Curated OER
Deadly Ascent
Students explore some of Earth's extreme environments and the possible dangers they present. They describe some of the potential dangers found in extreme environments around the world. Students discuss ways to deal with potential...
Curated OER
Reflective Solar Cooker
Young scholars build and use a reflective solar cooker to cook marshmallows.
Curated OER
Cooler in the Shadows
Students explore how the amount of sunlight and heat change in areas that are shaded.
Curated OER
Seasons' Journey : Putting it All Together
Third graders complete a diagram of the revolution of the earth around the sun and write a one paragraph explanation of the factors that cause seasons.
Curated OER
What is Temperature?
Pupils examine how temperature is the measure of the average kinetic energy of the molecules of a substance.
Curated OER
Developing a Local Stratigraphy
Students examine rock strata for the distribution, deposition, and age of sedimentary rock. They describe rock types in a variety of outcrops and construct a regional stratigraphy.
Curated OER
Indiana Tornado Project
High schoolers become familiar with the use of GIS for research, natural phenomena in Indiana, and analyzing collected information.
Curated OER
Echo Location
Students participate in a role-playing activity that demonstrates how whales use sound as an adaptation to their environment.
Curated OER
Robots from Junk
Pupils create balloon and rubber band models of robotic rovers to investigate the concepts of mass, torque, and friction. Through research and planning, students construct a rover test-bed that simulates the Martian environment.
Curated OER
Structures
Students choose which building material to use to create their structure and which animal to house. After being read a story, they examine and identify the differnet types of homes mentioned. They take pictures of their structures...
Curated OER
The Flat Stanley Project
Students read the book Flat Stanley. In this environmental stewardship lesson plan, students participate in earth-friendly activities based upon the book. This lesson plan includes ideas such as using recycled paper to make a "paper pal."
Curated OER
Predicting the Greening of Spring With Red Emperor Tulips
Students examine seasonal changes by watching tulip plant growth across the continent utilizing the Journey North website. They develop hypotheses as to why the plants emerge and grow where they do.
Curated OER
Life in Streams and Ponds
Students collect microorganisms, demonstrate correct laboratory/Gram stain procedure, and design and construct tables to organize data.
Curated OER
Lightning It's Shocking, It's Frightening, It's Lightning!
Third graders decide what they want to explore lightning, how to go about finding the answers, and deciding what skills they need to further study some of their questions.
Curated OER
DNA Sequencing Model Lab
Students pretend they are each genetic engineers with a test tube of unknown DNA (PCR'd) possibly taken from blood cells of someone with a genetic condition.
Curated OER
Lenses and Mirrors
Learners investigate lenses and mirrors showing how they bend and reflect light waves.
Curated OER
Field Trip to San Bruno
Students contrast a weedy annual grassland of introduced species with an undisturbed, ancient plant community of native bunchgrasses and wildflowers.
Curated OER
Extraction of Allicin: The Active Ingredient in Garlic
Young scholars conduct research to determine the structural formula for Allicin, a component of garlic. They participate in a lab to extract Allicin from garlic and complete a set of questions about their work.
Curated OER
Glaciers and Ice Wedging
Fourth graders observe buckling sidewalks and potholes before attempting to determine how these things are caused. They freeze water filled plastic cups that have been covered. As the water freezes, the students observe what happens to...
Curated OER
WorldWatcher Activity: What Happens to Sunlight?
Learners examine a set of data to try to determine the amount of cloud cover. In groups, they make a list of items that reflect light in the atmosphere and how different amounts of it can change the temperature. Using WorldWatcher,...
Curated OER
Trash Disposal Choices
Learners investigate the use of landfills. For this landfill use and recycling lesson, students discuss what happens to trash and junk. They review the types of trash before categorizing a list of items they throw away each day. They...
Curated OER
What is Temperature?
Students study the effects of temperature and air expansion. In this temperature lesson, students discuss temperature and participate in a role play of low energy and high energy molecules. Students then discuss their activity and...
Curated OER
Newton's Laws: Making Simple Rockets
Students can use rocketry to understand Newton's Three Laws of Motion.
Curated OER
Solar System Lesson Plans
Solar system lesson plans provide teachers with a multitude of ways to interest even the most reluctant learners.