Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Survival of the Fittest Microbes

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students explore the harsh conditions of Spain's Rio Tinto River and research the microbes that nonetheless manage to thrive there. They synthesize their knowledge by creating a reality television show set in the Rio Tinto with microbes...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Identifying Erosion

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students identify erosion in various forms and explain its causes. They look for evidence of erosion on school grounds, describe it in their journals, and draw labeled rough sketches of the erosion.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Glacier Slide

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Students conduct an experiment.  In this glaciers lesson, students learn about glaciers and then perform an experiment to show how glaciers shape the landscape around them.  Students draw a picture in their journals to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduction To Orbital Mechanics

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Students use NASA drawings to build a model satellite for a specific mission. They design a set of drawings for their satellite showing its subsystems as well.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Properties of Air

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders participate in a demonstration lesson using bubbles in which they determine that air fills the bubbles. Next, they work in small groups as they they experiment with the properties of air at separate work stations. After...
Lesson Plan
Foundation for Water & Energy Education

What is the Water Cycle? Activity A

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Hydrologists create a concept map about how water is used and a sentence strip defining water and describing its unique properties. Small groups work together to fill a small milk carton and compute the mass of water inside. The next...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rock Sorting

For Teachers 1st
First graders observe rocks, record their observations about the rocks and classify them according to their observations. As a class, 1st graders create a list of observable characteristics of rocks. They sort a group of rocks...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Growing Jack and the Beanstalk Plants

For Teachers 1st
First graders investigate how plants grow by growing their own "beanstalk", (after reading "Jack and the Beanstalk") and record their observations daily in a science journal.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Butterflies, Butterflies, Butterflies

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Transform your class into a butterfly museum! Research different types of butterflies, their habitat, and life cycle. Interactive components such as PowerPoint presentations, Claymation movies, and webpages add pizzaz to the museum...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Classification Introduction

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners simulate classifying rocks using different colored skittles. In this earth science lesson, students create a Venn diagram according to their compiled information. They share this diagram in the class.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Constellations

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders create their own constellations using pin holes and black paper. In this space science lesson, 5th graders write a story about their constellation. They share their project with the class.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Harnessing Solar Energy

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners identify the properties of light from the sun. In groups, they participate in experiments with solar collectors, cookers and calculators to determine which one harnesses the most energy. They record their observations and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

To Be Salty Sea Ice Or Not

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore what type of solutions freeze. They design their own experiments to compare how fresh water and salt water freezes. In addition, they write their observations in a journal and complete analysis questions.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduction to Earth's Dynamically Changing Climate

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Learners identify the most common causes of global warming. In this earth science instructional activity, students use an interactive website to explore changes over time in sea ice, sea level, carbon emissions, and average global...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Cotton Seed Planting

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Students using scientific inquiry will observe and record in daily journals their findings on cotton seeds. They measure, graph, and then communicate their discoveries about plants to each other.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Writing about animals

For Teachers Pre-K
Students draw pictures of land animals in their habitats. In this animals in their habitats lesson plan, students read a book about animals and draw in their journals.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Boy Cricket Girl Cricket

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Students investigate crickets. In this series of cricket activities, students observe and chart crickets.  Students discuss the differences between male and female crickets, record findings in a journal, handle crickets, and read a...
Lesson Plan
University of Southern California

Discovering Plants

For Teachers 1st - 2nd
Students construct a small greenhouse and plant lima beans. They read books about plants, tend the lima bean seedlings, observe and record plant growth, taste a variety of plants and maintain plant journals.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

An Introduction to 'Opae 'ula

For Teachers K - 6th
Students examine the 'opae 'ula. In this science lesson, students observe a live specimen and identify the major body parts. Students construct habitat jars and observe the 'opae 'ula behaviors.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Children's Literature Across the Curriculum Ideas: Chickens Aren't the Only Ones

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students read Chickens Aren't the Only Ones by Ruth Heller. They complete a variety of cross-curricular activities surrounding the study of animals that come from eggs. Included are reading, art, math, science, writing, social studies,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rotten Truth

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Pupils complete activities to study decomposition. For this decomposition lesson, students work in pairs to observe a decay buffet experiment. Pupils keep compost bag journals. Students define and discuss the process of decomposition.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Problem Sets `a la IMSA

For Teachers Higher Ed
In this math worksheet, students complete a series of mathematical investigations to determine readiness for the course of study they are enrolled in. This worksheet is problem set four in a set of worksheets for calculus.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

All's Well for Stem Cells

For Teachers 6th - 12th
By exploring the latest research on cell and tissue renewal your young scientists can understand the various internal body parts and systems examined in these studies.
Lesson Plan
Polar Trec

Do Microorganisms Live in Antarctica?

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
Can microorganisms live in the dry, cold climate of Antarctica? Young scientists view a research project measuring microorganisms in the Taylor Glacier. They record the findings from dirty ice, clean ice, boots, sediment, and more. Then...