten Resource
Students discuss soil understanding that is is often overlooked as a natural resource. In this science activity, students recognize that we depend on it for energy in the form of foods. Students experiment with six boxes of soil to help...
Curated OER
Happy in My Habitat
Fourth graders create animal habitats and explain the biomes they live in. In this habitat lesson, 4th graders recognize the basic needs of animals, characteristics of animals differences and places where they live. Students...
Curated OER
Our Inventions
Students construct or draw an invention of their own design. In this problem solving lesson, students define the word invention, discuss famous inventions, invetors, and how inventions come about. Students work in groups to...
Curated OER
Estuarine Currents
Students experiment observing a demonstration on models of density-driven currents which are typically found in an estuarine system of water flow. They compare/contrast water temperature and salinity to the formations of estuarine currents.
Curated OER
Riding the Gravity Wave
Young scholars write a sketch of an artist or athlete that has pushed the limits on gravity. They explore concepts of rhythm, balance and friction. They examine how engineers design sports equipment.
Curated OER
Tuned in: Tuning Forks and Sine waves
Students explore the characteristics of a pure sound wave produced by a tuning fork. They use sine waves to find a curve to fit the sound wave data produced by the tuning fork. A CBL and microphone is required for this activity.
Curated OER
Wacky Water Critters
Students visit a local creek or stream. They collect water samples from the creek and observe and sort the "water critters" they find in the sample, observing smaller organisms under a microscope if necessary. They identify each organism...
Curated OER
The Vibrational Nature of Sound
Students explore the vibrational nature of sound. In this science lesson plan, students gain an understanding of sound frequency, pitch, and conduction using the string telephone, tuning fork and musical glasses experiments.
Curated OER
Check Out Lights and Shields with Beads
Students explore Ultraviolet detecting beads and conduct several investigations with them. In this investigative instructional activity students participate in an experiment to see the harmful effects of UV light and discuss their...