Curated OER
A Distant View
Students investigate the essential concepts of how lenses work to magnify vision, and then build simple telescopes to demonstrate their understanding. They write a description of how their telescope could be improved and how it works.
Curated OER
2002: The Year In Review
Students research and create a book highlighting significant events and trends throughout the world in the year 2002. Then, through creative writing, they respond to the events or trends themselves and how they affected our world.
Curated OER
The Earth Moves Under My Feet
Students study earthquakes, monitor seismic activity using the Web, and plot real-time activity. They examine movement of the Earth's tectonic plates. They create an earthquake preparedness project.
The New York Times
Researching the Researchers
Students match scientists with their major discoveries, choose one figure to research further, and co-author articles profiling the scientist and his or her achievements.
Curated OER
How Electric Current Produces Energy
Fifth graders are introduced to the concept of electric currents. In groups, they develop their own game board to test different circuits to determine if they are complete. They record their observations of the energy transfer between...
Curated OER
Earthquakes
Students inspect the causes and effects of earthquakes and examine how seismic waves travel. In this earthquake lesson plan, students determine where earthquakes happen and why, before determining how to build an earthquake resistant...
Curated OER
Human Fingerprints: No Two the Same
Sixth graders explore scientific observations by analyzing a group of data. In this fingerprint identification lesson, 6th graders identify the reasoning behind fingerprinting and create their own ink fingerprints. Students discuss the...
Curated OER
Seasoning the School Year
Students observe the changes a class tree goes through as the seasons change and record observations in journals. They investigate changes in the weather, changes in the length of the day, and how that affects people. They create...
Curated OER
Changing Places
Learners investigate the Chinese-American immigration experience. In this assimilation lesson plan, students watch "Becoming American: The Chinese Experience" and then participate in classroom activities regarding the topic. The...
Curated OER
Parasite Development and Life Cycle
If you are new to teaching agriculture classes, this outline may be helpful when you are preparing a lecture on parasites in livestock. In addition to lecturing on this topic, the lesson plan suggests that learners research the life...
Curated OER
Pebbles Sand and Silt
First graders investigate soil, sand and silt. For this environment lesson, 1st graders discuss how changes occur in the environment and the effects of weather. Students perform their own investigation and record their predictions,...
Curated OER
How Are Boundaries Made, Kept, Broken?
Young scholars write a first draft of an essay reflecting their opinions of Things Fall Apart. They complete their circle diagrams, have them approved by the teacher, and write their essays. They write in their dialectical journals as...
Curated OER
How Are Boundaries Made, Kept, Broken?
Students complete essays reflecting themes in Things Fall Apart. They use Microsoft Word to revise, edit, and complete their essays. They complete their dialectical journals for Things Fall Apart.
Curated OER
Disaster Victims and Relief Efforts
Students examine the challenges faced by relief workers. In this earth science instructional activity, students brainstorm on things they want to find out about relief agencies. They research the answer to these questions and write a...
Curated OER
Teen Health: Talking with Your Doctor
Students discuss common health care issues they're facing today. In this health science instructional activity, students explain the benefit of seeking professional help. They write a journal to keep track of their own health issues.
Curated OER
Nest Construction and Area Management Activities
Students construct a nest for a fictitious ground-nesting bird.They create models of the bird (along with its eggs) that might theoretically live in this habitat. They write in a daily journal about what happens to their nests in a...
Curated OER
Environment: Valley Walk-A-Thon
Learners go on a nature hike and observe the different plants along their route. Various plants are circled with hula hoops and identified with flash cards. Older students write in their journals about their hiking experience while the...
Curated OER
The Different Fresh Water Ecosystems
Students summarize the characteristics of an ecosystem. In this biology lesson, students identify five major fresh water ecosystem. They define terms and write a journal about what they learned.
Moanalua Gardens Foundation
The Mystery of Rapa Nui
What caused the collapse of the environment on Rapa Nui (Easter Island)? Who constructed the Moai? What was their purpose? Class members assume the role of investigators and use evidence drawn from field studies, ships' logs, and...
University of California
Euclidean Geometry
Go back to where it all began! Investigate how axiomatic systems and Euclidean geometry are based on undefined terms, common notions, postulates, and propositions by examining passages from Euclid's Elements. (Social studies teachers...
National Park Service
The Young Naturalist
Beginning with a brief history of our 26th president, Theodore Roosevelt, then followed by a discussion of his interest in nature, young scientists take to the outdoors to locate and observe local plants and insects....
Curated OER
Breathing Easier
Students explore asthma, and then write proposals outlining how teachers, coaches, administrators and school support staff can be better prepared to treat students with asthma.
Curated OER
Virtual Visits
Students rate a variety of kid-friendly museum Web sites for both their educational and entertainment value. They reflect in writing about the overall success of each site to pique their interest in art, science, history or culture.
Curated OER
US & Iroquois Constitution Parallels
Young scholars engage in a lesson that is concerned with the concepts related to comparing the United States and Iroquois Indians while focusing upon the foundations of the ruling documents like the US Constitution. They conduct research...