Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Radioactive Decay and Half-Life

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students describe how the mass of a radioactive isotope changes with time and the factors that affect the rate of radioactive decay. They write nuclear decay equations to represent natural transmutation. This activity is accomplished...
Lesson Plan
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What Is The Concept?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students systemically determine the concept that the waste items placed in a "yes" category are biodegradable and those in the "no" category are not. This activity is a motivating way to introduce a unit on wastes by having students use...
Lesson Plan
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Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down: Grasping the Idea of Evolution

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Learners compare their performance of a series of tasks using their thumb and fingers to their performance of the same tasks without the use of their thumb. They discuss the role of fine and gross motor skills and speculate on the role...
Lesson Plan
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States of Matter and Chemical/Physical Changes Stations

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students break into four groups, starting at different stations. Each station should take about 10 minutes depending on prior knowledge of the topic. They then rotate when everyone is finished to the next station and discuss answers of...
Lesson Plan
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How Sweet It is! A Colorful Sugar Solution Density Column

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students examine the affect of density. Using a graduated cylinder and equally prepared volumes of sugar-water solutions and food color, students observe a sugar rainbow. They discover that the greater the amount of sugar in the...
Lesson Plan
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Energy Efficient Buildings

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders create plans for an energy efficient addition to the school. They work in small groups with each group having responsibility for examining one aspect of the problem. They create working diagrams and a model of their...
Lesson Plan
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Understanding pH, Alkalinity, and Hardness

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students comprehend the interactions of pH, alkalinity, hardness, and carbon dioxide in aquaculture water. They read the SRAC fact sheet number 464 "Interactions of pH, Carbon Dioxide, Alkalintiy and Hardness in Fish Ponds." Students...
Lesson Plan
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Chemistry Lab-Molar Volume of Gas

For Teachers 9th - Higher Ed
Students determine the molar volume of hydrogen gas. In this molar volume lesson plan, students find the molar volume of hydrogen produced in a reaction between magnesium and hydrochloric acid. They use a eudiometer to measure the volume...
Lesson Plan
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Peppered Moth Simulation

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students investigate the process of natural selection in peppered moths. In this natural selection lesson plan, students simulate peppered moths in environments similar to those during the industrial revolution. Students use white paper...
Lesson Plan
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Penny Lab

For Teachers 10th - 12th
In this percent composition worksheet, students carry out an experiment to determine the percent of zinc in a penny. They write a balanced equation for the chemical reaction they performed with the penny and hydrochloric acid.
Lesson Plan
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Making Mayonnaise - An Edible Emulsion

For Teachers 1st - 6th
Students find a way to mix oil and water. In this emulsion lesson, students attempt to mix oil and water, then add egg yolk to the mixture to serve as an emulsifier and observe the results.
Lesson Plan
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What on Earth is That and How Can I Get One?

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students examine how we use submersibles. In this technology based instructional activity, students examine various technologies used by submersibles in ocean exploration.
Lesson Plan
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Recycling Game ABC's and Sorting

For Teachers K - 1st
Young scholars participate in an ABC game based on recycling. In this recycling lesson plan, students sort objects into bins based on the first letter of each object. Young scholars discuss the community and how to improve recycling.
Lesson Plan
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Mass Spectrometer

For Teachers 9th - 12th
In this mass spectrometer worksheet, students read about how a mass spectrometer determines the elements in gases around Earth. Students answer 3 questions and identify the elements in a graph found by a mass spectrometer.
Lesson Plan
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Perception and the Brain

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Students experience how the brain adapts over time to changes in what they perceive. In this human perception instructional activity, students wear special prism goggles that initially disorient the user. Over time, the student is able...
Lesson Plan
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Rock Candy Crystals

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students discover how rocks are created.  In this rock formation lesson plan, students investigate saturation, evaporation, and phase changes in geology.  Students create rock candy from skewers, string, boiling water and sugar.
Lesson Plan
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What Am I?

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students identify various shells. In this oceanography lesson, students create a KWL chart to activate background knowledge on shells. Students read the book Ocean Day and learn about waves, tides, and the seashells that can...
Lesson Plan
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Investigating Soil

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Learners investigate soil contents. In this soil lesson, students gather samples of soil and record their findings on a graphic organizer. After analyzing the material in the soil, learners illustrate the layers they found.
Lesson Plan
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Soil Properties

For Teachers 5th - 10th
Young scholars explore the porosity of soil. In this soil lesson, students conduct an experiment which shows the porosity of different types of soil. They use sand, silt, and clay to see how soil particles are more or less aerated and...
Lesson Plan
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Growing A Coral Skeleton

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners research the growth of coral. In this coral polyps lesson, students simulate the growth of coral by using available materials to grow crystals. Learners record observations in a scientific journal.
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Fishy Physics

For Teachers 4th - 9th
Students explore how fish are able to move easily from one depth to another in water.  In this fish lesson students create their own balloon fish. 
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Preying on Beans

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students act as predators searching for prey (beans) in two different settings to demonstrate the processes of adaptation and selection.
Lesson Plan
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The Five Senses

For Teachers K
Study various objects and help kindergarteners use their five senses to classify the objects. They are presented with various objects and then use their five senses to sort and classify the objects. Then they use a Visual Ranking Tool to...
Lesson Plan
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Salty Solutions

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Pupils measure salt content in water. They determine salt content of four samples using a hydrometer.